Main content
This programme will be available shortly after broadcast

1. Seventeen

Episode 1 of 5

4 Extra Debut. Aged 17, Vikram Seth stays with two remarkable relatives, Aunty Henny and Shanti Uncle. Read by Sam Dastor and Renu Setnu.

In 1969, aged 17, Vikram Seth went to stay with two remarkable relatives, his Aunty Henny and Shanti Uncle.

Their story is one of travel and displacement, a voyage navigating some of history’s most terrible events, from India to 1930s Berlin, and finally, to Britain.

They had exotic beginnings but ended up happily in Hendon until their deaths in the 1980s and 90s.

Written by Vikram Seth.

Abridged in five parts by Alison Joseph.

Read by Sam Dastor and Renu Setnu.

Producer: Duncan Minshull

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in October 2005.

15 minutes

On radio

Next Monday08:30
BBC Radio 4 Extra

More episodes

Previous

You are at the first episode

Next

2. Berlin

See all episodes from Two Lives by Vikram Seth

Broadcasts

  • Next Monday08:30
    BBC Radio 4 Extra
  • Next Monday13:30
    BBC Radio 4 Extra
  • Next Monday19:30
    BBC Radio 4 Extra
  • Next Tuesday03:30
    BBC Radio 4 Extra