The New Yorker — Paul Theroux turns 80
I'll drink to that! What has drawn me to Theroux's work is his focus on, "Those overlooked people, on back…
Illustration by Beya Rebaï
My life has involved enormous upsets and reverses — illness, wealth, and near-bankruptcy, the usual snakes and ladders that people endure—except that I have been privileged to write about them.
Thank you for posting this article by Paul Theroux, John. I’ve read some of his books, and always wondered what he was like. In this piece, he reveals that he’s as much of a thoughtful and complicated person as he is a brilliant and talented writer. He has given the world the gift of his wisdom and insightfulness, for which I’m very grateful. I’ll raise a glass in celebration of his 80th birthday on April 10th.
I’ll drink to that! What has drawn me to Theroux’s work is his focus on, “Those overlooked people, on back roads, in remote places, isolated and bewildered–from early on, I took them as my subject.” An extraordinary article on what makes writers write….”My enduring motto is the Zen authority D. T. Suzuki’s definition of freedom: seeing things as they are.” Thanks for sharing John.
Cheers,
Mark