Today is the birthday of Salman Rushdie, the controversial author whose works explore the connectionsand dissonancesbetween East and West. Rushdies novels, essays, and other works have set him apart as one of the greatest authors of our time.
Authorial Beginnings
Born in Bombay, India, Salman Rushdie is the son of a businessman and a school teacher. His family is of Kashmiri descent, and he was raised Muslim. Rushdie attended the University of Cambridge, where he studied history. Rushdies first employment was actually as a copywriter, but he doesnt often allude to this experience.
Rushdie published his first novel, Grimus (1975) and didnt earn much notice. His next novel, Midnights Children (1981) met with widespread critical acclaim, winning the Booker Prize that year. Its often named one of the best books of the last 100 years. Midnights Children firmly established Rushdie as a significant figure.
The Satanic Verses
Since then, Rushdie has addressed political turmoil and oppression, never shying away from controversy. His most notorious work is The Satanic Verses, immediately created waves in the Islamic community because of Rushdies irreverent depiction of the prophet Muhammad. The Ayatollah Khomeini, Irans spiritual leader at the time, issued a fatwa ordering Rushdies execution. People associated with publishing the book were attacked, bookstores were bombed, and copies of the novel were publicly burned.
Rushdie went into hiding for about ten years, though he still made public appearances during that time. There have been multiple attempts on his life; in January 2012, Rushdie even cancelled his scheduled appearance at the Jaipur Literary Festival and the subsequent tour of India due to threats on his life.
A Rich and Varied Career
Yet Rushdie never allowed these dangers to quash his productivity. Hes written nine novels, most recently The Enchantress of Florence (2008); contributed to three different short story collections; and penned two childrens books (Haroun and the Sea of Stories (1990) and Luka and the Fire of Life (2010). Meanwhile Rushdie has written numerous essays and non-fiction pieces and earned a long list of accolades.
He has reached beyond the literary world. Rushdie has been working on a television series for Showtime, and hes also collaborating on a cinematic adaptation of Midnights Children.
Salman Rushdie will undoubtedly continue to be a force to be reckoned with. How did you first encounter his works? What will be his most significant contribution to literature (or politics)?
