A Bend in the River

By: V. S. Naipaul

Narrated by: Simon Vance

Length: 10 hrs and 46 mins

Publisher's summary

In this incandescent novel, V.S. Naipaul takes us deeply into the life of one man, an Indian who, uprooted by the bloody tides of Third World history, has come to live in an isolated town at the bend of a great river in a newly independent African nation. Naipaul gives us the most convincing and disturbing vision yet of what happens in a place caught between the dangerously alluring modern world and its own tenacious past and traditions.

©1979 V.S. Naipaul (P)2004 Blackstone Audiobooks

Critic reviews

"A brilliant novel." (The New York Times)
"Confirms Naipaul's position as one of the best writers now at work." (Newsweek)

Not the best of Naipaul

One does not get the impression the
author truly knew Africa and the story
suffers from that. The narrative could
be set in many places.

The characters seemed always
to be behind a veil and never really
came alive for me. Salim’s engagement
to a woman in London appeared to be
an afterthought….not well developed.

I had difficulty staying with this one.

The ups and downs of being a colonizer

The ups and downs of being a colonizer

#abendinrheriver is the second novel I have read by #vsnaipaul , the first being #ahousefornmrbiswas written 18 years before this novel. The works of Naipaul fulfilled three criteria for my reading lists, both novels having been included on the #modernlibrarytop100novels ("House at #72 and "River" at #83) , being from #trinidadandtobago #naipaul would be included in both my #readtheworldchallenge and #globalreadingchallenge and, in #2001 he won the #nobelprizeforliterature . In both books, Naipaul told his story from the point of view as a colonizer, in House, as a third generation immigrant from #india brought to work the fields of Trinidad and Tobago after the abolition of slavery and in Bend as Indians who made up the general population known as #arabs who came to the coast of #eastafrica over countless generations bringing trade and #islam to #africa . Though generally mixed race people with a blend of Indian, #persian , Arab and indigenous African, the presence of their foreign customs and appearance permanently brands them as outsiders no matter how many generations they live in Africa..

In this story, main character #salim is from a multi-generation family of traders who, according to family lore, originated in #Gujarat in northwest India, of the #muslim versus #hindu faith, residing in an unidentified coastal East African nation, buys a suffering but going retail business in another unidentified #centralafrica nation on the other side of the mountains at a city at the bend of a great river about 1000 miles east of the capital. Scholars tend to think he is identifying #kisangani in the #democraticrepublicofcongo in a period immediately after rebellion had routed the colonial overlords and in the flux of a rising, charismatic indigenous leader who speeds his nation down a path of authoritarian dictatorship with a uniquely indigenous flair. Naipaul's work has long been criticized as pro- colonial and insulting to indigenous autonomy but, as a member of the labor and merchant class who serve as go-betweens of the indigenous and colonizer populations, theirs is a life constantly in flux, living on the margins in endless boom and bust cycles where wealth builds incrementally and generationally.

I don't share in that critical outlook. I see the protagonists being the unfortunate victims of their own flexibility, resilience and adaptability. While they aspire and demonstrate their capabilities, as intermediaries they become easy scapegoats of a disenchanted populous who suffered at the hands of both colonizer and indigenous authoritarian. While they are labeled as profiteers or opportunists, they provide much needed goods and services that bridge the bush to the metropolis. I found the #audible version an excellent read.

Highly recommended

This story is presumed to be set in early post-colonial Congo (formerly Zaire, formerly the Belgian Congo.) Salim, through whose eyes we experience the story, is a young ethnic Indian from Eastern Africa, where he has few opportunities. He is given an opportunity to take over a small business in a town "at the bend in the river" in Central Africa, where he goes to live. There, he makes a living and forms friendships and liasons with others from the community and with outsiders, like himself, who have settled there. He earns respect as one who can be depended on. He takes in not only a younger member of his old boyhood household in the east, but also the teenage son of a trader. Through the eyes of Salim, we feel an optimism for this developing country and experience the sense of belonging and drive to survive of everyone living there: from the citizens of the region to the European ex-patriates. As the story shows the country beginning to dissolve into chaos and lawlessness, we have the feeling that we are witnessing close-up the human story behind the news reports we sometimes read about strife-torn countries. This is a well-told story, with an interesting plot, a varied cast of characters, and the fascinating backdrop of modern history in Africa. The narration of Simon Vance is superb.

Naipaul - going in the Conrad's footpsteps...

From the beginning on my reading of "A Bend of the River" I was sure there must be a connection between Joseph Conrad and VS Naipaul.

These two books are linked on many levels. Both play their action on or close to Kongo river, yet both don't name it. Both deal with human nature more then with anything else....

"A Bend in the river" is the story of Salim, a Muslim of Indian origin, who lived in unnamed city on Africa East. At some moment in time he bought a store in the midland of the continent on "a bend in the river". His story is from now on related to the political turmoil of the country (possibly Congo) caused by its dictator - the Big Man - most likely Mobutu S?s? Seko. What is the most important in the book, is the impact the dictatorship had on the people - how it changed their minds. How it attracted people, and how it betrayed the in the end.
The book shows, how troubled Africa is. How difficult it is for Africa to emerge the democracy, to disavow violence and corruption - how deep these problems are - and how they cast shadow on human souls.

The book has also a beautiful love story plot....

VS Naipaul forms a conclusion and writes his conclusion ... at the very beginning of the book:
"The world is what it is; men who are nothing, who allow themselves to become nothing, have no place in it."

I was first shocked by the and by some interpretation of the book - as totally pessimistic. It seemed to me that there was a lot of hope in the book.

I thought like this, until I read about "Second Kongo War" ... it claimed almost 6 million victims.

What is Africa today? Who can you tell me ?

The best story about Mobutu’s Zaire

Amazing novel. Provides a sensitive and deeply engrossing account of life in Kisangani- the so called “bend in the river” (a colonial trading post that became a failed development project of Mobutu Sese Seko.) Though fictionalized and artistically written, it is far better as an account of that time and place than most nonfiction content you’ll come across. 10/10

Stunning

Disturbing? Yes. Thought provoking? Yes. Ultimately optimistic? No.
If you want a run-of-the-mill novel, this book is not for you. If you want to listen to something interesting, gripping, unique, and beautifully written, please listen.

Simon Vance, as always, is a delight. His subtle accents, delicate changes in tone, and intelligence are on full display here. He is my favorite narrator by far.

Disturbing

I found this book disturbing - not what I expected at all. It felt like a much too real look at the isolation and fear that many people on the planet live with daily. I can't say it left me hopeful about our chances of equalizing the use of resources on the planet or ending bigotry and nationalism. I'm like another reviewer here - needing to just sit with this and let it settle before reading anything else.

Technically I enjoyed the reader. The writing style is more diary-like than novel. I got lost a few times with story-line jumps that didn't flow, but I would recommend as a thought-provoking read.

Amazing prose

What an amazing listen this book was. Totally engrossing! Salim’s life starts as an adventure, an escape from the mundane, and yet becomes colorful, complex and hectic. The writing is the true champion here and the surroundings, the people, politics and Africa, the supporting pillar. You really aren’t quite sure how it will all end but as the narrator is telling us of his past, we can only deduce that no calamity occurs. This was my first Naipaul and I hope to engross myself in more of his tales. Ah, the ending – was that an ending? We will never know I guess.

Beautiful writing, story too episodic

The writing is vivid and poetic, but without a compelling plot, it's hard to fully enjoy this novel. This feels more like a journalistic account of post-colonial Africa than a story. The protagonist's goal seems to be to make a living and find amorous success. Frankly, it's just not that interesting.

I'm glad I listened to it -- the narration is top notch -- but I won't listen to it again.

Good book -- great prose

I knew nothing of this book until seeing it on a list of the best novels of the 20th century. Now, I must agree that A Bend in the River is a fabulous novel.

Though no specifics are named, A Bend in the River takes place almost certainly in Zaire, where the President (“the Big Man”) has put down the rebellion and restored order to the country. Business flourishes, and many rejoice in the promise of the future. Eventually, however, things take a turn for the worse. The political climate becomes more repressive, government corruption and poverty abound, and the place becomes a real mess.

The reader experiences this through the eyes of Salim, an Arab-African (more African than Arab) storeowner in the local city. Salim is a fascinating narrator – his observations can be brilliant and insightful, yet his detachment from the real world is quite striking. Salim’s ability to conceal his emotions from both the reader and himself is also of particular interest.

Readers should not expect an “action” novel – A Bend in the River falls much more along the style of E.M. Forster or Joseph Conrad – but Naipaul’s prose is superb. Feast your eyes on the opening sentence: “The world is what it is; men who are nothing, who allow themselves to become nothing, have no place in it.”

Simon Vance's narrative voice is also great.

I now understand why this book is so highly regarded. I have never read a better personal account of the rise and fall of a dictatorial regime, fiction or otherwise. Naipaul’s work makes fantastic modern fiction.