THE SATANIC VERSES [Signed]

New York, NY: Viking Press, 1988. First American Edition, First Printing. Hardcover. Octavo, 546 pages. In Very Good minus condition with a Very Good condition dust jacket. Red and gray spine with black and gold lettering. Dust jacket is wrapped in a mylar covering, price uncut "$19.95", has mild shelving wear. Boards are slightly warped, has moderate age toning along the head and tail edges, light bumping and chipping along the tail fore corners, mild bending wear along the spine head and tail edges, and a small chip on the rear board. Textblock has light adhesive damage to the front end-page and half-title page, light plus foxing on the pastedown pages, end-pages and edges. Signed flat by Salman Rushdie on the title page. DL consignment. Shelved in Room C. Inspired by the life of the Islamic prophet Muhammed, "The Satanic Verses" incited a great deal of backlash upon release due to its perceived blasphemy. Then Supreme Leader of Iran Ruhollah Khomeini issued a fatwa against Rushdie and the publishers, leading to a number of bombings, killings, attempted killings, and riots. The British government provided round-the-clock protection for Rushdie, and though Rushdie eventually came out of hiding, the fatwa remains in place. Rushdie was attacked on August 12, 2022, losing sight in his right eye and the use of one hand.


Winner of the 1988 Whitbread Award for novel of the year and 1988 Booker Prize finalist. 1393079. Special Collections. (Inventory #: 1393079)