The Middle Passage

Naipaul travels with the artist’s eye and ear and his observations are sharply discerning.Evelyn Waugh

Belongs in the same category of travel writing as Lawrence’s books on Italy, Greene’s on West Africa and Pritchett’s on Spain.New Statesman

Where earlier travellers enthused or recoiled, Mr Naipaul explains. His tone is critical but humane, and he tempers his inevitable indignation with an admirable sense of comedy.Observer

Dazzling reportorial skills and a sharp historical mind.New York Times Book Review