Vikram Seth - Writers, Family and Personal Life
Vikram Seth's Personal Details
Vikram Seth is an Indian novelist, poet, and travel writer, best known for his epic novel ‘A Suitably Boy’
| Information | Detail |
|---|---|
| Birthday | June 20, 1952 |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Famous | Gays, Oxford University, Stanford University, Writers, Poets, Novelists |
| Siblings | Aradhana Seth, Shantum |
| Universities |
|
| Notable Alumnis |
|
| Birth Place | Kolkata |
| Religion | Hinduism |
| Height | 160 |
| Gender | Male |
| Father | Prem Seth |
| Mother | Leila Seth |
| Sun Sign | Gemini |
| Born in | Kolkata |
| Famous as | Writer |
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Vikram Seth's photo
Who is Vikram Seth?
Vikram Seth is an Indian novelist, poet, and travel writer, best known for his epic novel ‘A Suitably Boy’. He has been in the field of writing for more than three decades and is regarded as one of the most influential writers of the modern era. Vikram Seth was born in Kolkata, India and studied at some of the best schools in the country before going to England for higher studies. He graduated from Corpus Christi College, Oxford and did his master's in economics from Stanford University, U.S.A. before embarking on a literary career. His first book, a collection of poems, titled ‘Mappings’ did not get much attention but he came into attention with his second book ‘From Heaven Lake’ which chronicled his journey from China to India. The novel ‘The Golden Gate’ published in 1986 made him one of the most highly acclaimed novelists of his time and the book won him plenty of accolade from readers as well as critics. However, it was his novel ‘A Suitable Boy’ that really catapulted him into the league of the most well known novelists of his time and remains his most famous work. The novel is one of the longest novels written in the English language and is regarded as a modern classic due to the range of topics that it touched upon.
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Childhood & Early Life
Vikram Seth was born to Prem Seth and his wife Leila Seth, on 20 June 1952, in Calcutta (now renamed Kolkata) located in the state of West Bengal in India. His father was an executive with Bata shoe company, while his mother was a judge. He was the eldest among his parents’ three children.
He studied at the St. Michael’s School, Patna, St. Xavier’s School, Patna and subsequently at The Doon School, Dehra Dun. Thereafter, he moved to England and completed his A-Levels from the Tonbridge School.
After graduating from high school, he studied Philosophy, Politics and Economics at Corpus Christi College, Oxford and graduated with a B. A. Degree in 1975. From 1975 to 1986, he pursued his Ph.D. at Stanford University, California, U.S.A.
Career
During his time at Stanford University in the United States, he had been a Wallace Stegner Fellow in the field of creative writing and it was at this point that he penned the poems that were published in his first published work, ‘Mappings’, in 1980. The book did not get kind reviews from critics.
From 1980 to 1982, he was in China to his field research. He traveled extensively across China gathering material for a doctoral dissertation that he never wrote.. While in China, he studied classical Chinese poetry and language at Nanjing University.In 1983, his second book, 'From Heaven Lake', was published. It gave an account of his hitchhiking journey from China to India. The book was critically acclaimed and his work got noticed.In 1985, he came out with another collection of his poems, titled, ‘The Humble Administrator’s Garden’.
In 1986, his novel ‘The Golden Gate’ was published which was unique since the entire novel was written in verse and dealt with the lives of people in Silicon Valley. The novel was inspired by Aleksandr Pushkin’s work Eugene Onegin. The novel was successful and brought him plenty of accolades from the literary press.
In 1990, he published another book of poetry titled ‘All You Who Sleep Tonight’ and, in 1992, he came out with another collection of poems ‘Three Chinese Poets’.
In 1992, Seth wrote a children’s book titled ‘Beastly Tales from Hera and There’ in which he penned ten stories, all of which were about animals.
In 1993, he produced his most famous work in the form of the epic novel ‘A Suitable Boy’; the story deals with the complex familial structures in post-independence India. The book contains 1349 pages and is one of the longest novels ever published in a single volume in the English language.
He continued to write poems and came up with another collection ‘The Frog and the Nightingale’ in 1994.
In 1999, his novel ‘Equal Music’ was published. The story revolves around Michael, a professional violinist, and his love, Julia, a pianist. The novel was well received by musical fans, and was appreciated for the accuracy of Vikram Seth's descriptions of music.
In 2005, he came out with his second non-fiction work, 'Two Lives'. It is the story of his great uncle, Shanti Behari Seth, and of his German Jewish great aunt, Hennerle Gerda Caro.
He is currently working on the sequel to ‘A Suitable Boy’ titled ‘A Suitable Girl’ which could be released in 2016.
Major Works
His novel ‘A Suitable Boy’ is without doubt his most important work in his career as a writer. It is one of the longest novels ever written in the English language and deals with the national political issues in the period leading up to the first post-Independence national election of India in 1952.
Awards & Achievements
In 1985, he won the Sahitya Akademi Award, an Indian literary honour, for his book ‘The Golden Gate’.
In 2001, he was made an Order of the British Empire.
In 2007, he was bestowed with ‘Padma Shri’—India’s fourth highest civilian honour.
Personal Life & Legacy
Vikram Seth is openly gay and was in a long term relationship with French musician/violinist Philippe Honore.
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Vikram Seth biography timelines
- // 1349 To 1993In 1993, he produced his most famous work in the form of the epic novel ‘A Suitable Boy’; the story deals with the complex familial structures in post-independence India. The book contains 1349 pages and is one of the longest novels ever published in a single volume in the English language.
- // 1952His novel ‘A Suitable Boy’ is without doubt his most important work in his career as a writer. It is one of the longest novels ever written in the English language and deals with the national political issues in the period leading up to the first post-Independence national election of India in 1952.
- // 20th Jun 1952Vikram Seth was born to Prem Seth and his wife Leila Seth, on 20 June 1952, in Calcutta (now renamed Kolkata) located in the state of West Bengal in India. His father was an executive with Bata shoe company, while his mother was a judge. He was the eldest among his parents’ three children.
- // 1980During his time at Stanford University in the United States, he had been a Wallace Stegner Fellow in the field of creative writing and it was at this point that he penned the poems that were published in his first published work, ‘Mappings’, in 1980. The book did not get kind reviews from critics.
- // 1980From 1980 to 1982, he was in China to his field research. He traveled extensively across China gathering material for a doctoral dissertation that he never wrote.. While in China, he studied classical Chinese poetry and language at Nanjing University.In 1983, his second book, 'From Heaven Lake', was published. It gave an account of his hitchhiking journey from China to India. The book was critically acclaimed and his work got noticed.In 1985, he came out with another collection of his poems, titled, ‘The Humble Administrator’s Garden’.
- // 1985In 1985, he won the Sahitya Akademi Award, an Indian literary honour, for his book ‘The Golden Gate’.
- // 1986In 1986, his novel ‘The Golden Gate’ was published which was unique since the entire novel was written in verse and dealt with the lives of people in Silicon Valley. The novel was inspired by Aleksandr Pushkin’s work Eugene Onegin. The novel was successful and brought him plenty of accolades from the literary press.
- // 1990 To 1992In 1990, he published another book of poetry titled ‘All You Who Sleep Tonight’ and, in 1992, he came out with another collection of poems ‘Three Chinese Poets’.
- // 1992In 1992, Seth wrote a children’s book titled ‘Beastly Tales from Hera and There’ in which he penned ten stories, all of which were about animals.
- // 1994He continued to write poems and came up with another collection ‘The Frog and the Nightingale’ in 1994.
- // 1999In 1999, his novel ‘Equal Music’ was published. The story revolves around Michael, a professional violinist, and his love, Julia, a pianist. The novel was well received by musical fans, and was appreciated for the accuracy of Vikram Seth's descriptions of music.
- // 2001In 2001, he was made an Order of the British Empire.
- // 2005In 2005, he came out with his second non-fiction work, 'Two Lives'. It is the story of his great uncle, Shanti Behari Seth, and of his German Jewish great aunt, Hennerle Gerda Caro.
- // 2007In 2007, he was bestowed with ‘Padma Shri’—India’s fourth highest civilian honour.
- // 2016He is currently working on the sequel to ‘A Suitable Boy’ titled ‘A Suitable Girl’ which could be released in 2016.
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Vikram Seth's FAQ
What is Vikram Seth birthday?
Vikram Seth was born at 1952-06-20
Where is Vikram Seth's birth place?
Vikram Seth was born in Kolkata
What is Vikram Seth nationalities?
Vikram Seth's nationalities is Indian
Who is Vikram Seth siblings?
Vikram Seth's siblings is Aradhana Seth, Shantum
What was Vikram Seth universities?
Vikram Seth studied at Oxford University,Stanford University, Tonbridge School, Stanford University, Nanjing University, The Doon School, Stanford University, Corpus Christi College, Oxford, St. Xavier's High School, Patna
What was Vikram Seth notable alumnis?
Vikram Seth's notable alumnis is Oxford University, Stanford University
What is Vikram Seth's religion?
Vikram Seth's religion is Hinduism
How tall is Vikram Seth?
Vikram Seth's height is 160
Who is Vikram Seth's father?
Vikram Seth's father is Prem Seth
Who is Vikram Seth's mother?
Vikram Seth's mother is Leila Seth
What is Vikram Seth's sun sign?
Vikram Seth is Gemini
How famous is Vikram Seth?
Vikram Seth is famouse as Writer