A Suitable Boy by Vikram Seth
Set in 1950s India, this epic novel follows the story of four families over a period of 18 months, focusing primarily on the young woman Lata and her mother's quest to find her a suitable husband. The narrative explores the political, social, and personal upheavals in a newly independent India, struggling with its own identity amidst the backdrop of a society grappling with religious tensions, land reforms, and the shaping of a modern democratic state. Lata's journey is an exploration of love, ambition, and the weight of familial duty.
The 345th greatest book of all time
- Published
- 1993
- Nationality
- Indian
- Type
- Fiction
- Pages
- 1349-1500
- Words
- 591,554
- Original Language
- English
If you're interested in seeing the ranking details on this book go here
This book is on the following lists:
- 3rd on The Greatest 20th Century Novels (Waterstone)
- 17th on The 50 best books of the past 100 years (The Times)
- 27th on My Favourite Book - Australian Big Read (Australian Big Read)
- 40th on Entertainment Weekly's Top 100 Novels (Entertainment Weekly)
- 50th on Waterstone's Books of the Century (LibraryThing)
- 55th on The Big Read (BBC)
- 644th on Our Users' Favorite Books of All Time (The Greatest Books Users)
- Best Books Ever (bookdepository.com)
- The Modern Library: The Two Hundred Best Novels in English Since 1950 (The Modern Library (Book))
- 1000 Novels Everyone Must Read (The Guardian)
- Daily Telegraph's 100 Books of the Century, 1900-1999 (Daily Telegraph)
- 100 Novels That Shaped Our World (BBC)
- 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die (The Book)