‘[A] remarkable biography’—The Times When her German-Jewish family decided to take in Shanti
Behari Seth as their lodger, Henny’s first reaction was, ‘Don’t take the black man!’ But an unlikely friendship soon
flowered between the gentle Indian studying medicine and the tall, attractive young woman in 1930s Berlin. Then Hitler
came to power, Shanti migrated to Britain and the low thunder of war began to sound over Europe. Just a month before
war broke, Henny fled to London as a refugee. Waiting for her at Victoria Station was Shanti. In Two Lives, their great-nephew
Vikram Seth weaves together the extraordinary love story of the pair; their friendship, slow courtship and union; of Shanti’s
experiences during the war and Henny’s tragic hunt for her family. And in telling their story, he brings vividly alive the great
forces of history that shaped their two lives. Profoundly moving, deeply humane and superbly written, Two Lives is a
masterful book from one of our greatest storytellers.
About the Author
Vikram Seth is the acclaimed author of three novels: The Golden Gate, An Equal Music and
A Suitable Boy, one of the most beloved and widely read books of recent times. He has also written
five books of poetry, an opera libretto, a book of other libretti, and two highly regarded works of
non-fiction, From Heaven Lake and Two Lives. He is at present at work on A Suitable Girl.
![Cover of From Heaven Lake [Paperback] Vikram Seth](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bookswagon.com%2FBW%2Fproductimages%2Fmainimages%2F224%2F9780143420224.jpg&w=828&q=75)
