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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

Mon 8 Jun 202608:30
BBC Radio 4 Extra

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2. Berlin

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Broadcasts

  • Mon 8 Jun 202608:30
    BBC Radio 4 Extra
  • Mon 8 Jun 202613:30
    BBC Radio 4 Extra
  • Mon 8 Jun 202619:30
    BBC Radio 4 Extra
  • Tue 9 Jun 202603:30
    BBC Radio 4 Extra