The Satanic Verses: A Novel

The Satanic Verses: A Novel is a 1988 novel by Salman Rushdie that combines historical fiction, magical realism and satire. The central narrative follows the adventures of two Indian exiles from their hometown of Santiniketan who find themselves in England during the political unrest of the late 1980s.

The novel opens with Gibreel Farishta, a Bollywood superstar, who, seduced by the tumultuous events in India in the 1980s, delves into Muslim politics. After a spell of mysticism, he has a dream of taking a fall from his airplane and becoming a heavenly angel.

Farishta's friend and fellow Indian exile, Saladin Chamcha, is an actor of great talent, yet still works a variety of odd jobs. His estranged wife, Pamela Lovelace, is a 'tolerant but convinced atheist’. Finally, there is the mysterious 'moor', Shalimar, who travels to London in pursuit of revenge, and 'Abrim', the mysterious figure linked to various religious orders such as Shin Buddhism and Ibzylamism.

The characters experience a range of adventures and incredible events, both hallucinatory and physically real. These include a seance on a beach which reveals truths about Chamcha's past, a descent from the heavens on a magic carpet, appearances by the Angel Gibreel, and a battle for possession of Farishta's soul with a mysterious figure known as 'the hand of the hitherto unknown'.

The final chapters of The Satanic Verses see the four main characters attempting to make sense of their experiences. They end up coming together to 'understand the fall of Gibreel' and the nature of his 'angelic' visions. Farishta, however, ultimately chooses the human world and turns his back on the divine.

The Satanic Verses remains a controversial book that was banned in India and other parts of the world upon its publication. It was also condemned by some Muslim leaders and Ayatollah Khomeini for its supposed blasphemy and depiction of Islam. Despite this, the novel has been recognised for its experimental style, powerful humour and complex exploration of faith. It is often said to be Salman Rushdie's masterpiece, and successfully address themes of immigration, religion and identity with thought-provoking insight.