Vikram Seth - Definition and Overview

Vikram Seth (born June 20, 1952) is an Indian novelist and poet. He was born and raised in Calcutta. He was educated at The Doon School and Tonbridge School. He read Philosophy, Politics and Economics (PPE) as an undergraduate at Oxford University, and did post-graduate study in economics at Stanford University. He also studied classical Chinese poetry at Nanjing University.

He is best known for his novels: The Golden Gate (1986), about San Francisco, written in verse as a very long sonnet sequence; A Suitable Boy (1993), a very long panoramic view of India in the nineteenth century Russian style; and An Equal Music (1999), set in contemporary Europe.

He is the son of Leila Seth, the first woman Chief Justice of India.

Poetry

• Mappings (1980)
• From Heaven Lake (1983)
• The Humble Administrator's Garden (1985)
• All You Who Sleep Tonight (1990),
• Beastly Tales (1991)
• Three Chinese Poets (1992)

Libretto

• Arion and the Dolphin (1994) for the English National Opera; published as an illustrated book.

External Links

The Literary Encyclopedia's article on Vikram Seth (http://www.litencyc.com/php/speople.php?rec=true&UID=4020)