For two decades, the Naipaul family in Trinidad lived in “quiet alert” every October, awaiting the announcement of the Nobel Prize in Literature, hoping that the esteemed committee would recognize their renowned family member, Vidiadhar Surajprasad Naipaul, affectionately known as Vidia. This emotional recollection comes from Savi Naipaul, the late author’s sister, in her memoir The Naipauls of Nepaul Street.

In her memoir, published by Speaking Tiger Books, Savi writes that by 1972, sixteen years after Vidia’s debut book The Mystic Masseur, his body of work had firmly established him as a literary giant, deserving of at least a nomination for the prestigious award. Despite the family’s hopes year after year, it wasn’t until 2001 that Naipaul was finally awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature.

Savi’s memoir offers an intimate portrait of the Naipaul family, tracing their Indian-origin roots in Trinidad and providing deep insight into the life of one of the world’s most celebrated and controversial authors. She reflects on the family’s journey through the years and the unfulfilled hopes surrounding Vidia’s Nobel recognition during the earlier years of his career.

Naipaul, whose works often explored themes of migration, identity, and the post-colonial world, became one of the most influential literary figures of the 20th century. His Nobel win was a culmination of years of critical acclaim and personal perseverance, a moment Savi had long hoped for, as recounted in her poignant memoir.