A week or so before he died, Jonathan Raban sent me an email:
“I apologise for my dreadful tardiness in reading your manuscript, and promise you an explanation later. Many thanks for your communiques from the ship, and you are a better man than I. Love, J and Happy New Year.”
I happened to be sailing in the Indian Ocean: Raban, a now land-locked sailor, delighted in hearing of the sort of seas and weather and coastlines he extolled in Coasting and Passage to Juneau. A few days later, his explanation came in a message to his closest friends:
“I’m in hospital, so drugged up that I cannot physically write and am dictating this to Julia… I may be back in perhaps a month’s time or I may not be back during my lifetime… I’m sorry not to be able to write to you individually but I need you to know how ‘iffy’ my health and likelihood of much further life are.”
He went on to describe in detail his serious medical condition, then closed: “This is not a subtle letter. But I hope it answers to the immediate moment.”
This was characteristic Jonathan: fluent, responsive, uncomplaining, clear-sighted, fatalistic. What he called his “dreadful tardiness” in reading my manuscript was only a few weeks. He was my first reader. I sent him my final drafts and he always responded with a long message within a few days — no editor I have ever had, in almost 60 years, has been this prompt with a manuscript, which is obviously why I depended on Jonathan. He did the same with me, over the years, sending me his work in progress, asking for a response.
It is cold comfort but still a satisfaction to know that just a month or so ago he did the final edits on a book he’d been working on for 10 years or more, a memoir recounting his stroke in 2011, his war-time childhood, and his father’s role as an officer in European and Middle Eastern battles; his most ambitious book, a complex story conflating personal history with national history, illness, loyalty and conflict. It was not until he got to the end that he found the title. A few months ago, he wrote me: “Book has title now: ‘Father and Son,’ my suggestion, and a steal from Edmund Gosse, an agnostic whose father was a Plymouth Brethren preacher… Two clergymen, two sons.”
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SubscribeNot having read Theroux but aware of his reputation, i’d be interested to read comments from those familiar with his work, and indeed the work of Raban.
This article is a fine tribute, but i can’t escape the feeling, alluded to by Theroux, that this type of writing is disappearing and there’s a redolence of a bygone age.
I can recommend Theroux’s The Mosquito Coast. Something that has stuck with me is the description of the book’s main character by another as “the worst kind of pain in the ass: the kind that’s sometimes right”.
The only Theroux I’ve read, probably about 30 years ago, is his novel The Mosquito Coast, which I remember enjoying. I had a comparably high estimation of Raban’s travelogue Arabia, which I read around the same time.
Thanks to both for replies. I’ll look up The Mosquito Coast.
Thanks to both for replies. I’ll look up The Mosquito Coast.
I can recommend Theroux’s The Mosquito Coast. Something that has stuck with me is the description of the book’s main character by another as “the worst kind of pain in the ass: the kind that’s sometimes right”.
The only Theroux I’ve read, probably about 30 years ago, is his novel The Mosquito Coast, which I remember enjoying. I had a comparably high estimation of Raban’s travelogue Arabia, which I read around the same time.
Not having read Theroux but aware of his reputation, i’d be interested to read comments from those familiar with his work, and indeed the work of Raban.
This article is a fine tribute, but i can’t escape the feeling, alluded to by Theroux, that this type of writing is disappearing and there’s a redolence of a bygone age.
Thank you for this interesting and affectionate reflection on a strong personality by a fine friend – and a good nudge towards some literature which I will now search out to read Occasionally finding something like this is another reason why I delve into Unherd almost every day.
Thank you for this interesting and affectionate reflection on a strong personality by a fine friend – and a good nudge towards some literature which I will now search out to read Occasionally finding something like this is another reason why I delve into Unherd almost every day.
I have read pretty much all of Thoreau and Raban – all thought provoking and entertaining – no surprize that they were a great partnership – and one half now sorely missed .RIP Jonathan. I will read my copy of Passage to Juneau again in remembrance……….
I have read pretty much all of Thoreau and Raban – all thought provoking and entertaining – no surprize that they were a great partnership – and one half now sorely missed .RIP Jonathan. I will read my copy of Passage to Juneau again in remembrance……….
Many years ago I read and loved his travelogue Arabia, and have always regretted not reading more of his writings.
I also enjoyed Arabia, but for my money the late Dervla Murphy was unbeatable, particularly the Ethiopian adventure with her ‘beloved’ mule ‘Jock’.
ps. You maybe delighted to hear that ‘Rubber Johnny’ Holland (aka Thorax ) returned to the fray last night!
As below.
I also enjoyed Arabia, but for my money the late Dervla Murphy was unbeatable, particularly the Ethiopian adventure with her ‘beloved’ mule ‘Jock’.
ps. You maybe delighted to hear that ‘Rubber Johnny’ Holland (aka Thorax ) returned to the fray last night!
As below.
Many years ago I read and loved his travelogue Arabia, and have always regretted not reading more of his writings.
Unherd’s gain is the rest of the media’s loss with this wonderful piece.
I have read and enjoyed every novel and story of Paul’s, as well as his renowned travel books. His recommendations drove me to Jonathan Raban and Bruce Chatwin and caused me to take another look at VS Naipaul.
Unherd’s gain is the rest of the media’s loss with this wonderful piece.
I have read and enjoyed every novel and story of Paul’s, as well as his renowned travel books. His recommendations drove me to Jonathan Raban and Bruce Chatwin and caused me to take another look at VS Naipaul.
Sir Vidia’s Shadow – Theroux’s book about his friendship with VS Naipaul is truly brilliant. An ultimately loving memoir of a friendship that went sour.
I also loved his Dark Star Safari…his journey from Cairo to Cape Town.
Yes, Dark Star Safari is a remarkable book, well worth the time. He undertook the journey, in part, to coincide with his 60th year and celebrated the Birthday upon arrival in South Africa. Sadly, as with some of his other extensive travels — through China and South America for example — such a journey would be impossible today.
’My Secret History’ – a (semi) fictionalised autobiography is fascinating. BTW the meeting between Theroux and Jonathan Rabin RIP receives hilariously different write-ups in their respective travel books.
Yes, Dark Star Safari is a remarkable book, well worth the time. He undertook the journey, in part, to coincide with his 60th year and celebrated the Birthday upon arrival in South Africa. Sadly, as with some of his other extensive travels — through China and South America for example — such a journey would be impossible today.
’My Secret History’ – a (semi) fictionalised autobiography is fascinating. BTW the meeting between Theroux and Jonathan Rabin RIP receives hilariously different write-ups in their respective travel books.
Sir Vidia’s Shadow – Theroux’s book about his friendship with VS Naipaul is truly brilliant. An ultimately loving memoir of a friendship that went sour.
I also loved his Dark Star Safari…his journey from Cairo to Cape Town.
Slow censorship.