French Literature Reviews - 2026

Andrew TEVERSON, Salman Rushdie
Novel and Narrative Prose

Andrew TEVERSON, Salman Rushdie

Manchester, Manchester University Press (Contemporary World Writers), 2007, 256 p.
ISBN 9780719070518

ABSTRACT

Salman Rushdie is one of the world's most prominent authors of political fiction. A self-professed polemicist capable of provoking sharply contrasting viewpoints, he is a novelist of extraordinary imaginative scope and power, as well as an erudite and frequently fearless commentator on contemporary global politics. In this engaging and insightful critical study, Andrew Teverson explores the intellectual, biographical, literary, and cultural contexts that shape Rushdie's fiction, guiding readers through the often complex debates surrounding the life and work of this major contemporary figure. Teverson also provides detailed critical analyses of all of Rushdie's novels, from Grimus to Shalimar the Clown.

This definitive guide will be of essential interest to scholars and students in the fields of contemporary world literature in English, postcolonial studies, twentieth- and twenty-first-century British literature, and narrative fiction.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Contexts and intertexts
2. From science fiction to history: Grimus and Midnight's Children
3. Tragedy in Shame
4. Satire in The Satanic Verses
5. Pessoptimistic fictions: Haroun and the Sea of Stories and The Moor's Last Sigh
6. The pop novel in the age of globalisation: The Ground Beneath Her Feet and Fury
7. Critical overview and conclusion
Afterword: Shalimar the Clown
Index

BIOGRAPHY

Andrew Teverson is Lecturer in English Literature at Kingston University.

As part of the Contemporary World Writers series, this volume offers a thorough examination of a prominent figure in modern political fiction and postcolonial literature. Andrew Teverson navigates the complex cultural and biographical landscapes that inform the author's expansive imaginative vision. By examining works ranging from early speculative narratives to later global satires, the study highlights how literature intersects with contemporary politics, migration, and intercultural translation. It serves as a reliable guide for readers seeking to understand the polemical force and narrative innovation defining these contemporary novels.

The book will be particularly valuable for scholars and students focusing on twentieth- and twenty-first-century British writing, postcolonial studies, and world literature in English. By contextualizing the reception and controversy surrounding major texts, the study equips researchers with critical tools to analyze narrative voice, allegory, and global themes. Whether approaching the texts through the lens of magical realism or political critique, readers will find a structured pathway through an influential literary corpus that continues to shape discussions on globalization and identity.