1. Salman Rushdie Presentation by Eva Carroll INTL 3111 – Politics & Culture in Literature

2. Salman Rushdie was born in 1947 to a Muslim family in Bombay (Mumbai) India Salman Rushdie was born in 1947 to a Muslim family in Bombay (Mumbai) India At age 14, he was sent to boarding school in England At age 14, he was sent to boarding school in England

3. Youth, Education & Early Career After boarding school, Rushdie studied history at King’s College in Cambridge. After boarding school, Rushdie studied history at King’s College in Cambridge. Afterwards, he worked in advertizing while writing his first novel. Afterwards, he worked in advertizing while writing his first novel. Grimus was published in 1975, but was not widely read Grimus was published in 1975, but was not widely read

4. It was in 1981 that Rushdie’s second novel, Midnight’s Children that won him international fame. It was in 1981 that Rushdie’s second novel, Midnight’s Children that won him international fame. The book is a historical fiction about the partition of India, written in magical realism. The book is a historical fiction about the partition of India, written in magical realism.

5. Influences Rushdie was born the same year of the British partitioning of British Indian Empire into what is now India and Pakistan. Rushdie was born the same year of the British partitioning of British Indian Empire into what is now India and Pakistan. While he was in boarding school, his family emigrated to Pakistan along with millions of other Muslims as violence between Muslims and Hindus rose. While he was in boarding school, his family emigrated to Pakistan along with millions of other Muslims as violence between Muslims and Hindus rose.

6. His experience of emigrating, as well as the history and politics surrounding his family’s history caused him to question “everything about identity and selfhood and culture and belief.” His experience of emigrating, as well as the history and politics surrounding his family’s history caused him to question “everything about identity and selfhood and culture and belief.” His first few books were his way of dealing with these questions and the two very different worlds he came from – India and Britain, East and West. His first few books were his way of dealing with these questions and the two very different worlds he came from – India and Britain, East and West. His story Imaginary Homelands is another prime example of this wrestling. His story Imaginary Homelands is another prime example of this wrestling.

7. Rushdie’s quest brought him to the great question: Rushdie’s quest brought him to the great question: “of how the world joins up— not only how the East flows into the West and the West into the East but how the past shapes the present even as the present changes our understanding of the past, and how the imagined world, the location of dreams, art, invention, and, yes, faith, sometimes leaks across the frontier separating it from the ‘real’ place in which human beings mistakenly believe they live.”

8. The Satanic Verses Out of this question was born his Out of this question was born his novel, The Satanic Verses (1988). The book and some of its characters was inspired in part by the life of Mohammed. The book and some of its characters was inspired in part by the life of Mohammed. The Satanic Verses refer to a group of verses in the Quran which allegedly Mohammed claimed to be given to him by the Angel Gabriel, but which he later recanted as having been deceived by the devil. The Satanic Verses refer to a group of verses in the Quran which allegedly Mohammed claimed to be given to him by the Angel Gabriel, but which he later recanted as having been deceived by the devil.

9. One of the main themes of the book is doubt regarding revelation, religious faith, and fanaticism. One of the main themes of the book is doubt regarding revelation, religious faith, and fanaticism. Rushdie claims it was one of it his most personal works, and the least politically motivated. Rushdie claims it was one of it his most personal works, and the least politically motivated. However, many Muslims took offense at his allusions to Mohammed, and staged protests in countries all over the world. However, many Muslims took offense at his allusions to Mohammed, and staged protests in countries all over the world.

10. The Ayatollah Khomeini of Iran issued a fatwa, or death sentence, over Rushdie. The Ayatollah Khomeini of Iran issued a fatwa, or death sentence, over Rushdie. Rushdie spent the next 10 Rushdie spent the next 10 years in hiding until the fatwa was lifted. The Rushdie Affair

11. The Rushdie Affair as it came to be known was a major international event. The Rushdie Affair as it came to be known was a major international event. A number of people died either in protests or executions (including his publisher who was stabbed to death). A number of people died either in protests or executions (including his publisher who was stabbed to death). The book was banned in many countries; at the same time it held the NY Times #1 Best Seller spot for weeks as many bought the book to show their support of free speech. The book was banned in many countries; at the same time it held the NY Times #1 Best Seller spot for weeks as many bought the book to show their support of free speech. Rushdie still does not think the accusations of offensive material were true, and stands by his book as one of his finest artistic works. Rushdie still does not think the accusations of offensive material were true, and stands by his book as one of his finest artistic works.

12. Rushdie was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 2007 for his contribution to literature. Rushdie was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 2007 for his contribution to literature. He now lives in the US and teaches at Emory University in Georgia. He now lives in the US and teaches at Emory University in Georgia.

13. References http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts- 19600879 http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts- 19600879 http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts- 19600879 http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts- 19600879 http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2012/09/17/12091 7fa_fact_rushdie?currentPage=all http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2012/09/17/12091 7fa_fact_rushdie?currentPage=all http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2012/09/17/12091 7fa_fact_rushdie?currentPage=all http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2012/09/17/12091 7fa_fact_rushdie?currentPage=all http://postcolonialstudies.emory.edu/salman-rushdie/ http://postcolonialstudies.emory.edu/salman-rushdie/ http://postcolonialstudies.emory.edu/salman-rushdie/ http://www.gradesaver.com/author/salman-rushdie/ http://www.gradesaver.com/author/salman-rushdie/ http://www.gradesaver.com/author/salman-rushdie/