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 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.