Revisiting some of Salman Rushdie’s most memorable novels

Born in Bombay in 1947, author Salman Rushdie has gained prominence worldwide with his ever-increasing number of impactful novels. Let's take a look at some of them! (Express archive)

A story of a woman attempting to carve her own destiny in a world brimming with male dominance, 'Enchantress of Florence' is Rushdie's "most researched book." (Source: Goodreads)

Having written the book for his kids and the younger generation, in 'Luka and the Fire of Life', Rushdie takes inspiration from the "world of video games." (Source: Goodreads)

'The Wizard of Oz', which has also been turned into a film, is more than a children's book and goes beyond fantasy. It's a story about the inadequacy of adults that forces children to be in charge of their own destinies. (Source: Goodreads)

The title 'Two Years Eight Months and Twenty-Eight Nights' is a reference to the collection of folk tales known as the Arabian Nights. Speaking about the book, publisher Jonathan Cape said, “It blends history, mythology, and a timeless love story to bring alive a world that has been plunged into an age of unreason.” (Source: Goodreads)

Midnight's Children, released in 1981, is considered Rushdie’s magnum opus and won him multiple accolades, including the 1981 Booker Prize. The novel follows the life of Saleem Sinai, born at the stroke of midnight on August 15, 1947, the time of India’s independence. The book has also been adapted as a film, as well as an original series by Netflix. (Source: Goodreads)

However, Rushdie carved his presence worldwide with his controversial book, 'The Satanic Verses'. It tells the story of Gibreel Farishta and Saladin Chamcha whose miraculous escape from, and transformation after, a plane crash forms the basis of the satire. (Source: Goodreads)

'Joseph Anton' is a memoir of the events, such as death threats, fatwa, fire bombings, etc, that followed after the release of his book 'The Satanic Verses'. (Source: Goodreads)