A SUITABLE BOY by Vikram Seth [Paperback]

Title: A Suitable Boy (A Bridge of Leaves, #1)

Author: Vikram Seth

Genre: Literary Fiction, Historical Fiction, Coming-of-Age

Length: Approximately 1,349 - 1,488 pages (depending on the edition)

Setting: Newly independent India, post-partition (early 1950s). The story unfolds in several cities like Brahmpur (fictional, along the Ganges), Patna, Calcutta, Delhi, Lucknow.

Plot: The story revolves around four interconnected families – the Mehras, Kapoors, Chatterjis, and Khans – over a period of 18 months. It centers on Mrs. Rupa Mehra's quest to find a "suitable boy" for her younger daughter, Lata, a strong-willed 19-year-old university student who desires more agency in choosing her husband. The narrative explores Lata's journey navigating societal pressures around marriage and her own burgeoning independence. It also delves into the lives and stories of the other families, weaving a rich tapestry of post-colonial India with its social and political complexities.