A Suitable Boy (Dramatised) Audiobook By Vikram Seth cover art

A Suitable Boy (Dramatised)

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A Suitable Boy (Dramatised)

By: Vikram Seth
Narrated by: Ayesha Dharker, Mahabanoo Mody-Kotwal, full cast
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Shortlisted for the Irish Times International Fiction Prize, 1993
Winner of the Commonwealth Writers Prize, 1994
Winner of the WH Smith Literary Award, 1994

A Suitable Boy is now a major 2020 BBC TV series and one of the BBC's 100 novels that shaped our world.

The award-winning BBC Radio 4 adaptation of Vikram Seth's masterpiece.

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 20th century.

The story unfolds through four middle-class families - the Mehras, Kapoors, Khans and Chatterjis. Lata Mehra, a university student, is under pressure from her mother to get married. But not to just anyone she happens to fall in love with. There are standards to be met and finding a husband for Lata becomes a family affair in which all the members are to play a part. The characters struggle, they try to buck the system, to break free of restraint, of interference - but ultimately their strength and sense of being comes from their family and friends. It is a celebration of ordinariness; a beautifully composed story that is an affirmation of family and friendship.

In his sweeping epic, Vikram Seth has created an entire world filled with warmth, humour, pathos, tragedy - in short, life. Recorded on location in India, A Suitable Boy is made by the production team behind the award-winning Bleak House and The Handmaid's Tale.

Dramatised and directed by John Dryden. A Goldhawk Production.

©2002, 2003 BBC Worldwide Ltd (P)2002, 2003 BBC Worldwide Ltd Fiction Genre Fiction Literary Fiction South Asian Creators Adaptation

Critic reviews

"The drama highlight of the year... this sumptuous production, wonderfully atmospheric, written with pace and performed, by an all-Indian cast, quite superbly. The novel may be vast but I was convinced by this version right from the start. Magnificent drama." (Radio Times)
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The narration brought charecters to life. Loved the first audio book experience ! Flawless clarity in pronunciation and putting the expression across. Dramatisation enhanced the listening experience! Loved it in toto !

Brilliant Audiobook

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I am still going through all my emotions to understand how the book ended. from beg to the end...a beautiful story, with all ups and downs of being family and guilt associated with trying to choose your own path and what ones family requires them to do!

still getting over the unexpected ending

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You definitely need an understanding of life in India to like this dramatized version of the book.

Good dramatization

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Where does A Suitable Boy (Dramatised) rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Top 30 of my Favorite books

What did you like best about this story?

Sarita and Lata's mothers character...Very well portrayed.

What about Full Cast’s performance did you like?

Their enunciation and amazing grasp on their characters.

If you could rename A Suitable Boy (Dramatised), what would you call it?

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Any additional comments?

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Took me to a familiar place of nostalgic past :)

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Voices were well suited but couldn't really love the story much. expected more for sure

Indian version of pride and prejudice!

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Vikram Seth's A Suitable Boy has remained in my top 10 must-read books since I first read it in the late nineties. Although I liked the performances, I'm sorry to say I couldn't finish it because the background ambient sound was too distracting.

When the background gets in the way...

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However it felt more like listening to the soundtrack of a film rather than a book. I guess the songs in the background are designed to transport you back into 1950's India. Having grown up in India in the seventies and eighties, I was able to relate to the characters and it did help that I had read the book some years ago. I suspect it will be hard to completely appreciate the performance otherwise.

Fairly enjoyable listen

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An amazing author who’s work I admire. The dramatization takes away from the book. I couldn’t get past the first few chapters.

Among the worst performances

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Had read it 4 years back, listened to this now. Quite a beautiful story and dramatization

Amazing

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Great read And book. Testing a review from audible app and the public name used

Great book

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