Vikram Seth is the global bestselling author of A Suitable Boy and An Equal Music. His first novel is an unrivalled triumph of both imagination and craft: an eloquent, thrilling soap opera set in 1980s San Francisco, featuring a politicised priest, repressed homosexuals, combative cats and a terrifying pet iguana.

It’s about the tech bubble, the Cold War arms race, generational change in a winemaking family – oh, and it’s in verse! More precisely, it’s written in the Onegin stanza, a sort of sonnet on steroids, of which there are 594. The rhythm will spur you on, and the rhyme will only increase your delight in this truly unique book.

The workshop will be led by Christophe Fricker, who has just completed his German translation of the book. He will guide us through its main motifs, introduce us to the characters, and help us enjoy its form. There may even be the odd creative exercise to complete together!