A House for Mr. Biswas: A Novel (Vintage International)

V. S. Naipaul's novel follows Mr. Mohun Biswas through his forty-six years of life as he struggles to achieve independence and escape a pattern of misfortune. After his father's drowning death, for which he bears responsibility, Biswas is moved repeatedly and develops a deep desire for a home of his own. When Biswas marries into the Tulsi family, he becomes dependent on them despite his resentment of their control. He then undertakes a prolonged effort to free himself from their influence and purchase his own house. The novel presents his quest for autonomy against a post-colonial setting, combining dark comedy with tragic elements as it traces one man's lifelong struggle against circumstance.