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Don Swaim Interviews

Audio Interviews with Paul Theroux

In this 1983 interview, Paul Theroux discusses growing up in Massachusetts in a literary family, joining the Peace Corps, and teaching and living overseas. Paul believes there is no competition in the business of writing, only competition with yourself. He discusses his book The Kingdom by the Sea, which had just been recently published in a hardback edition and he holds a mirror up to England and reveals English prejudices and faults that they ignore, but scorn other people for.

Listen to the Paul Theroux interview with Don Swaim, 1983
(25 min. 31 sec.)

In this 1984 interview with Don Swaim, Paul Theroux talks about his book, The Kingdom by the Sea. The book, in Theroux's words, tries to reach a conclusion about Great Britain, the country where he lived for thirteen years. He explains that the country is beginning to be a failure for the first time in history, after falling behind after the industrial revolution, and that is very hard on the self-esteem of the British. They go on to talk about some of his other books, writing genres, and how important it is to satisfy one's own curiosities.

Listen to the Paul Theroux interview with Don Swaim, 1984
(23 min. 25 sec.)

Paul Theroux, a winner of the prestigious Whitbread Award, discusses his books of memoirs, Sunrise With Seamonsters, in this 1985 interview with Don Swaim. Theroux also fills us in on how he came to know himself through his writings and talks of his days spent in Africa while working with the Peace Corp.

Listen to the Paul Theroux interview with Don Swaim, 1985
(27 min. 08 sec.)

Paul Theroux reminisces about his train trips through China and the Soviet Union in this 1988 interview with Don Swaim. He decided to only write about his train experiences wandering through the countries. He talked to many Chinese people and interviewed them and eventually wrote about them in a collection called The Great Railway Bazaar .

Listen to the Paul Theroux interview with Don Swaim, 1988
(25 min. 18 sec.)

Paul Theroux describes his latest novel, My Secret History, in this 1989 interview with Don Swaim. The book is a story of a young man, Andre Parent, who wants to be a writer and loves to read, which is a love that Paul considers a love of many writers. He also thinks reading many different types of books along with other things shapes a writer.

Listen to the Paul Theroux interview with Don Swaim, 1989
(21 min. 38 sec.)

In this 1991 interview, Paul Theroux talks with Don Swaim about traveling the world. According to Paul Theroux, it is better to travel alone as he says that traveling with another person only takes away from experiencing all that a place has to offer. It distorts the way one views something for a first time. Also, he thinks that a camera distracts from observation. He has traveled all over the world and tries to use the same mind set when visiting Chicago. His observation is that Chicago is a perfect place to disappear. The only place Paul Theroux tries to avoid is the turmoil of the Middle East.

Listen to the Paul Theroux interview with Don Swaim, 1991
(29 min. 08 sec.)