Vikram Seth’s literary life and his works

Pages:58-59
Satyavati and Prem Prakash Khatri (Department of English, Singhania University Pacheri Beri, Jhunjunu, Rajasthan)

Vikram Seth, Born on 20 June 1952 is an Indian Poet, ovelist, travel writer, librettist, children’s writer and biographer. Writing Poetry: All You Who Sleep Tonight, poems, 1990 Seth is now best known for his novels, though he has characterised himself as a poet first and novelist second. He has published five volumes of poetry. His first, mappings (1980), was originally privately published; it attracted little attention and indeed Philip Larkin, to whom he sent it for comment, referred to it rather scornfully among his intimates, though he offered Seth encouragement. Whether or not Seth’s poetry is expressly influenced by Larkin, it contains similar elements: a highly colloquial vocabulary and syntax with enjambment and rhyme; closely structured form but without rigidity.