Sheila Malory has her reservations when she is asked to research the history of the village of Mere Barton, as it brings her into close contact with miserly Annie Roberts, a controlling woman who's much resented by her fellow villagers. Not even the local rector has a good word to say about her.
A Suitable Boy is Vikram Seth's epic love story set in India. Funny and tragic, with engaging, brilliantly observed characters, it is as close as you can get to Dickens for the twentieth century. The story unfolds through four middle class families - the Mehras, Kappoors, Khans and Chatterjis. Lata Mehra, a university student, is under pressure from...