Vikram Seth was born in Calcutta in 1952. The son of a shoe company executive and a judge, Seth left India to study at Oxford where he earned degrees in philosophy, economics, and politics. He also studied creative writing at Stanford and classical Chinese poetry at Nanjing University, China.
Since he was first published in 1980, Seth has produced six books of poetry and three novels. His first novel, "The Golden Gate," is written entirely in tetrameter sonnets and follows young San Francisco professionals in their quest to find love. "The Suitable Boy," his prose fiction debut, examines multigenerational Hindu/Muslim conflict in 1950s India.
"The Suitable Boy" sold over one million copies and holds the distinction of being the longest single volume ever published in English. Eugene Robinson, a literary critic for the Washington Post remarked, "I have little doubt that...Vikram Seth is already the best writer of his generation." Other critics compared him to George Eliot, Leo Tolstoy, and Geothe.
His latest novel, "An Equal Music," (Broadway Books) "is a sensitive, meticulous novel that has something of the delicacy of a haiku." (Salon) Michael, the violinist in a London string quartet, sees a former lover on a bus and rekindles the love they once shared, despite her married status. The book is not just a tumultuous love story, however; Seth delves into the international music scene and into the souls of musicians.
Bold Type features an interview with Vikram Seth.
Hear Vikram Seth read from "An Equal Music."
From "An Equal Music" ) 2000, Vikram Seth. Used by permission of Random House, Inc. No reproduction of this material is authorized without the express written consent of the Licensor.
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