Because I subscribe to The Spectator, I read a lot of criticism of the BBC, but it is one of a handful of stations I listen to while in the car (on SiriusXM). And Wednesday evening, driving home from dinner at Greek Islands Taverna, I heard an interview with Paul Theroux about his book Deep South. It is not his most recent book, not even his most recent travel book, yet someone at the BBC thought it would be interesting to have him talk about it now. Not for a few minutes, as might be expected here in the U.S., but for an hour. The host of the show had him read a few excerpts, and asked him questions, and then opened it up to questions from people around the world: New Zealand, Italy, the United States. Most were fans, but one caller suggested that Theroux came across as too negative in his books. “I’m one of the most affable people you’ll ever meet,” Theroux told the man laughing and, having met him, I nodded in agreement. He described himself, in his books, as “unsparing” – which seemed a very accurate description. I reached home before the interview had ended and listened to the last 10 minutes while sitting in our condo parking lot and thinking how I’d never hear such an exchange on NPR.
