Anglo-Indian fiction, a branch of English Literature strongly marked by Indian local colour, has in recent years inspired a vast body of literature. Several learned monographs have been published evaluating the contribution of various writers to the development of this genre. Philip Meadows Taylor (1808-1876) is one of the pioneers and major writer of this genre. During his prolonged stay of thirty six years in India in various official capacities, he acquired Indian sensibility which is reflected both in his fictional and non-fictional works. His various themes such as love and marriage, miscegenation, inter-relationships etc., have great bearing on the Raj novels of the present day. In his time, Taylor’s novels inspired Chilakamarti Lakshmi Narasimham-a Telgu novelist of repute-to write Hemalatha. Unfortunately, Taylor escaped the notice of the critics of the Anglo-Indian fiction. There is only one full length study of Taylor-J.S. Mansukhani-s Philipe Meadows Taylor-A Critical Study (1951) which is now outdated. The presented study goes some way towards filling this gap by making a proper appraisal of Taylor’s contribution to Anglo- Indian fiction. It is he who gave the fiction a proper shape and structure. His Seeta became the trendsetter in Anglo Indian fictional tradition.
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