Facing the insanity of the world

The Satanic Verses, published by Indian-born author Salman Rushdie in 1988, prompted Iran’s late leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomenei to issue a fatwa against Rushdie, calling on all Muslims worldwide to murder the writer. Although all members of the Islamic Cooperation disagreed with the death sentence, the bounty on Rushdie’s head has been raised twice since and now lies at 3,3 million dollars. Over the years, Salman Rushdie has learned to look over his shoulder but at the same time, Rushdie is a man that will not be intimidated, despite living the life of a fugitive. Rushdie’s’ literary oeuvre includes the novels „Midnight’s Children“, „The Ground Beneath Her Feet“ and “The Moor’s Last Sigh“ and belongs to the greatest what the world of literature has to offer. Like no other, Rushdie inexhaustibly interweaves mythical fairy tales creating tremendously brilliant, inspiring and moving masterpieces. It’s what you call „magic realism“. Here’s a little taste of his newest novel: Salman Rushdie tells a timeless love story in a world ruled by senselessness. Dunia, the princess of light, falls in love with the philosopher Ibn Ruschd, and bears him many children, who make their way out into the world. Ibn Ruschd is classified as an enemy of God; his adversary is the deeply faithful Islamic prophet Ghazali. The spirits of both men engage in a fight. The struggle of faith against rationality begins, and brews such a terrible storm that a chasm opens in the universe, through which the destructive Djin is able to enter. The existence of the world is at stake. Dunia decides to help the people. This is a truly spellbinding work of fiction yet undoubtedly an allegory of the current state of the world that could not be more accurate. On Saturday, 21st November, Salman Rushdie will join the reading of his new novel at the Haus der Berliner Festspiele. Johnna Adjorán will be the host of the evening and actor Tom Wlaschiha will speak too. We can’t think of a more inspiring Saturday-night-cocktail and are giving away two tickets to the particularly interested among you. Send an email titled A SEA OF STORIES to hurra@muxmaeuschenwild.de.
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PREMIERE: Reading – Salman Rushdie – Two Years, Eight Months and Twenty-Eight Nights | 21. November 2015 | 8 pm | Haus der Berliner Festspiele, Scharperstraße 24, 10719 Berlin | Tickets 15 Euro, reduced 12 Euro, students 8 Euro |ticketinfo@berlinerfestspiele.de |
Photo: Book Cover C. Bertelsmann Verlag