The Satanic Verses

Year Published: 1989
Author: Salman Rushdie
ISBN: 0-670-82537-9
Condition: This book is in excellent condition. There are no tears in the dustcover or pages. Slight darkening of color on top end of pages.

Controversy: The satirical portrayal of Islamic figures and themes written by the author were found to be blasphemous by some Muslims particularly Iran's Ayatollah Khomeini, who ordered a fatwa that called for Rushdie's execution sending him into hiding.  The pushback put the concept of free speech up against the respect for religious views.

The fatwa did not stop at Rushdie, whose Italian translator was seriously stabbed in 1991, his Japanese translator stabbed to death just three days later, his Norwegian publisher barely survived being shot in the back three times in 1993. Thirty seven people died when arsonists set fire to the Madimak Hotel in Sivas, Turkey intending to kill Turkish translator, Aziz Nesin, who managed to escape the massacre. 

Rushdie himself managed to survive the fatwa until he was stabbed four times while speaking at the Chautauqua Institution. He survived the stab wounds to his abdomen and neck, but lost sight in one eye and the use of one of his hands.