The Paper Men


The Paper Men is a 1984 novel by British writer William Golding.

Plot summary

The novel follows Wilfred Barclay, an alcoholic and middle-aged writer trapped in an unhappy marriage, and his conflict with Rick Tucker, a young professor determined to write Barclay's biography. Barclay tries to escape Tucker’s attention by fleeing to Europe. Tucker is desperate to gain control over the writer's personal papers as he pursues Barclay across Europe.

Origins

Golding was inspired to write the novel when reading Carlos Baker's biography of Ernest Hemingway. Wilfred Barclay is to some extent a self-portrait by Golding, who was not patient with his critics.