A house for Mr. Biswas
(Book)
Author
Published
New York : Vintage International, 2001., New York : Vintage International, 2001.
Edition
First Vintage International edition.
Physical Desc
564 pages ; 21 cm.
Accelerated Reader
IL: UG - BL: 6.8 - AR Pts: 33
Status
Description
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Copies
Location | Call Number | Status |
---|---|---|
Alamosa Public Library - FICTION | FICTION NAI | On Shelf |
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Subjects
LC Subjects
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More Details
Published
New York : Vintage International, 2001., New York : Vintage International, 2001.
Format
Book
Edition
First Vintage International edition.
Language
English
Accelerated Reader
UG
Level 6.8, 33 Points
Level 6.8, 33 Points
Lexile measure
840
Notes
Description
A House for Mr. Biswas follows the life of Mr. Mohun Biswas, a protagonist inspired by Naipaul's father, as he struggles to find his freedom and a house of his own. The son of a poor laborer in Trinidad, Mr. Biswas is forced to live as a guest in one crowded, inhospitable house after another. After his father dies, his family moves in with his mother's sister, Tara, and he is humiliated and beaten by Tara's brother-in-law Bhandat. Mr. Biswas vows, "I am going to get a job on my own. And I am going to get my own house too. I am finished with this" [p. 64]. He goes to work as a sign-painter for the Tulsi family, and there he begins a flirtation with Shama. After his love letter is discovered by Mrs. Tulsi, Mr. Biswas is bullied into marrying Shama, thus beginning a long and unhappy marriage that produces four children, a constant struggle for money, and countless bitter quarrels. After a brief and failed attempt to run a dry goods store in The Chase, Mr. Biswas and his family return to live with the Tulsi family, a pattern that recurs thoughout the novel. It is in Port of Spain that Mr. Biswas comes closest to happiness, working as a journalist for the tabloid Sentinel, writing outlandish stories, and achieving a degree of local fame. Here, too, his son Anand excels in school and shows signs of talent as a writer. But Mr. Biswas's fortunes suffer several reversals, and it is not until the very end of his life that he is finally able to buy a house--only to find the experience much different than he had imagined. A vivid portrait of a man who fights to free himself from the entanglements of family, custom, and religion, A House for Mr. Biswas is also an unforgettable look inside colonial society at the beginnings of great transition. - Publisher.
Target Audience
840,Lexile.
Study Program Information
Accelerated Reader AR,UG,6.8,33.0,43272.
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Citations
APA Citation, 7th Edition (style guide)
Naipaul, V. S. 1. (2001). A house for Mr. Biswas (First Vintage International edition.). Vintage International.
Chicago / Turabian - Author Date Citation, 17th Edition (style guide)Naipaul, V. S. 1932-. 2001. A House for Mr. Biswas. Vintage International.
Chicago / Turabian - Humanities (Notes and Bibliography) Citation, 17th Edition (style guide)Naipaul, V. S. 1932-. A House for Mr. Biswas Vintage International, 2001.
MLA Citation, 9th Edition (style guide)Naipaul, V. S. 1932-. A House for Mr. Biswas First Vintage International edition., Vintage International, 2001.
Note! Citations contain only title, author, edition, publisher, and year published. Citations should be used as a guideline and should be double checked for accuracy. Citation formats are based on standards as of August 2021.
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