The protagonist, Michael Holme, is a violinist in a quartet. He lives in London but grew up in the North of England. He is at a dead end in his life: he's in his late thirties, not married, just about making enough money in music, and still yearning for Julia who he had a relationship with 10 years ago. Through his own fault, they stopped seeing each other and he has regretted it ever since. He has tried to re-establish contact but wasn't able to track her down.
But then she tracks him down. She's now married and has a son, and she isn't half as obsessed with him as he is with her, but they start an affair anyway. One that makes her feel guilty, and him unsatisfied, as it's never enough. He always wants to meet her more often but she is in control of when they meet.
Against the magical backdrop of Venice and Vienna, the two lovers confront the truth about themselves and their love, about the music that both unites and divides them, and about a devastating secret that Julia must finally reveal. With poetic, evocative writing and a brilliant portrait of the international music scene, An Equal Music confirms Vikram Seth as one of the world's finest and most enticing writers.