The_Munchmaster Posted June 16, 2007 Report Share Posted June 16, 2007 Salman Rushdie, who went into hiding under threat of death after an Iranian fatwa, has been knighted by the Queen. His book The Satanic Verses offended Muslims worldwide and a bounty was placed on his head in 1989. But since the Indian-born author return to public life in 1999, he has not shied away from controversy. A devout secularist, he backed Commons Leader Jack Straw over comments on Muslim women and veils and has warned against Islamic "totalitarianism". The son of a successful businessman, Sir Salman was born into a Muslim family in Mumbai in 1947. He was educated in England at Rugby School and studied history at Cambridge University. Following an advertising career in London, he became a full-time writer. His first novel, Grimus, was published in 1975 but was generally ignored by the book-buying public and literary establishment. But his second effort - the magic realist novel Midnight's Children - catapulted him to literary fame. It won the Booker Prize in 1981 and was awarded the Booker of Bookers in 1993 after being judged the best novel to have won the prize during its 25-year history. Sir Salman, who turns 60 on 19 June, is renowned as a martyr for free speech and purveyor of story as political statement. He takes history and fictionalises it, with imaginative brilliance, and much of his work is set in his native India and Pakistan. His fourth book - The Satanic Verses in 1988 - describes a cosmic battle between good and evil and combines fantasy, philosophy and farce. It was immediately condemned by the Islamic world because of its perceived blasphemous depiction of the prophet Muhammad. It was banned in many countries with large Muslim communities and in 1989, Ayatollah Khomeini, Iran's spiritual leader, issued a fatwa, ordering Sir Salman's execution. It was not formally lifted until 1998. Despite living as a virtual prisoner, with full police protection, Sir Salman continued to write and produced several novels and essays during his confinement. His re-emergence has not been without controversy. In backing Jack Straw over his comments on Muslim women wearing veils, Sir Salman said veils "suck" as they were a symbol of the "limitation of women". He also weighed into the furore surrounding the Danish cartoons, which satirised the Prophet Muhammad, warning against Islamic "totalitarianism". Of his knighthood for services to literature, Rushdie said: "I am thrilled and humbled to receive this great honour, and am very grateful that my work has been recognised in this way." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Julian2 Posted June 16, 2007 Report Share Posted June 16, 2007 This guy seems to write for the critics, personally I find him unreadable. But I suppose awards attract awards and he's fashionable because of his opposition to Islamic Fundamentalism. I'd like to see George McDonald Fraser or Leslie Thomas get a gong. Even Bernard Cornwell, at least their stuff sells. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chuckwoww Posted June 16, 2007 Report Share Posted June 16, 2007 This guy seems to write for the critics, personally I find him unreadable. But I suppose awards attract awards and he's fashionable because of his opposition to Islamic Fundamentalism. That sounds about right Julian. Rushdie is probably the smart set's idea of an enlightened muslim. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elef Posted June 16, 2007 Report Share Posted June 16, 2007 They say that for winning the Nobel prize in literature you must be either unread or unreadable, if a man also an alcoholic btw, it seems they use similar criterias for knighting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Julian2 Posted June 16, 2007 Report Share Posted June 16, 2007 A quick browse of the English language NP winners had a couple of surprises actually. Winston Churchill? "for brilliant oratory in defending exalted human values." My favorite out of the lot would be Steinbeck. I re-read the Cannery Row stories at least once a year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chuckwoww Posted June 16, 2007 Report Share Posted June 16, 2007 I guess the free speech thing is important too with Rushdie. Not many authors have to deal with death threats. All kinds of people seem to get knighthoods these days. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flashermac Posted June 16, 2007 Report Share Posted June 16, 2007 Was this one of Tony's last acts? Maybe he ran out of rock singers and footballers to knight. p.s. Is Muhammad (al) Fayed next in line? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Torneyboy Posted June 16, 2007 Report Share Posted June 16, 2007 Think you are right...i tried to read it ...did not get to far into the book. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sukhumvit Posted June 16, 2007 Report Share Posted June 16, 2007 Shalimar the Clown - what was that all about then? A clown? Anyone read it? Is it funny? :question: I never did rate Rushdie and the fact that the establishment has finally made him a top nob, (when we all knew he was one anyway), just emphasises the fact that we should have let the Ayatollah's lot have their way. :thumbdown: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheCorinthian Posted June 16, 2007 Report Share Posted June 16, 2007 And here I though you meant Rosie O'Donnell!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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