Vikram Seth was born in Kolkata, India to successful parents. Seth’s mother was a prominent judge, and his father was an executive at a shoe company. Throughout his academic career, Vikram Seth seemed destined to follow a path to the financial sector. A trip to China for an aborted thesis ended Vikram Seth’s dream of a financial career. Instead, his literary abilities pushed him to become a poet and novelist.
The Early Biography of Vikram Seth
Born in Kolkata, Vikram Seth has his roots in the Punjab region of India. The prize-winning author spent his childhood traveling between India and the U.K. Seth’s education took him to St. Xavier’s High School before heading to London to complete his Bachelor’s at Corpus Christi College, Oxford. By the time Vikram Seth arrived at Stanford University in California to complete his Ph.D. in economics his interest in the financial sector was fading.
An Important Trip to China
Learning about Vikram Seth means understanding the impact of a trip to China he took in 1980. The field trip to China aimed to further his financial education with a thesis on the changing economic climate. Seth’s interests had shifted to writing which led to the publication of his first book. “Mappings” is a collection of poetry that did not prove a commercial success despite kind notices from critics.
From 1980 to 1982, Seth spent his time learning about the intricacies of Chinese literature. The return to India of Vikram Seth formed the basis of his first novel, “From Heaven Lake.” The novel was based on Seth’s journey across China back to India.
A Literary Career
The success of “From Heaven Lake” gave Vikram Seth the chance to explore his writing seriously. Seth no longer spent his time learning about finance but focused on his writing. By 1986, Seth had the confidence to explore an experimental approach to his second novel. “The Golden Gate” is the story of people in Silicon Valley and how their lives intertwine. The book is notable because it was written in verse. His literary career of Seth continued through the 1980s with the release of another book of poetry and a collection of short stories.
“A Suitable Boy” Leads to Literary Success
The success of Seth as a writer had been growing through the 1980s. The 1990s would prove to be the start of a new era for the Indian author. Seth’s career was launched to a new level when he released “A Suitable Boy.” The novel deals with the period before the first general election after India’s independence from Britain. The novel is one of the most important in Indian literature and is seen as Seth’s masterwork. The novel remains the longest ever published in the English language at 1349 pages. Despite its grounding in family structures, “A Suitable Boy” reflects the political and social issues facing the Indian nation in the post-colonial period.
More Than a Novelist
The biography of Vikram Seth cannot focus solely on his literary career. Among the work he has accomplished musician has completed is the book for the English National Opera. Seth remains a committed activist and has been in a relationship with the French musician Phillippe Hoinore for several years. Among his accolades is being appointed a Member of the British Empire by the Queen and being awarded the Padma Shri in India.
FAQs
Seth is one of India’s most respected authors. His novel, “A Suitable Boy” remains a global bestseller.
The author released his first book of poetry, “Mappings” in 1980. His first novel, “From Heaven Lake” was released in 1983.
The author is openly gay and remains in a long-term relationship. Vikram Seth and French musician Phillippe Honore remain in a committed same-sex relationship.
