Asian Window

In Outlook, Sheela Reddy speaks to Vikram Seth on A Suitable Girl, his sequel to A Suitable Boy, big, fat advances and matrimonial websites

You are the first Indian writer to have got, and continue to get, a big advance, in a way professionalising writing, making it possible to earn a living from it without resorting to a day job?

I never thought that would happen.

If you look at my first two novels — The Golden Gate and A Suitable Boy — no one would have thought they would get a decent advance — and, of course, The Golden Gate didn’t. That (money) was never my initial motivation. But I am very grateful that it actually gives me the time to concentrate on writing and other things that interest me, rather than being tied to some kind of job. Or worse, a job involving words which I think depletes one of a particular kind of energy. more

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