It’s a question that had to be asked sooner or later, and after Vikram visited Triple R this week, now is as good a time as any.

In terms of books sold, Vikram Seth

In terms of literary prizes, Vikram Seth

In terms of translated editions, Vikram Seth

In terms of international critical acclaim, Vikram Seth

In terms of breadth of vocabulary, Vikram Seth

In terms of complexity of themes, Vikram Seth

In terms of length of first novel, Vikram Seth

In terms of size of talent, Vikram Seth

In terms of productivity, Vikram Seth

But in all other regards …

I am the bigger author.

Vikram Seth, author of ‘A Suitable Boy’ (a novel he told us is just called ‘the fat one’ by his family) came on the show to promote his new book ‘Two Lives’. It’s a memoir come double biography about his Shanti Uncle and Aunt Hennie who looked after him in Hendon, northwest London when he traveled abroad to study. His aunt and uncle’s life stories are touched by Nazi Germany (Hennie is Jewish), Partition and the formation of the state of Israel.

read a review from the UK Times here