Paul Theroux
Paul Edward Theroux [ θəru ː ] ( born April 10, 1941 in Medford, Massachusetts) is an American travel writer and author of French- Canadian and Italian descent.
Life
Paul Theroux was educated at the University of Maine (1959-1960), at the University of Massachusetts ( BA, 1963) and Syracuse University (1963). He then lived in Italy as well as in Malawi and Uganda, where he worked as a teacher. In 1968 he took over three years to a professorship at the University of Singapore. He now lives with his family in London and on Cape Cod
He initially wrote short stories, newspaper articles and novels, was initially but through his friendship - known to the travel writers Bruce Chatwin and VS Naipaul - and later bitter enmity. Later, he emancipated himself increasingly from these and found a unique style as a travel writer. With more than thirty books, he is one of the best known English writers of the present day. Especially his works on Argentina, China and the South Seas are full of provocation and unsurpassed in their ferocity and harshness. His preferred mode of transport for his travels was the railroad.
He also writes semi-autobiographical works, such as My secret life or Hotel Honolulu, with whom he runs a " game of deception between fiction and reality." His works have been translated only in part into German.
2013 Theroux was elected a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.
Paul Therouxs son is the TV presenter Louis Theroux (born 1970 ). His nephew is the actor and screenwriter Justin Theroux.
Works (selection)
- Jungle Lovers, 1971 (jungle love), an African novel
- The Great Railway Bazaar, 1975 ( Railway Adventure - on rails halfway around the world ), on a journey from London through the Balkans, Middle East, Central, South and Southeast Asia to Japan and back by the Soviet Union
- Saint Jack, 1977 ( Saint Jack ), novel about a holy pimp
- The Old Patagonian Express, 1979 ( The Old Patagonian Express), after more than a trip from the USA Argentina
- Picture Palace, 1980 (Orlando, or the love of photography )
- The Mosquito Coast, 1981 ( Mosquito Coast)
- The Kingdom by the Sea, 1983, on a trip along the coasts of Great Britain
- Doctor Slaughter, 1984 ( Dr. Slaughter ), amendment
- O-Zone, 1986 ( O-Zone ), a science fiction
- Riding the Iron Rooster, 1988 ( The Chinese Adventure), on a journey by train through China
- Chicago Loop, 1990 ( Chicago Loop ), Roman
- The Happy Isles of Oceania, 1992 ( The Happy Isles of Oceania ), about a trip in the paddle boat through the South Seas - the exact opposite of the "Happy Islands " is for Theroux
- The Pillars of Hercules, 1995 ( On the shores of the Mediterranean Sea ), on a journey through almost all Mediterranean countries, beginning and ending at the of the " Pillars of Hercules " limited Strait of Gibraltar
- My Other Life, 1996 ( My other life ), Roman
- Kowloon Tong, 1997, novel
- Sir Vidia 's Shadow, 1998, a report on Theroux's long-standing friendship and his falling out with VS Naipaul
- Hotel Honolulu, 2001, novel
- Dark Star Safari, 2002 on a trip from Cairo to Cape Town