Rushdies bold, complex and literary novel, the satanic verses, was hijacked by the exterminating angels of wrath, a wrath that still flames. And its not the first time she has wielded the literary axe published. Joseph anton is a splendid book, the finest new memoir to cross my desk in many a year. Joseph anton is the memoir of controversial indian author, salman rushdie and concentrates on the time in his life during which he was under threat of the fatwa imposed by the iranian ayatollah khomeini for his novel, the satanic verses. A memoir by rushdie, salman seller ground zero books, ltd. Sir ahmed salman rushdie frsl born 19 june 1947 is a british indian novelist and essayist. After some thought rushdie wrote down, side by side, the first names of conrad and chekhov, and there it was, his name for the next eleven years. Joseph anton is a bid to hose off the crap and retrieve his reputation and character.
A memoir, tells the story of his life with particular focus on his experience following the publication of that book. The guardian joseph anton is a splendid book, the finest new memoir to cross my desk in many a year. Named one of the best books of the year by san francisco chronicle newsweekthe daily beast the seattle times the. On february 14, 1989, valentines day, salman rushdie was telephoned by a bbc journalist and told that he had been sentenced to death by the ayatollah khomeini. He has also published four works of nonfiction, including the internationally acclaimed bestseller, joseph anton, and coedited two anthologies. Sir salman rushdie is the author of thirteen novels including midnights children, for which he won the man booker prize and booker of bookers prize, and one collection of short stories.
An excerpt from salman rushdies new book joseph anton. Michiko kakutani, the new york times a splendid book, the. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Published 2012 condition very good in very good dust jacket. The pakistani film international gorillay international guerillas, produced by sajjad gul, told the story of a group of local heroes of the type that would, in the language of a later age, come to be known as jihadis, or terrorists who vowed to find and kill an author called salman rushdie. The frightening, illuminating and disturbing memoir by the author of the satanic verses, the book that provoked a death sentence from the ayatollah khomeini in 1989 rushdie luka and the fire of life, 2008, etc. A memoir is an autobiographical book by the british indian writer, salman rushdie.
When anis rushdie read his sons novel midnights children for the first time in 1980, he became convinced that ahmed sinai, the drunken father in the book, was a satirical portrait of himself. He tells us exactly what he was feeling and doing throughout his long and surreal. Rushdie was knighted in 2007 for services to literature. A memoir is an engaging account of rushdies life in the. It was published in september 2012 by random house rushdie used joseph anton as a pseudonym while in hiding following the fatwa that had been issued by ayatollah khomeini, the spiritual and political leader of the islamic republic of iran, in the midst of criticism by some muslims and a. A writers life with a new salman rushdie novel coming, its time to reread his memoir joseph anton many clues to the books rushdie writes including, perhaps, the new one are to. On valentines day, 1989, salman rushdie received a telephone call. An wilson on salman rushdies memoir, joseph anton even as this book appears, the islamic world is once again in a fever of violence, with mobs being encouraged to. Grimus, midnights children which was awarded the booker prize in 1981, shame, the satanic verses, haroun and the sea of stories, the moors last sigh, the ground beneath her feet, fury, shalimar the clown.
In his new memoir joseph anton, which describes his life in hiding for more than a decade, rushdie claims that the satanic verses was his. A memoir is an engaging account of rushdies life in the aftermath of the fatwa issued against him in 1989 in effect, the ayatollah khomeini sentenced him to death for blasphemy against the prophet for his novel, the satanic verses. The title, a combination of conrads and chekhovs first names, is a reference to. Buy joseph anton first edition by rushdie, salman isbn. At the same time, joseph anton is a largescale spectacle of political and cultural conflicts. Its a personal story that takes place at the center of an international crisis.
To have written a novel called the satanic verses, which was accused of being against islam, the prophet and the quran. The boston globe, praise for joseph anton joseph anton is a splendid book, the finest new memoir to. Une autobiographie folio french edition by salman rushdie and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Michiko kakutani, the new york times a splendid book, the finest. Rushdie reflects on the fallout from that order from the years spent in hiding to the alias he created to avoid detection in a new memoir called joseph anton. Salman rushdie joseph anton 1st edition 1st printing ebay. A memoir is an autobiographical book by the british indian.
In joseph anton, rushdie is taking no chances on being misread. Much of his fiction is set on the indian subcontinent. At the same time, joseph anton is a largescale spectacle of political and cultural conflicts during an era in which, rushdie writes, incompatible realities frequently collided with one. Joseph anton is a memoir, and it is largely the memoir of joseph anton, the code name rushdie lived under all those years, the alternative identity that allowed him to write checks and the like without revealing who he really was.
Joseph anton is a splendid book, the finest new memoir to cross my. His second novel, midnights children 1981, won the booker prize in 1981 and was deemed to be the best novel of all winners on two separate occasions, marking the 25th and the 40th anniversary of the prize. Joseph anton new hampshire state library overdrive. Some may complain that, at more than 600 pages, it is too long, but it never seemed so to meto the contrary, the length of the book, and its wealth of quotidian detail, serve to draw the reader into the life that rushdie was forced to lead, to make his. Rushdie has written a memoir that chronicles those years in hiding a memoir, coming after several disappointing novels, that reminds us of his fecund gift for. Joseph anton by salman rushdie author autographed hardcover book first edition, first printing, mint, newunread in a flawless dust jacket in archival acetate cover, signed by the author. Named one of the best books of the year by san francisco chronicle newsweekthe daily beast the seattle times the economist kansas city star bookpage on february 14, 1989, valentines day, salman rushdie was telephoned by a bbc journalist and told that he had been sentenced to death by the ayatollah khomeini. Joseph anton is the name salman rushdie chose for himself after the ayatollah khomeini sentenced him to death for rushdies writing the novel called, the satanic verses.
Another of rushdies literary heroes, jorge luis borges, wrote a story about a. Joseph anton by salman rushdie is a memoir of his aliasbeing, a shadowidentity that allowed the author to exist in spite of threats, insults, stress and the fatwa that. Early in joseph anton salman rushdie contrasts the christian poles of guilt and redemption with the islamic ones of honour and shame, and indeed this memoir of a cultural muslim is not short of examples. Salman rushdie is known for his fiction shame, the moors last sigh and others, but it was the satanic verses which forced him into hiding and police protection. Literature is a life and death matter, rushdie writes in his gripping new book, joseph anton. Praise for joseph anton a harrowing, deeply felt and revealing document.
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