1. Salman Rushdie A Life in Literature

2. Dan Brown’s Fatwa The Catholic church took exception to The Davinci Code this is a suggested course of action… The Catholic church took exception to The Davinci Code this is a suggested course of action… Point out the offensive claims made by the book, particularly the ones regarding Jesus and early Christianity. Point out that the claims are false-that Brown does not have the evidence to support them. The idea that Jesus had a wife is absurd. One of the major themes of the New Testament is that of the Church as the Bride of Christ. This theme would never have arisen in Christian circles if Jesus had a human wife. It was the fact that he was not married in the ordinary sense that led to the Church being described as his Bride. What Brown is doing amounts to smearing the most important and sacred beliefs of millions of people for the sake of getting his novel on the bestseller list. To help others understand how offensive these are, encourage fans of the novel to imagine parallel situations involving other religions or groups of people. For example, a major publisher would never produce a novel that portrayed the Jewish faith as perpetrating a murderous, centuries-long, global conspiracy. Such a book would be met immediately with outraged protests and the author and publishers publicly branded as religious bigots. By producing this novel smearing Christianity, Brown and Doubleday show that they have a double standard and harbor anti-Catholic, anti-Christian prejudice.

3. Early Years Salman Rushdie was born in Bombay, India (now Mumbai) on June 19, 1947. He went to school in Bombay and at Rugby in England, and read History at King's College, Cambridge, where he joined the Cambridge Footlights theatre company. Salman Rushdie was born in Bombay, India (now Mumbai) on June 19, 1947. He went to school in Bombay and at Rugby in England, and read History at King's College, Cambridge, where he joined the Cambridge Footlights theatre company.

4. The Young Actor After graduating, he lived with his family who had moved to Pakistan in 1964, and worked briefly in television before returning to England, beginning work as a copywriter for an advertising agency. His first novel, Grimus, was published in 1975. After graduating, he lived with his family who had moved to Pakistan in 1964, and worked briefly in television before returning to England, beginning work as a copywriter for an advertising agency. His first novel, Grimus, was published in 1975.

5. Science Fiction?? Rushdie's first published book, Grimus (1975), was classified as science fiction by many critics. It is the story of Flapping Eagle, a Native American who is given the gift of immortality (eternal life) and goes on a journey to find the meaning of life. Although the book received positive reviews, it did not sell very well… Rushdie's first published book, Grimus (1975), was classified as science fiction by many critics. It is the story of Flapping Eagle, a Native American who is given the gift of immortality (eternal life) and goes on a journey to find the meaning of life. Although the book received positive reviews, it did not sell very well…

6. Persistence… Rushdie continued working as a part- time ad writer over the five years it took him to write Midnight's Children. He quit his job after finishing the novel without even knowing if it would be published. Rushdie continued working as a part- time ad writer over the five years it took him to write Midnight's Children. He quit his job after finishing the novel without even knowing if it would be published.

7. A Second Chance…Twice Removed… Released first in the United States in 1981, Midnight's Children is in part the story of a baby who was not only the result of an extramarital affair, but who was then switched at birth with a second child from a similar situation. The hero is also caught between the two great Indian religions, Islam and Hinduism. Released first in the United States in 1981, Midnight's Children is in part the story of a baby who was not only the result of an extramarital affair, but who was then switched at birth with a second child from a similar situation. The hero is also caught between the two great Indian religions, Islam and Hinduism. The novel narrates key events in the history of India through the story of pickle-factory worker Saleem Sinai, one of 1001 children born as India won independence from Britain in 1947. The novel narrates key events in the history of India through the story of pickle-factory worker Saleem Sinai, one of 1001 children born as India won independence from Britain in 1947.

8. And the Award goes to… Midnight's Children, won the Booker Prize for Fiction 1981. In 1993, it was judged to have been the 'Booker of Bookers‘- the best novel to have won the Booker Prize for Fiction in the award's 25-year history. The critic Malcolm Bradbury acclaimed the novel's achievement in The Modern British Novel (Penguin, 1994): 'a new start for the late- twentieth-century novel.' Midnight's Children, won the Booker Prize for Fiction 1981. In 1993, it was judged to have been the 'Booker of Bookers‘- the best novel to have won the Booker Prize for Fiction in the award's 25-year history. The critic Malcolm Bradbury acclaimed the novel's achievement in The Modern British Novel (Penguin, 1994): 'a new start for the late- twentieth-century novel.'

9. Political Controversy Begins… Rushdie followed this up with Shame (1983), the story of a Pakistani woman, who blushes so hotly with embarrassment at her nation's history that her body boils her bath water and burns the lips of men who attempt to kiss her. Rushdie followed this up with Shame (1983), the story of a Pakistani woman, who blushes so hotly with embarrassment at her nation's history that her body boils her bath water and burns the lips of men who attempt to kiss her.

10. Rushdie Angers Muslim Leaders … Rushdie’s next novel, The Satanic Verses (1988) would take the world by storm…and create a controversy that world literature has rarely seen…. Rushdie’s next novel, The Satanic Verses (1988) would take the world by storm…and create a controversy that world literature has rarely seen….

11. Anger and Precognition… Rushdie's The Satanic Verses (1988) opens with the survival of two Indian men who fall out of the sky after their jumbo jet to England is blown up in midair by terrorists. These two characters then gain divine and demonic powers. Rushdie's The Satanic Verses (1988) opens with the survival of two Indian men who fall out of the sky after their jumbo jet to England is blown up in midair by terrorists. These two characters then gain divine and demonic powers. Rushdie's habit of using the atrocities of history—especially involving religion—made The Satanic Verses a book of frightening precognition: another character in the novel is a writer sentenced to death by a religious leader… Rushdie's habit of using the atrocities of history—especially involving religion—made The Satanic Verses a book of frightening precognition: another character in the novel is a writer sentenced to death by a religious leader…

12. Fatwa… The title of the novel refers to verses from the Koran (the holy book of the Islamic faith), which were removed by later Islamic historians, describing a time when the Arab prophet, Mohammed (the founder of Islam), briefly changed his belief in a single god and allowed mention to be made of three local goddesses. The title of the novel refers to verses from the Koran (the holy book of the Islamic faith), which were removed by later Islamic historians, describing a time when the Arab prophet, Mohammed (the founder of Islam), briefly changed his belief in a single god and allowed mention to be made of three local goddesses. This was considered offensive to Islam by the Iranian leader Ayatollah Khomeini, who issued a Fatwa, or religious order, calling for Rushdie's death. This was considered offensive to Islam by the Iranian leader Ayatollah Khomeini, who issued a Fatwa, or religious order, calling for Rushdie's death.

13. The Fallout… Rushdie went into hiding and received round-the- clock protection from British security guards. Rushdie's wife of thirteen months, author Marianne Wiggins, went into hiding with him when the death threat was announced. She soon emerged and announced that their marriage was over. Rushdie went into hiding and received round-the- clock protection from British security guards. Rushdie's wife of thirteen months, author Marianne Wiggins, went into hiding with him when the death threat was announced. She soon emerged and announced that their marriage was over.

14. Who would go into hiding with you? Lena Dunham (@lenadunham)@lenadunham 2012-10-09 12:43 AM The Salman Rushdie excerpt in the New Yorker really makes you wonder who would go into hiding with you

15. The Fallout Spreads… Khomeini's death threat extended not only to Rushdie himself, but to the publishers of The Satanic Verses, booksellers who carried it, and any Muslim who publicly approved of its release. Several bookstores in England and America received bomb threats, and the novel was briefly removed from the shelves of America's largest book-selling chains. Khomeini's death threat extended not only to Rushdie himself, but to the publishers of The Satanic Verses, booksellers who carried it, and any Muslim who publicly approved of its release. Several bookstores in England and America received bomb threats, and the novel was briefly removed from the shelves of America's largest book-selling chains. Two Islamic officials in London, England, were murdered for questioning the correctness of Rushdie's death sentence on a talk show. Many book-burnings were held throughout the world. Two Islamic officials in London, England, were murdered for questioning the correctness of Rushdie's death sentence on a talk show. Many book-burnings were held throughout the world.

16. Infamy… Despite the serious nature of the Fatwa, Rushdie (and his possible disguises in hiding), became the subject of many jokes. For example, during the 1990 Academy Awards presentation, which was seen worldwide by an estimated one billion viewers, comedian Billy Crystal joked that "the lovely young woman" who usually hands Oscar statuettes to their recipients "is, of course, Salman Rushdie!“ He’s also mentioned in countless TV shows and movies, including episodes of the Simpsons, Seinfeld, and Family Guy. Despite the serious nature of the Fatwa, Rushdie (and his possible disguises in hiding), became the subject of many jokes. For example, during the 1990 Academy Awards presentation, which was seen worldwide by an estimated one billion viewers, comedian Billy Crystal joked that "the lovely young woman" who usually hands Oscar statuettes to their recipients "is, of course, Salman Rushdie!“ He’s also mentioned in countless TV shows and movies, including episodes of the Simpsons, Seinfeld, and Family Guy.

17. Working Under a Death Sentence… In 1990 Rushdie released the fantasy novel Haroun and the Sea of Stories, written for his son by his first marriage. It is a warning about the dangers of story-telling and in attempting to stifle personal and political truth(s). In 1990 Rushdie released the fantasy novel Haroun and the Sea of Stories, written for his son by his first marriage. It is a warning about the dangers of story-telling and in attempting to stifle personal and political truth(s). That same year Rushdie publicly embraced Islam and apologized to those offended. He made several appearances in London bookstores to autograph his newest work. That same year Rushdie publicly embraced Islam and apologized to those offended. He made several appearances in London bookstores to autograph his newest work. But, even after the Ayatollah's death, his successor, Iran's President Rafsanzani, refused to lift the death sentence. Rushdie continued to appear in public only occasionally, and then under heavy security. But, even after the Ayatollah's death, his successor, Iran's President Rafsanzani, refused to lift the death sentence. Rushdie continued to appear in public only occasionally, and then under heavy security.

18. Controversy Continues… Rushdie continued to live an isolated life. He remarried, however, and became a father for the second time. Occasionally he made radio appearances, but they were usually unannounced. Rushdie continued to live an isolated life. He remarried, however, and became a father for the second time. Occasionally he made radio appearances, but they were usually unannounced. Rushdie's novel entitled The Moor's Last Sigh was published in 1995. This book drew angry reactions from Hindu militants (those engaged in war) in India. Rushdie's novel entitled The Moor's Last Sigh was published in 1995. This book drew angry reactions from Hindu militants (those engaged in war) in India.

19. Time Marches On… The subjects in a newer work, Step Across This Line: Collected Non-fiction 1992- 2002 (2002), range from popular culture and football to twentieth-century literature and politics. The subjects in a newer work, Step Across This Line: Collected Non-fiction 1992- 2002 (2002), range from popular culture and football to twentieth-century literature and politics. Another novel is Shalimar The Clown (2005), is a book that focuses on the psychology of terrorism, while also telling the story of Max Ophuls, his killer and daughter, and a fourth character who links them all. Another novel is Shalimar The Clown (2005), is a book that focuses on the psychology of terrorism, while also telling the story of Max Ophuls, his killer and daughter, and a fourth character who links them all.

20. Rushdie Today… Recently, he was Knighted by the British Crown. Not long after, he announced that his third marriage was over.

21. Salman Rushdie In 2007, he began a five- year term as Distinguished Writer in Residence at Emory University. In 2007, he began a five- year term as Distinguished Writer in Residence at Emory University. The Fatwa on his life has never been withdrawn The Fatwa on his life has never been withdrawnbut Iran's former President Mohammad Khatami said the threat was "finished" in 1998.

22. Fatwa Renewed? In September, Ayatollah Hassan Sanei offered a £320,000 reward for murdering Rushdie, blaming the British author for an amateur US film which insults the Prophet Muhammed. He said the film, Innocence of Muslims, would not have been made if Rushdie had been killed after his novel The Satanic Verses was published in 1988.been made if Rushdie had been killed after his novel The Satanic Verses was published in 1988. The Innocence of Muslims, has sparked rioting across the Middle East, North Africa and South Asia. Violent protests last week saw the American ambassador to Libya, Chris Stevens, killed in a rocket attack on the US Embassy in Benghazi, along with three other American staff. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QZYyBZ E1GKs http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QZYyBZ E1GKs http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QZYyBZ E1GKs http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QZYyBZ E1GKs The Ayatollah Hassan Sanei said in a statement the film would not "be the last insulting act as long as Imam Khomeini's historic order on executing the blasphemous Salman Rushdie is not carried out."