Figures In a Landscape
Cover, 1st edition, US
AuthorPaul Theroux
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
SubjectCollection of essays
PublisherHoughton Mifflin Harcourt
Publication date
May 8, 2018
Media typePrint, hardback
Pages386
ISBN978-0-544-87030-7

Figures in a Landscape, subtitled: People and Places; Essays: 2001-2016, is a collection of thirty essays, profiles, articles and book introductions all by Paul Theroux.[1] The thirty pieces cover a wide variety of topics including authors, artists, celebrities, Africa, travel experiences, reading and the craft of writing.

This 2018 volume is a companion to earlier published collections of Theroux's essays and articles including Sunrise with Seamonsters (1985) and Fresh Air Fiend (2000).

Contents

# Title [1] Topic(s) Previously appeared [1]
1 My Drug Tour: Searching for Ayahuasca Trip to Ecuador in search of a psychoactive plant as "Honey, the Shaman Shrunk My Head", Men's Journal
2 Thoreau in the Wilderness Henry David Thoreau, author Introduction to The Maine Woods (Princeton University Press)
3 Liz in Neverland Elizabeth Taylor and Michael Jackson, celebrities and close friends Talk magazine (defunct)
4 Greeneland Graham Greene, author New York Times and introductions to the Penguin editions of Greene's Journey Without Maps and The Comedians
5 Hunter in the Kingdom of Fear Hunter S. Thompson, author and gonzo journalist The Guardian, newspaper
6 Conrad at Sea Joseph Conrad, author Introduction to Typhoon and Other Tales (Folio Society)
7 Simenon's World Georges Simenon, author Introduction to The Widow (New York Review Books Classics)
8 Dr. Sacks, the Healer Oliver Sacks, neurologist, naturalist and author as "My Friend the Doctor", Prospect (February 20, 1999)
9 Nurse Wolf, the Hurter A professional dominatrix in New York The New Yorker (June 7, 1998)
10 Robin Williams: "Who’s He When He’s at Home?" Robin Williams, comedian and actor Talk magazine
11 Tea with Muriel Spark Muriel Spark, Scottish author Talk magazine
12 Mrs. Robinson Revisited Older women, younger men Harper's Bazaar (March, 2002)
13 Talismans for Our Dreams Collecting objects in travels Departures (March 30, 2010)
14 The Rock Star's Burden Bono, Africa, charity & harm done New York Times (December 15, 2005)
15 Living with Geese Raising geese, anthropomorphism and E.B. White Smithsonian (December 2006)
16 Trespassing in Africa A harrowing experience of Theroux as a young man in Africa Granta
17 The Seizures in Zimbabwe Zimbabwe commercial farmers chased from their farms by local gangs and politicians Epilogue to the paperback edition of Dark Star Safari
18 Stanley: The Ultimate African Explorer Review of biography of Henry Morton Stanley by Tim Jeal New York Times book review (September 30, 2007)
19 Paul Bowles: Not a Tourist Paul Bowles Introduction to The Sheltering Sky (Penguin)
20 Maugham: Up and Down in Asia W. Somerset Maugham Introduction to The Gentleman in the Parlour (Vintage Classics)
21 English Hours: Nothing Personal Memories as an expatriate living in England in 1970s and ‘80s Granta #114 (February 10, 2011)
22 Traveling Beyond Google Traveling to places despite receiving warnings to stay away as "Why We Travel", New York Times (April 1, 2011)
23 Hawaii: Islands upon Islands Hawaii; reflections on the author's adopted home of 22 years as "One Man's Islands", Smithsonian magazine (May 2012)
24 Mockingbird in Monroeville A visit to the Monroeville Alabama home town of Harper Lee, the author of To Kill a Mockingbird as "Return of the Mockingbird" in Smithsonian magazine (July 2015)
25 Benton's America Thomas Hart Benton and his work America Today Smithsonian magazine (December 2014)
26 My Life as a Reader Author's reading passions Introduction to On Reading, photographs by Steve McCurry (Phaidon)
27 The Real Me: A Memory A harrowing experience of Theroux as a college student n/a
28 Life and the Magazine Life magazine and meeting Gardner McKay New York Times Magazine
29 Dear Old Dad: Memories of My Father The author's father Granta #98 (July 2, 2007)
30 The Trouble with Autobiography The genre of autobiography Smithsonian magazine (January 2011)

Reception

In the Irish Times Dervla Murphy found favor with "a superb set of musings on Graham Greene’s life and works."[2]

In the New York Times Tom Zoellner said "What emerges [instead] is a portrait of an optimist with curiosity and affection for humanity in all its forms, as well as a ravenous appetite for the literary efforts of others."[3]

Kirkus Review called it "A masterfully simple and satisfying collection."[4]

In the Guardian Robert McCrum said "There are several highly entertaining essays here, and some quotably arresting lines, but the voice is elusive, unfixed and dissonant – an echo of the divisions within."[5]

References

  1. ^ a b c Theroux, Paul. Figures in a Landscape. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
  2. ^ Murphy, Dervla (19 May 2018). "Figures in a Landscape: People and Places by Paul Theroux". The Irish Times. Retrieved 21 Dec 2019.
  3. ^ Zoellner, Tom (1 Jun 2018). "Paul Theroux's New Book Ranges From Literature to Landscapes, With Surprising Cheer". New York Times. Retrieved 21 Dec 2019.
  4. ^ "FIGURES IN A LANDSCAPE". Kirkus Review. No. March 15th, 2018. Retrieved 21 Dec 2019.
  5. ^ McCrum, Robert (24 Jun 2018). "Figures in a Landscape by Paul Theroux review – a writer driven by divided loyalties". the Guardian. Retrieved 21 Dec 2019.
Categories