A House for Mr. Biswas, V. S. Naipaul

Despite its humorous tone and simple plot of a man's search for a house of his own, A House for Mr. Biswas explores deeper themes—finding one's identity, overcoming obstacles and ridicule, and not losing sight of one's goals. Set in Trinidad in 1961, the book draws largely from the author's own childhood experiences as a Hindu Indian living in what was then the British colony of Trinidad.

Related Readings

"Dead Men's Path"—short story by Chinua Achebe

"In the Middle of the Journey"—travel essay by V.S. Naipaul

from The Crescent Moon—poems by Rabindranath Tagore

"Why I Live at the P.O."—short story by Eudora Welty

"When Greek Meets Greek"—short story by Samuel Selvon

Study Guide (PDF)