Marcel Theroux
Marcel Theroux
Full Name and Common Aliases
Marcel Theroux is a British author, journalist, and broadcaster. His full name is Marcel Louis Sébastien Theroux, but he is commonly known by his pen name Marcel Theroux.
Birth and Death Dates
Born on August 18, 1968, in London, England, Marcel Theroux is still active in the literary world. As of my last update, there is no record of him passing away.
Nationality and Profession(s)
Theroux holds British nationality and has worked as a novelist, journalist, and broadcaster throughout his career. He is best known for his novels that often explore themes of identity, culture, and human relationships.
Early Life and Background
Marcel Theroux comes from a family with a long tradition in literature. His grandfather was the famous travel writer Paul Theroux, while his uncle is the renowned author Alexander Theroux. Marcel's early life was marked by frequent moves between England and Africa, where his parents worked as aid workers.
This upbringing had a profound impact on Theroux's writing style, which often reflects his experiences living in different cultures and observing the complexities of human relationships. He has stated that his family background influenced his interest in exploring themes of identity, culture, and belonging in his work.
Major Accomplishments
Theroux is an accomplished author with several novels to his name. Some of his notable works include:
Farrago's Travel (1997): a coming-of-age novel set against the backdrop of South Africa during apartheid
The Marguerite Set (2006): a historical novel that explores the lives of four women connected by their involvement with the artist Pierre-Auguste Renoir
* Far North (2011): a post-apocalyptic novel that delves into themes of love, survival, and redemption
These novels showcase Theroux's versatility as an author and his ability to craft compelling stories across various genres.
Notable Works or Actions
Theroux has worked extensively in journalism, contributing articles and reviews to publications such as The Guardian and The Independent. He is also a skilled broadcaster and has presented programs on BBC Radio 4.
As a journalist, Theroux has covered a wide range of topics, from politics and culture to literature and history. His writing often reflects his interests in exploring the complexities of human relationships and the importance of understanding different cultures.
Impact and Legacy
Marcel Theroux's work has had a significant impact on contemporary literature. His novels have been praised for their nuanced exploration of themes such as identity, belonging, and cultural heritage. Theroux's ability to craft compelling stories that engage readers from diverse backgrounds has made him a respected voice in the literary world.
Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered
Theroux is widely quoted and remembered for his thought-provoking insights into human relationships, culture, and identity. His work continues to inspire new generations of writers and thinkers, offering fresh perspectives on complex issues.
As an author, journalist, and broadcaster, Marcel Theroux has made a lasting impact on the literary world. His commitment to exploring themes that resonate with readers from diverse backgrounds has cemented his place as one of the most important voices in contemporary literature.
Quotes by Marcel Theroux

I loved my father, but I was not like him. I never needed to believe the best of people. I took them as they were: two-faced, desperate, kind – perhaps all at once. But to Pa, they were all children of god, poor troubled sheep, who only needed love and an even break. He needed the world to back up what his religion told him about people. And when it came down to a choice between reason and faith, he let go of reason.

What I found in a city – when I finally saw a real one – was disquieting. Nothing matched. It was a weird assemblage of things, but there was beauty in the oddness of it, and the thought that it was all man’s doing. But.

I had always believed that right was like north to my father: a thing as real as sunlight, a place on the map, the arrow on a compass.

It’s a kind of heresy to say so, but I think our race has made forms more beautiful than what was here before us. Sometimes god’s handiwork is crude. There is no more ugly thing than a lobster. There’s not much pretty about a caribou. It has an ungainly walk and its touchhole voids droppings when it strains in harness. Was there a straight line on earth before we drew one?

I had always believed that right was like north to my father: a thing as real as sunlight, a place on the map, the arrow on a compass. It was the unalterable facts of duty, love, and conscience. But our world had gone so far north that the compass could make no sense of it, could only spin hopelessly in it binnacle. North had melted right off the map.




