Home Literary Studies 20. Salman Rushdie, The Satanic Verses (1988)
Chapter
Licensed
Unlicensed Requires Authentication

20. Salman Rushdie, The Satanic Verses (1988)

  • Madelena Gonzalez
Become an author with De Gruyter Brill
Explore this Subject How to publish with us
Handbook of the English Novel of the Twentieth and Twenty-First Centuries
This chapter is in the book Handbook of the English Novel of the Twentieth and Twenty-First Centuries

Abstract

This chapter examines the background and context of Rushdie’s now infamous novel from both a literary and a sociological point of view. It provides a detailed study of the main characters and the complex plot of the novel, in addition to an analysis of the author’s innovative style and narrative technique, based on hybridity and intertextuality. As well as discussing the most controversial aspects of the book, linked to the episode of the “Satanic Verses”, it provides some original insights into its continuing relevance nearly thirty years after its publication. Not only is The Satanic Verses a major literary achievement within the impressive Rushdiean canon but it can also be considered as one of the most significant works of fiction of the late twentieth century.

Abstract

This chapter examines the background and context of Rushdie’s now infamous novel from both a literary and a sociological point of view. It provides a detailed study of the main characters and the complex plot of the novel, in addition to an analysis of the author’s innovative style and narrative technique, based on hybridity and intertextuality. As well as discussing the most controversial aspects of the book, linked to the episode of the “Satanic Verses”, it provides some original insights into its continuing relevance nearly thirty years after its publication. Not only is The Satanic Verses a major literary achievement within the impressive Rushdiean canon but it can also be considered as one of the most significant works of fiction of the late twentieth century.

Chapters in this book

  1. Frontmatter I
  2. Editors’ Preface V
  3. Contents VII
  4. 0. Introduction 1
  5. Part I. Systematic Questions
  6. 1. The English Novel as a Distinctly Modern Genre 23
  7. 2. The Novel in the Economy, 1900 to the Present 42
  8. 3. Genres: The Novel between Artistic Ambition and Popularity 64
  9. 4. Gender: Performing Politics in Prose? Performativity – Masculinity – Feminism – Queer 82
  10. 5. The Burden of Representation: Reflections on Class, Ethnicity and the Twentieth-Century British Novel 107
  11. Part II. Close Readings
  12. 6. Joseph Conrad, Heart of Darkness (1899/1902) 133
  13. 7. James Joyce, Ulysses (1922) 152
  14. 8. E. M. Forster, A Passage to India (1924) 175
  15. 9. Virginia Woolf, To the Lighthouse (1927) 195
  16. 10. Aldous Huxley, Brave New World (1932) 213
  17. 11. Henry Green, Party Going (1939) 232
  18. 12. Samuel Beckett, Molloy, Malone Dies and The Unnamable (1951–1958) 252
  19. 13. Sam Selvon, The Lonely Londoners (1956) 268
  20. 14. Doris Lessing, The Golden Notebook (1962) 288
  21. 15. John Fowles, The French Lieutenant’s Woman (1969) 303
  22. 16. B. S. Johnson, The Unfortunates (1969) 323
  23. 17. J. G. Farrell, The Empire Trilogy (1970–1978) 344
  24. 18. William Golding, Darkness Visible (1979) 365
  25. 19. Angela Carter, Nights at the Circus (1984) 384
  26. 20. Salman Rushdie, The Satanic Verses (1988) 403
  27. 21. Jeanette Winterson, Sexing the Cherry (1989) 424
  28. 22. A. S. Byatt, Possession (1990) 445
  29. 23. Philip Pullman, His Dark Materials (1995–2000) 461
  30. 24. Zadie Smith, White Teeth (2000) 481
  31. 25. David Mitchell, Cloud Atlas (2004) 498
  32. 26. China Miéville, Embassytown (2011) 518
  33. 27. Hilary Mantel, The Thomas Cromwell Trilogy (2009–) 536
  34. 28. Tom McCarthy, Satin Island (2015) 555
  35. Index of Subjects 575
  36. Index of Names 592
  37. List of Contributors 603
https://doi.org/10.1515/9783110369489-021

Chapters in this book

  1. Frontmatter I
  2. Editors’ Preface V
  3. Contents VII
  4. 0. Introduction 1
  5. Part I. Systematic Questions
  6. 1. The English Novel as a Distinctly Modern Genre 23
  7. 2. The Novel in the Economy, 1900 to the Present 42
  8. 3. Genres: The Novel between Artistic Ambition and Popularity 64
  9. 4. Gender: Performing Politics in Prose? Performativity – Masculinity – Feminism – Queer 82
  10. 5. The Burden of Representation: Reflections on Class, Ethnicity and the Twentieth-Century British Novel 107
  11. Part II. Close Readings
  12. 6. Joseph Conrad, Heart of Darkness (1899/1902) 133
  13. 7. James Joyce, Ulysses (1922) 152
  14. 8. E. M. Forster, A Passage to India (1924) 175
  15. 9. Virginia Woolf, To the Lighthouse (1927) 195
  16. 10. Aldous Huxley, Brave New World (1932) 213
  17. 11. Henry Green, Party Going (1939) 232
  18. 12. Samuel Beckett, Molloy, Malone Dies and The Unnamable (1951–1958) 252
  19. 13. Sam Selvon, The Lonely Londoners (1956) 268
  20. 14. Doris Lessing, The Golden Notebook (1962) 288
  21. 15. John Fowles, The French Lieutenant’s Woman (1969) 303
  22. 16. B. S. Johnson, The Unfortunates (1969) 323
  23. 17. J. G. Farrell, The Empire Trilogy (1970–1978) 344
  24. 18. William Golding, Darkness Visible (1979) 365
  25. 19. Angela Carter, Nights at the Circus (1984) 384
  26. 20. Salman Rushdie, The Satanic Verses (1988) 403
  27. 21. Jeanette Winterson, Sexing the Cherry (1989) 424
  28. 22. A. S. Byatt, Possession (1990) 445
  29. 23. Philip Pullman, His Dark Materials (1995–2000) 461
  30. 24. Zadie Smith, White Teeth (2000) 481
  31. 25. David Mitchell, Cloud Atlas (2004) 498
  32. 26. China Miéville, Embassytown (2011) 518
  33. 27. Hilary Mantel, The Thomas Cromwell Trilogy (2009–) 536
  34. 28. Tom McCarthy, Satin Island (2015) 555
  35. Index of Subjects 575
  36. Index of Names 592
  37. List of Contributors 603
Sign up now to receive a 20% welcome discount
Institutional Access
How does access work?
Have an idea on how to improve our website?
Please write us.
© 2025 De Gruyter Brill
Downloaded on 2.10.2025 from https://www.degruyterbrill.com/document/doi/10.1515/9783110369489-021/html?lang=en&srsltid=AfmBOordmOWU6Q8aUt70y3vpCZLLArKaevhqYZ-Q4hd2FmWO2Z8s5znP
Scroll to top button