The Mystic Masseur

The Mystic Masseur, V.S. Naipaul's first published novel, is the story of Ganesh, who at the beginning of the novel is a struggling masseur at a time when, as the narrator puts it, masseurs were ten a penny in Trinidad'. He soon begins a meteoric rise, from failed primary school teacher and masseur to author, revered mystic and MBE. This is a journey equally memorable for its hilarity as its bewildering success. Naipaul's clarity of style, humorous touch and powerful characterization are all in evidence in one of the author's finest creations. Inventive, touching and perceptive, this novel is a wonderful introduction for readers new to Naipaul's writing.