Salman Rushdie

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Lore & Background

Sir Ahmed Salman Rushdie, born in Bombay in 1947, is an Indian-born novelist who holds both British and American citizenship. His writing is known for blending magical realism with historical fiction, and it frequently explores the connections, disruptions, and migrations between Eastern and Western civilizations. His novels are typically set on the Indian subcontinent, feature an Indian protagonist, or portray Indian familial relationships. His second novel, *Midnight's Children*, won the Booker Prize in 1981 and was later twice named the best novel among all winners of that prize. Following his fourth novel, *The Satanic Verses* (1988), Rushdie faced assassination attempts and death threats due to what some considered an irreverent depiction of Muhammad. This controversy included a fatwa calling for his death issued by Iran’s supreme leader, Ruhollah Khomeini, and the book was banned in twenty countries. Extremists citing the book as motivation carried out numerous killings and bombings, sparking debates about censorship and religiously motivated violence. In 2022, Rushdie survived a stabbing at the Chautauqua Institution that resulted in the loss of his right eye and damage to his liver and hands. He was educated at King’s College, Cambridge, graduating in history in 1968. He was elected a fellow of the Royal Society of Literature in 1983 and knighted in 2007 for services to literature. In 2008, *The Times* ranked him 13th on its list of the 50 greatest British writers since 1945. Since 2000, he has lived in the United States, serving as Distinguished Writer in Residence at New York University and teaching at Emory University. He was elected to the American Academy of Arts and Letters and named one of *Time* magazine’s 100 most influential people in 2023.

Reader's Guide

Salman Rushdie's significance lies in his literary fusion of magical realism with historical fiction, particularly in exploring connections and migrations between Eastern and Western civilizations. His novel Midnight's Children is widely regarded as a landmark work, winning the Booker Prize and special prizes marking the 25th and 40th anniversaries of the award. Rushdie survived a stabbing in 2022 that cost him his right eye and damaged his liver and hands. His legacy includes being knighted in 2007, named a Distinguished Writer in Residence at New York University in 2015, and listed by Time magazine as one of the 100 most influential people in the world in April 2023.

Did You Know?

• Salman Rushdie praised Kazuo Ishiguro's *The Remains of the Day* as Ishiguro's masterpiece.
• Rushdie said he has 'loved and admired' Ishiguro's work since first reading *A Pale View of Hills*.
• Rushdie called Ishiguro 'my old friend Ish' in his Nobel Prize congratulations.