The Satanic Verses

This powerful and provocative novel by Salman Rushdie, first published in 1988, blends magical realism with a gripping story that begins as a terrorist bombing transforms two Indian actors into symbols of good and evil. Drawing on myth, cultural conflict, and faith, the book explores a fictional account of disputed verses in the Quran—the “Satanic Verses”—with lyrical prose that shifts between reality and the surreal

A milestone in modern literature, it won the 1988 Whitbread Award for Novel of the Year and was shortlisted for the Booker Prize. It’s also one of the most controversial books of the 20th century—sparking global protests and a fatwa seeking Rushdie’s life—but remains celebrated for its literary power