[Literature] Theroux, Paul. (b. 1941)
Important Letter and Biographical Questionnaire
An important early letter and biographical questionnaire from the American travel writer and novelist, whose many works include The Great Railway Bazaar (1975) and The Mosquito Coast (1981) which was awarded the 1981 James Tait Black Memorial Prize and made into a feature film.TLS, 1 page. Kampala, Uganda, East Africa. 16th Nov., 1966. Addressed to Anne Ford at Houghton Mifflin. In full:
"Dear Miss Ford,
I enclose the biographical data and the pictures you asked for.
You will notice that some of the questions are not answered and others have flippant answers. I didn't feel that these questions were important or, if I thought they were important, did not think I could answer them. Maybe someone else can.
You must understand that this is my first book, I am not an old writer, and I have been living out of the United States for some time. I believe that it would be pompous of me to offer advice to other writers (unquote) or needless of me to explain my method of work (unquote). These questions lead nowhere and, while the answer of someone like Goethe or Mann or Melville would be fascinating to read, the answers I would give you I'm afraid would be insincere, unfelt, misleading and --let's call a spade a spade --totally irrelevant to what the book contains. Novels really do exist apart from a writer and have a life of their own. Or at least they should.
My book called Notes For a Curfew which Craig Wylie knows about might call for questions like these; I will have to submit my credentials for writing a book like that and prove that I know what I'm talking about (ie., Africa). I shall be very happy to answer your questions when Houghton decides to publish the book.
But if there is any part of this that you think is important and that I have neglected please do not hesitate to fire back."
Signed "Paul Theroux" and adding an autograph postscript: "I enclose a pile of pictures....Please send me any copies you make (enlargements) and keep these, as I may need the negatives some other time. P."
Theroux has attached the Author Questionnaire, 7 pp. in length, with typed and handwritten replies to 23 questions and some additional questions crossed off, as per his apparent reservations about the enterprise. His answers are frequently revealing. To the prompt of "Present and Previous Occupations," he responds "Nothing important or lucrative up to 1963...Let me add that I consider work a major interruption of my writing." About owing "particular allegiance" to a writer or school: "No. I don't think so. All my books -- I have written five -- are different. If I were influenced, they would be the same, wouldn't they. I can't think of anyone." The replies include not only the mundane details of education and such but also lengthy replies about the process of writing his book, difficulties encountered, what he believes should be emphasized in the marketing of the book, reviewers who he thinks will be sympathetic etc.
An intriguing document from the very beginning of an important literary career. (7973)
Autograph Letter Literature