Vikram Seth

Date of Birth: June 20, 1952

Zodiac Sign: Gemini

Biography

Vikram Seth is an acclaimed Indian novelist and poet, renowned for his versatility and the broad scope of his literary works. He was born in Kolkata, India, and raised in a highly intellectual environment; his mother, Leila Seth, was the first woman judge of the Delhi High Court, and his father, Prem Seth, was an executive for a tea company. Seth’s education was international and extensive. He attended The Doon School in India, followed by Tonbridge School in England. He later pursued higher education at Corpus Christi College, Oxford, Stanford University in the United States, and Nanjing University in China. This diverse academic background significantly influenced his literary style and the themes of his works. Vikram Seth is best known for his epic novel “A Suitable Boy,” published in 1993. The book is one of the longest novels ever published in a single volume in the English language. It explores the intricate lives and societal norms of post-independence India through the lens of a young woman’s quest to find a suitable husband. Apart from “A Suitable Boy,” Seth has authored several other notable works, including “The Golden Gate,” a novel in verse set in California, and “An Equal Music,” which delves into the lives of classical musicians. He is also a prolific poet, with collections such as “Mappings” and “All You Who Sleep Tonight” to his name. Seth’s writing is celebrated for its depth, lyrical quality, and meticulous attention to detail. He has received numerous awards and honors, including the Padma Shri, one of India’s highest civilian awards, and the WH Smith Literary Award.

5 Interesting Facts about Vikram Seth

1. Vikram Seth’s novel “A Suitable Boy” was adapted into a BBC television series in 2020.

2. He has a strong interest in classical music and has written extensively about it, particularly in his novel “An Equal Music.”

3. Seth is proficient in several languages, including English, Hindi, Urdu, and Mandarin.

4. He once lived in a monastery in China while working on his book “From Heaven Lake: Travels through Sinkiang and Tibet.”

5. Vikram Seth was awarded the Padma Shri by the Government of India in 2007 for his contributions to literature.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Vikram Seth

1. “God save us from people who mean well.”

2. “When you have a great and difficult task, something perhaps almost impossible, if you only work a little at a time, every day a little, suddenly the work will finish itself.”

3. “It’s a rare reader who doesn’t go into a novel expecting to be entertained.”

4. “Writers are not meant for public consumption.”

5. “The world is what it is; men who are nothing, who allow themselves to become nothing, have no place in it.”