"In a Free State" is a novel by V.S. Naipaul, published in 1971, which won him the Booker Prize. This book is a collection of short stories that explore the experiences of displaced individuals trying to find their place in various "free" societies. Naipaul draws from his Indian heritage and childhood in Trinidad to examine what freedom means in different contexts, including the chaotic freedom of an emerging revolution and the anarchic freedom of holding power over others ¹.
The novel consists of three short stories and a novella. The first story, "One out of Many, " follows Santosh, a cook and servant who accompanies his boss to Washington, D.C., only to face poverty, racism and illegal immigration. The second story, "Tell Me Who to Kill, " revolves around a West Indian narrator who reflects on his life, including his decision to kill someone in a fit of rage. The novella, also titled "In a Free State, " takes place in an unnamed African country on the brink of chaos, where two young British people embark on a perilous road trip ¹.
Through these stories, Naipaul explores themes of identity, belonging and the complexities of freedom. His writing often critiques colonialism and the struggles of post-colonial societies, reflecting his own experiences as a Trinidadian writer of Indian descent ². Naipaul’s work has been recognized globally, earning him the Nobel Prize in Literature in 2001 ².