A Suitable Boy by Vikram Seth

A Suitable Boy is a novel by Vikram Seth, published in 1993. With 1,349 pages (1,488 pages in paperback), the English-language book is one of the longest novels published in a single volume.

The novel is set in a newly post-independence, post-partition India. It follows four families during 18 months, and centres on Mrs. Rupa Mehra’s efforts to arrange the marriage of her younger daughter, Lata, to a “suitable boy”. Lata is a 19-year-old university student who refuses to be influenced by her domineering mother or opinionated brother, Arun.

The novel alternately offers satirical and earnest examinations of national political issues in the period leading up to the first post-Independence national election of 1952, including Hindu–Muslim strife, the status of lower caste peoples such as the jatav, land reforms and the eclipse of the feudal princes and landlords, academic affairs, abolition of the Zamindari system, family relations and a range of further issues of importance to the characters. The novel is divided into 19 parts, with each generally focusing on a different subplot. Each part is described in rhyming couplet form on the contents page.

A Suitable Boy is a complex and ambitious novel, but it is also a deeply rewarding one. Seth’s characters are richly drawn and believable, and his portrayal of India in the early 1950s is both vivid and nuanced. The novel is full of humor, heartbreak, and wisdom, and it offers a unique and insightful perspective on a pivotal time in Indian history.

The novel has been praised by critics for its epic scope, its complex characters, and its rich portrayal of Indian culture. It has also been a commercial success, selling over 2 million copies worldwide. In 2003, it was adapted into a six-hour BBC miniseries.

A Suitable Boy is a must-read for anyone interested in Indian history, culture, or literature. It is also a powerful and moving story about love, family, and the search for meaning.