Vikram Seth Book order (chronological)

Vikram Seths ungewöhnliche und mutige Reise durch ein geheimes China1981 reiste Vikram Seth per Anhalter durch die abgelegenen Randprovinzen Chinas: vom »Himmels-See« Tianchi im Nordwesten schlug er sich fern der etablierten Routen nach Süden durch – bis ins Tibet. Seine Erkundung unerforschter Gebiete schloss er mit der Heimreise nach Indien über Kathmandu ab.

TWO LIVES tells the remarkable story of Seth's great uncle and aunt. His great uncle Shanti left India for medical school in Berlin in the 1930s and lodged with a German Jewish family. In the household was a daughter, Henny, who urged her mother 'not to take the blackie'. But a friendship developed and each managed to leave Germany and found their way to Britain as the Nazis rose to power. Shanti joined the army and lost his right arm at the battle of Monte Cassino, while Henny (whose family were to die in the camps) made a life for herself in her adopted country. After the war they married and lived the emigre life in north London where Shanti, despite the loss of his arm, became a much-loved dentist. During his own adolescence in England, Vikram Seth lived with Shanti and Henny and came to know and love them deeply. His is the third life in this story of TWO LIVES. This is also a book about history, encompassing as it does many of the most significant themes and events in the 20th century, whose currents are reflected in the lives of Shanti, Henny and their family: from the Raj and the Indian freedom movement to the Third Reich, the Holocaust and British postwar society.

"Ho sempre desiderato andare in Tibet, tuttavia so che questo desiderio èdovuto in gran parte al fascino che circonda l'ignoto. So molto poco sullaregione del Tibet e conoscerò per esperienza diretta il suo clima e la suageografia. Non ho amici tibetani. Una foto del Potala, danzatori tibetanivisti nel Darjeeling, un articolo o due sul Dalai Lama rappresentano tutto ilmio bagaglio di conoscenza; di simili frammenti è formata la mia idea delTibet. E in un certo senso il mio intento non è quello di fare un viaggio inTibet, ma semplicemente di attraversarlo."

In Vikram Seth's third novel, the violinist Michael Holme grapples with dissatisfaction in both life and art, feeling overshadowed by his beautiful girlfriend and colleagues in the Maggiore Quartet. A chance encounter with Julia, a pianist he once loved in Vienna, brings him joy, but her troubling situation threatens their reunion. Despite its smaller size compared to Seth's previous work, the novel offers rich complexities and emotional depth. Michael's realization of the inadequacy of his words to express his feelings for Julia adds a poignant touch. The story also explores the dynamics of musical collaboration, as the Quartet navigates tensions and joys, likening their experience to various forms of relationships. The narrative emphasizes the significance of music, with the length of Schubert's Trout Quintet and the discovery of a rare Beethoven piece holding deep meaning. Michael's longing for Julia parallels his attachment to his borrowed Tononi violin, symbolizing unattainable desires. Seth masterfully weaves a tale filled with suspense, from the Quartet's encore to the reasons behind Julia's departure from Michael's life. As the love story unfolds across cities like London and Vienna, readers are drawn into its emotional resonance.

The violinist hero of Vikram Seth's third novel longs for secret harmonies but finds himself frustrated in London, ten years after a pivotal disaster. Michael Holme is irritated by his beautiful young girlfriend and colleagues in the Maggiore Quartet, feeling he plays second fiddle in both life and art. A chance encounter with Julia, the pianist he once loved in Vienna, brings him unexpected joy, yet her situation and a career-threatening secret may jeopardize their reunion. Though shorter than Seth's previous work, this novel is rich in personal and lyrical complexities, avoiding any clichés. Michael's emotional struggles are palpable, especially when he reflects on the inadequacy of his words to express his feelings for Julia. The novel also explores the dynamics of the Maggiore Quartet, highlighting the joys and tensions of collaboration. One member likens the quartet to various relationships, emphasizing its intricate blend of pleasure and conflict. The narrative intricately weaves music into its fabric, making the length of Schubert's Trout Quintet significant and the discovery of a rare Beethoven piece miraculous. As Michael grapples with his feelings for both Julia and his beloved, loaned Tononi violin, Seth masterfully keeps readers engaged, leaving them curious about the Quartet's encore and the true reasons behind Julia's departure. This love story spans from London to Michael's northern England roots, Vienna, and Ve

From the impish to the brilliantly comic, Vikram Seth's animal fables in verse can (like Diwali sweets) be enjoyed by young and old alike. Familiar characters in a new and magical form, such as the greedy crocodile who was outwitted by the monkey or the steady tortoise who out-ran the hare, here take their place beside a newly minted gallery of characters and creatures who are quirky, comical and always fun. Of the ten tales told here, two come from India, two from China, two from Greece, two from Ukraine, and two, as the author puts it "came directly to me from the Land of Gup." This is a book that displays astonishing versatility of the poet who gave us The Golden Gate and All You Who Sleep Tonight . The flair and delight of Beastly Tales from Here and There is proof that Vikram Seth can try on most unusual clothes without in the least losing his unique poetic identity.