A Suitable Boy

The Colossal Indian Saga of Love, Family, and Nation

"You should make time for it. It will keep you company for the rest of your life."

— The Times

Dive into Vikram Seth's magnificent, sprawling epic, A Suitable Boy, one of the longest novels ever published in the English language.

Set in the newly independent India of the 1950s, the novel revolves around the wealthy and influential Mehra family. Mrs. Rupa Mehra is determined to find "a suitable boy" for her spirited and charming daughter, Lata, through love or through exacting maternal appraisal.

At its core, this is a love story, but it is simultaneously the story of India, newly independent and struggling through a time of crisis as a sixth of the world's population faces its first great general election.

Spanning nearly 1,400 pages, the story transports the reader deep into the cultural heart of North India, exploring complex family dynamics, enduring friendships, and profound social satire. As Lata navigates her choice between three very different suitors, the narrative simultaneously encompasses the country's turbulent politics, religious tensions, and the deep emotional currents of marriage and ambition in a changing nation.

This is a rich, immersive, and often humorous masterpiece—a luxurious reading commitment that perfectly rewards those seeking deep literary escape.