3 Review(s)

Two Lives is the true story of the journey and triumphs of two survivors in a violent era. Summary Of The Book A befitting celebration of an extraordinary love between a young Indian fellow and a mellow German Jewish girl, Two Lives is a memoir that celebrates this complex love and friendship between Seth’s Great Uncle Shanti and Aunt Henny. Shanti leaves India as a young fellow in search of knowledge to a country in Europe. He does not speak German or any local languages. Henny, the eldest daughter of the couple that allows Shanti to stay in their home, is skeptical at taking in “the black man”. Through a series of friendly interactions and with the aid of his sense of humour, their friendship finally starts blossoming. Set against the turbulent times of 20th century Europe, Two Lives tells the tale of how this seemingly unremarkable couple share an extraordinary love, and how the turbulence of the times they lived in shaped this complex relationship. Seth’s book is divided into five parts. It begins with the author going to live with his uncle and aunt in his teenage years. Over the years he discovers letters sent between them and it is then that he realizes the epic story that they share. The book is the story of love against the backdrop of a black century. At times, the narrative makes way for the actual letters between the two, and a digression of Germany’s influence on modern history. It is a masterful telling of an epic love story. Two Lives won the 2006 Vodafone Crossword Book Award. About Vikram Seth Vikram Seth is a novelist and poet from India. He is considered one of India's greatest writers and a revolutionary as he became one of the leaders of the campaign against the law that bans homosexuality. His novels include A Suitable Girl, An Equal Music, and A Suitable Boy. He has also published 5 volumes of poetry that include Beastly Tales, Mappings, Three Chinese Poets, and The Frog And The Nightingale. Though he writes in English, Seth has studied several languages including Welsh, French, Mandarin, German, and Urdu. He was awarded with the Padma Shri Award in 2007 for his contribution to literature and education. His works are rife with the themes of liberalism, travel, and are very often memoirs.