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Open Book

Factual: Arts, Culture & the Media

Programme looking at new fiction and non-fiction books

Programme looking at new fiction and non-fiction books, talking to authors and publishers and unearthing lost classics

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Open Book: Paul Theroux special

22/07/2012

Paul Theroux special

BBC Radio 4 - Open Book, Paul Theroux special

American travel writer and author Paul Theroux discusses his latest novel The Lower River.

American travel writer and author Paul Theroux discusses his latest novel, The Lower River, about how a man's longed-for return to Malawi does not live up to his happy memories.

Paul Theroux special - the American travel writer and author Paul Theroux discusses his latest novel The Lower River. It charts the return of a 62 year old American clothes salesman to the remote Malawian village where he spent four happy years, post college, working for the Peace Corp, an experience he shares with the author. Yet the Africa he finds on his return is much changed and not, it seems, for the better. 

Paul Theroux shares his controversial views on aid to Africa as Mariella discusses with him the continent that inspired his writing career and after a very public spat, his renewed relationship with the writer V.S. Naipaul. 

Producer: Andrea Kidd.

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