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Vikram Seth

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description Vikram Seth Overview

Vikram Seth is an Indian novelist and poet best known for 'A Suitable Boy' (1993), a novel of over 1,300 pages set in post-partition India that ranks among the longest single-volume novels published in English. The narrative interweaves the stories of four families in a fictional North Indian city in the early 1950s. Seth's other works include the novel 'An Equal Music' (1999), the travel memoir 'From Heaven Lake' (1983), and several collections of poetry.

help Vikram Seth FAQ

How many pages are in Vikram Seth's A Suitable Boy?

A Suitable Boy, published in 1993, is famously one of the longest single-volume novels ever published in English, containing over 1,300 pages. The massive book is set in post-independence India and explores multiple intertwined families.

Is there a sequel to Vikram Seth's A Suitable Boy?

Seth spent many years writing a planned sequel titled A Suitable Girl, but it faced massive delays and publishing disputes. As of the mid-2020s, the sequel has not been officially published, leaving A Suitable Boy as a standalone work.

What time period does Vikram Seth's A Suitable Boy take place in?

The novel is set in 1951, just a few years after India gained independence from British rule in 1947. It deals heavily with the political tensions of the era, including the debate over abolishing the zamindari system.

Did Vikram Seth write the BBC television adaptation of A Suitable Boy?

No, Vikram Seth only wrote the original 1993 novel. The 2020 BBC television miniseries was directed by Mira Nair and adapted for the screen by Andrew Davies.