Gentlemen,
“One of the most controversial and acclaimed novels ever written.”
Not an accolade to be taken lightly. First published in 1988, the book and its perceived blasphemy motivated bombings, killings, and riots and sparked a debate about censorship and religiously motivated violence.
Following the publishing of the book, the author was marked with a bounty on his head. This resulted in several failed assassination attempts on his life - including an attempt 34 years later, in August 2022 - that led to the loss of his right eye and damage to his liver and hands from stab wounds. Only this month (Feb 2025) his attacker was found guilty and sentenced in a U.S. court.
Putting the controversy aside, the book itself is about identity, alienation, rootlessness, brutality, compromise, and conformity - issues confronting all migrants, disillusioned with both cultures: the one they are in and the one they join.
Fascinating as it is complex. This novel will take the collection of our great minds to decipher. A task I know the MOP is up to. You won’t find this one on Oprah’s or Reese Witherspoon’s book club lists!
The Satanic Verses by Salman Rushdie.
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