Midnight's Children

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More About This Book

Overview

Winner of the Booker of Bookers
Saleem Sinai is born at the stroke of midnight on August 15, 1947, the very moment of India’s independence. Greeted by fireworks displays, cheering crowds, and Prime Minister Nehru himself, Saleem grows up to learn the ominous consequences of this coincidence. His every act is mirrored and magnified in events that sway the course of national affairs; his health and well-being are inextricably bound to those of his nation; his life is inseparable, at times indistinguishable, from the history of his country. Perhaps most remarkable are the telepathic powers linking him with India’s 1,000 other “midnight’s children,” all born in that initial hour and endowed with magical gifts.

This novel is at once a fascinating family saga and an astonishing evocation of a vast land and its people–a brilliant incarnation of the universal human comedy. Twenty-five years after its publication, Midnight’s Children stands apart as both an epochal work of fiction and a brilliant performance by one of the great literary voices of our time.

Editorial Reviews

Clark Blaise
This is a book to accept on its own terms. . . .As a Bombay book, which is to say, a big-city book, 'Midnight's Children is coarse, knowing, comfortable with Indian pop culture and, above all, aggressive. . . .The flow of the book rushes to its conclusion in counterpointed harmony: myths intact, history accounted for, and a remarkable character fully alive. -- The New York Times

Product Details

  • ISBN-13: 9780812976533
  • Publisher: Random House Publishing Group
  • Publication date: 4/4/2006
  • Edition number: 25
  • Pages: 560
  • Sales rank: 37,355
  • Lexile: 1120L (what's this?)
  • Product dimensions: 5.18 (w) x 8.00 (h) x 1.14 (d)

Meet the Author

Salman Rushdie
Salman Rushdie
One of the most celebrated writers of our time, SALMAN RUSHDIE is the author of ten previous novels— Grimus, Midnight's Children (for which he won the Booker Prize in 1981, the Booker of Bookers in 1993, and, in 2008, the Best of the Booker), Shame, The Satanic Verses, Haroun and the Sea of Stories, The Moor's Last Sigh, The Ground Beneath Her Feet, Fury, Shalimar the Clown, and The Enchantress of Florence. He has also published four works of non-fiction, a collection of short stories, and edited two fiction anthologies. In June 2007, Rushdie was appointed a Knight Bachelor by Queen Elizabeth II for services to literature. He holds the rank Commandeur in the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres of France and began a five-year term as Distinguished Writer in Residence at Emory University in 2007. In May 2008, he was elected to the American Academy of Arts and Letters, and also in 2008, the London Times ranked Rushdie thirteenth on their list of "The 50 greatest British writers since 1945". For two years he served as president of The PEN American Center, the world's oldest human rights organization, and is the chair of PEN's World Voices Festival of International Literature, an annual literary festival he began in New York in 2001. Rushdie is currently working on the film version of Midnight's Children.

Biography

Born in Mumbai, India, and educated in the U.K., multi-award-winning novelist Salman Rushdie is considered one of the most important and influential writers of contemporary English-language fiction.

Rushdie freelanced for two London advertising firms before turning to a full-time writing career. He made his literary debut in 1975 with Grimus, a sci-fi fantasy that made a very small splash in publishing circles. However, he hit the jackpot with his second novel, Midnight's Children, an ambitious allegory that parallels the turbulent history of India before and after partition. Widely considered Rushdie's magnum opus, Midnight's Children was awarded the Booker Prize in 1981. (Twelve years later, a panel of judges named it the best overall novel to have won the Booker Prize since the award's inception in 1975; and in 2005, Time included it on a list of the 100 best English-language novels published since 1923.)

Undoubtedly, though, the book that put Rushdie squarely on the cultural radar screen was The Satanic Verses. Published in 1988 and partially inspired by the life of the prophet Muhammad, this erudite study of good and evil won the Whitbread Book Award, but achieved far more notoriety when Muslim fundamentalists condemned it for its blasphemous portrayal of Islam. The book was banned in many Muslim countries, a fatwa was issued by the Iranian Ayatollah, and a multimillion dollar bounty was placed on Rushdie's head. The novelist spent much of the 1990s in hiding, under the protection of the British government. (In 1998, Iran officially lifted the fatwa, but threats against Rushdie's life still reverberate throughout the Muslim world.)

Even without the controversy inspired by The Satanic Verses, Rushdie's literary fame would be assured. His novels comprise a unique body of work that draws from fantasy, mythology, religion, and magic realism, blending them all with staggering imagination and comic brilliance. He has created his own idiom, pushing the boundaries of language with dazzling wordplay and a widely admired "chutnification" of history. His books have won most major awards in Europe and the U.K. and have garnered praise from critics around the world. Britain's Financial Times called him "Our most exhilaratingly inventive prose stylist." Time magazine raved, "No novelist currently writing in English does so with more energy, intelligence and allusiveness than Rushdie." And the writer Christopher Hitchens lamented in the Progressive that were it not for the death threats against him, Rushdie would surely be a Nobel laureate by now.

In addition to his bestselling novels, Rushdie has also produced essays, criticism, and a book of children's fiction. In 2007, Rushdie was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II. The citation reads: "Ahmed Salman Rushdie -- author, for services to literature."

Good To Know

Rushdie was short-listed for The Literary Review's Bad Sex Award in 1995 for The Moor's Last Sigh, which included such verses as "For ever they sweated pepper ‘n' spices sweat."

Rushdie participated in a two-day, U.S. State Department conference entitled "Why Do They Hate Us?" for 50 diplomats in the wake of the terrorist attacks on New York and Washington, D.C., on Sept. 11, 2001.

Rushdie's first novel was a literate sci-fi fantasy entitled Grimus. Although it made only a very small splash in publishing circles, the book was deemed outstanding enough to be selected by a panel of distinguished writers (including Brian Aldiss, Kingsley Amis, and Arthur C. Clarke) as the best science fiction novel of 1975. However, at the last minute, his publishers withdrew the book from consideration, fearing that, if he won, Rushdie would never be able to shake the label of "genre writer."

    1. Also Known As:
      Ahmed Salman Rushdie
    2. Hometown:
      New York, New York
    1. Date of Birth:
      June 19, 1947
    2. Place of Birth:
      Bombay, Maharashtra, India
    1. Education:
      M.A. in History, King's College, University of Cambridge

Reading Group Guide

Introduction by Anita Desai

Saleem Sinai was born at midnight, the midnight of India's independence, and finds himself mysteriously 'handcuffed to history' by the coincidence. He is one of 1,001 children born at the midnight hour, each of them endowed with an extraordinary talent -- and whose privilege and curse it is to be both master and victims of their times. Through Saleem's gifts -- inner voices and a wildly sensitive sense of smell -- we are drawn into a fascinating family saga set against the vast, colourful background of the India of this century.
Customer Reviews
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  • Posted August 22, 2009

    A parallel story of the birth of a nation and that nation's children

    "Midnight's Children" by Salman Rushdie won the Booker Prize in 1981 and was awarded in 1993 the honor of "best overall novel" of all Booker Prize winners since the prize was first awarded in 1975. In 2005 it made the 100 best English-language novels published since 1923. I agree that it is worthy of such accolades. It is basically a story of India's history immediately before independence from Great Britain and for its beginning years as a nation continuing on to Pakistan separation and ensuing wars between the two nations. The story is built on and parallels the lives of those children born at midnight on that day of independence, August 15, 1947, at the designated time of independence thus the title, Midnight's Children. The main character, Saleem Sinai, is one of those children and his life is linked to the 1000 other midnight's children all of whom have some type of magical powers or gifts. It is definitely a challenging and intellectual read, both thought-provoking and complex. I feel more knowledgeable about Indian history and the divisions within that nation that continue even into today's society there. * * *

    3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted March 15, 2007

    The true picture of a newly born country

    I really wonder if anyone else can paint such a true and beuatiful picture of a newly born country in the form of its children.

    3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted January 24, 2000

    I am a proud Indian

    Well, no, not really. far from it actually. but ever since reading this book nearly a decade ago, at the age of 14, i keep a special place in my heart for Bombay. It has sent me on a never ending chase for every written word ever to emerge from under Rushdie's pen, and he has never let me down. But as enchanting as all of his titles are, non is as breathtaking as this one, and my sole regret is that I will never get to relive the experience of reading 'Midnight's Children' for the first time.

    3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted November 16, 2008

    Unbelievably Long !!

    It's very long and the characters aren't that interesting ,it's easy to forget what happened the last 20 pages when you're reading ! I didn't fall in Love with book , i didn't even like it a lot . to be fair it might have something to do with my lack of information about the history of India as the book is deeply connected with it .

    2 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted June 6, 2005

    Good in the beginning... but too long

    The start is very good... one cannot put it aside but as the story goes on it looses interest. I found the first half very good but after that it was hard to read as words were repetitive. I wish it was shorter.. would have conveyed the message better.

    1 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted July 10, 2004

    Art is long, life is short

    This is a brilliant and incredibly difficult book. Call me selfish, but I don't have 2 months to read and re-read this book to fully appreciate its message.

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted April 22, 2004

    WOW

    If I wasn't completely convinced before that Salman Rushdie has a claim to be the most gifted writer on the planet, I am after reading this book. This novel is a generational saga along the lines of Gabriel Garcia-Marquez's 'One Hundred Years of Solitude' and Jeffrey Eugenides's 'Middlesex'. As those two novels reflect the history of their own respective nations, so does 'Midnight's Children.' It is the story of one family, and one person in particular, Saleem, who is born on the stroke of midnight on the exact day and time India achieved its independence from Britain. From that propitious birth onward, Saleem's life becomes a reflection and representation of the young Indian nation itself. The title refers to the 400 odd children who were born at or near this same midnight. Each one of them have magical skills which vary in strength and importance in direct relation to their birth's proximity to midnight. Since Saleem was born exactly at midnight, he has the most valuable skill, the skill to look into people's hearts, minds, and souls, and to commune with the other midnight children mentally. In this vein, he forms the Midnight Children's Conference, a meeting of these 400+ children who communicate through Saleem's telepathic mind and have the stated goal of reforming India. If this sounds unbelievable, it is not. It is the same sort of magical realism fans of Latin American authors will be familiar with, and adds to the strength, beauty, and ultimate brutality of the story without making the reader roll his eyes in incredulity. As is India, so is Saleem. He hears the multitudinous voices of India in his head, a mess of contradictions: peace and violence, forgiveness and revenge, progress and tradition. His family also reflects the indefinable character of India. They are by turns real and fantastical, living and dying, perservering and escaping. The amalgam of these voices and Saleem's family is an India that Rushdie seems to understand no better than anyone else, but his affection for and frustration with India could only come from a native. The reader also follows Saleem's physical life. His face mirrors a map of India, and his enormous nose is gifted at sensing emotions. From the life of a rich boy in Bombay, to a fighter in the India-Pakistan War, to a broken carnival traveller, and finally to an owner of a pickle company, Saleem's journey through life is expansive, human, and always entertaining. The side characters are just as engrossing, and all have a part to play in the tumolt of Indian history. To keep the earlier analogy going, I found this to be a slightly more difficult read than 'One Hundred Years of Solitude' but just as entertaining as 'Middlesex'. Rushdie writes with wit, style, anger, and absolute brilliance. He is generous with allusions, but I felt they were also extremely accessible. I recommend this book not only to India-philes, but also to fans of literature in general. This is a master in peak and rare form, and this is one of the finest novels written in a generation. Most highly recommended.

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted January 26, 2004

    A long journey through Indian history

    I began reading Midnight's Children intimidated by the number of pages and the in-depth and tedious description Rushdie reveals. But eventually the pace began to quicken, and Midnight's Children transforms into a brilliant piece of literature, implementing characteristics of Indian history, and the loss of identity as a result of Indian independence. A great novel for the analytical type.

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted January 20, 2004

    hmmmmmmmmm.

    it was a difficult book to read but satisfying. yes it addressed cultural issues, yes it had humour, but i felt confused and slightly put off when the narrator kept digressing.whether or not that was complimenting the theme of fragmentation, i certainly did not waarm to it. its not for the light hearted, but it really throws a light upon Post colonial India and i can say that i have learnt twice as much than i would have through a history book!

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted April 24, 2010

    didn't like it

    It's the second book by Rushdie I've tried to read. I say 'tried' because I disliked them both so much I couldn't even finish the books. I won't be trying another.

    0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted December 2, 2003

    it's a challenge

    Midnight's Children really challenged my reading. This is a book that is very confussing at times but in the end all comes together. I enjoyed reading the book but it was not my favorite book to read. I had a hard time understanding Rushdie's humor and how the book was organized. If you would like a challenge I would say this is a book to read.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted November 12, 2003

    WOW Great Book

    This book is defiantly a good read. Rushide has laced this book with humor and if you get to caught up in the difficulty of the text you can easily miss the comedy. After rereading this book I finally realized that this book is a very hard but good book. I would recommend this and any of Rushide's books to any one who likes a challenge. Even though I didn¿t think that I would like this book I realized that half way through the book that it was very different than what I expected it to be, but it is a great book.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 28, 2003

    Interesting Book

    A very interesting book. This book will make you laugh. The author is very creative but his sytle of writing can confuse you. You will learn about a different culture which is interesting to learn about. Saleem Sini doesn't know his real identity and takes you with him to find out. This book will make you addicted to reading it. The characters all have a good personality with makes this book special.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted May 14, 2002

    Wonderful Imagery!

    Rushdie creates a wonderful panorama and guides us through post-1947 nehru's india toward indira's india as his characters move across the length and breadth of india , associating themselves with history, witnessing its events, and occasionally being a part of them. From the old Kashmir with the silent dal lake to the massacre at Jallianwalbagh, From the Streets and Forts of Delhi to the language riots of Bombay, From the military coups in pakistan, along the mysterious rann of kutch to the Mangroves of the Sunderbans, the story keeps turning while showing you all the nuances, sentiments, and personalities of the indian subcontinent. It's not a history book but presents history with stunning images in rushdie's wonderful hinglish. A good read!

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  • Anonymous

    Posted September 4, 2001

    My Instant Favorite

    An astonishing blend of historical fiction and magical realism. Rushdie's command of language and myth allow for brilliant and inventive descriptions of the characters as personifications of India herself. I've been urging friends to read it ever since. My instant favorite.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted June 15, 2000

    exellent

    The best ever...

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  • Anonymous

    Posted June 11, 2000

    Humor is the Hidden Quality in Midnight's Children

    I found Midnight's Children very interesting and challenging. I sometimes got so caught in the challenge of the read that I forgot to appreciate the humor that is laced throughout the novel. A second read would undoubtly open this story up. Rushdie keeps the reader interested through out by teasing the reader. His humor is subtle and deeply woven in this story.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted May 11, 2000

    Incredible

    Midnight's Children is the crown jewel in Salman Rushdie's consistently dazzling collection. Stumbling across this book by chance was one of the most fortunate events in my literary life. After completing the brilliant, complex and engaging Midnight's Children, I have become hopelessly addicted to everything Rushdie writes.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted March 20, 2011

    No text was provided for this review.

  • Anonymous

    Posted February 26, 2011

    No text was provided for this review.

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