Salman Rushdie is one of the most lauded authors of our time. His writings have been translated into over 40 languages, and his oeuvre spans fiction, non-fiction, essays, memoirs and more. But for someone new to his work, the question often is: Where do I start? Below is a curated guide to help you embark on a Rushdie reading journey—from his best-known works to more recent releases.
What was Salman Rushdie's first book?
Rushdie’s debut novel, Grimus
Though not as widely known as his later works, Grimus is a fascinating early experiment that foreshadows many of Rushdie’s recurring themes — identity, migration, myth, and the search for truth. Readers can glimpse the seeds of his signature style: dazzling prose, mythic layering and sharp wit.
What are Rushdie's most famous books?
The most common starting point for new readers.
"To understand just one life, you have to swallow the world," wrote Salman Rushdie, and he proved it with his most successful novel: the story of Saleem Sinai, a man "handcuffed to history" by being born precisely at the moment of Indian independence: at midnight on 15 August, 1947. As a result, Saleem believes that all the history bubbling up through his galloping narrative – from Nehru to Indira Gandhi, from war with China to the creation of Bangladesh – happens because of him.
A fairy tale, a coming-of-age story and a satire, Midnight’s Children is as "hot, noisy, odorous, crowded and excessive’ (to borrow the novel’s own words) as the country it describes, borrowing from writers like Günter Grass and Gabriel García Márquez but creating something entirely new. It reclaimed English literature in India from its colonial past and created a new strain of fiction as, in Anita Desai’s words, younger writers "rushed to produce their imitations".
In the 40 years since it was published, this funny, ambitious, mind-stretching novel has continued to be both a critical hit and a popular favourite, winning the Booker Prize in 1981 and then topping the poll for the Booker of Bookers in 1993 and the Best of the Booker in 2008 – making it the only book to have won the prize three times.
Just before dawn one winter’s morning, an aeroplane blows apart high above the English Channel and two figures tumble, clutched in an embrace, towards the sea: Gibreel Farishta, India’s legendary movie star, and Saladin Chamcha, the man of a thousand voices.
Rushdie’s fourth novel, The Satanic Verses became the subject of religious controversy. It was shortlisted for the Booker Prize and, a year after its publication, Iran’s Supreme Leader issued a fatwa that forced Rushdie into hiding for nine years. It was during this time that he became a passionate advocate for freedom of speech and a strong supporter of PEN, the charity that promotes literature and freedom of expression.
What is Salman Rushdie's most recent book?
If old age was thought of as an evening, ending in midnight oblivion, they were well into the eleventh hour.
A quintet of interlinked stories, this is Rushdie's first work of fiction since his attack, moving between three countries he has called home (as well as a neighbourhood from Midnight's Children ) and exploring themes of life, death and legacy.
The best Salman Rushdie books to read next
On the morning of 12 August 2022, Salman Rushdie was standing onstage at the Chautauqua Institution in upstate New York, preparing to give a lecture on the importance of keeping writers safe from harm, when a man in black – black clothes, black mask – rushed down the aisle towards him, wielding a knife. His first thought: So it’s you. Here you are.
In this deeply personal memoir, Rushdie recounts his 2022 stabbing and the long road to recovery. KNIFE is a meditation on resilience, freedom, and the enduring power of storytelling — both harrowing and life-affirming.
Haroun and the Sea of Stories Haroun and the Sea of Stories is often described as Rushdie’s most accessible work. Written for his son, it’s a joyful defense of imagination and free expression — beloved by readers of all ages.
"The migrant," wrote Rushdie in this first of his three collections of short non-fiction, "is, perhaps, the central or defining figure of the Twentieth Century." Many of the issues he raises in these essays – racism, the legacy of the British Empire – remain vital today.
This essay collection reveals the ideas behind Rushdie’s fiction — reflections on literature, migration, empire, and belonging. It’s an ideal companion for readers who want to explore the intellectual and political dimensions of his writing.
Kashmir – the disputed territory between Pakistan and India – was, decades ago, a jagged line, meaning simply border conflict . Rushdie rejects that simplistic definition of a place "like paradise" with this story of a boy who runs away from the circus and becomes a killer.Shalimar the Clown showcases Rushdie’s gift for combining intimate human stories with global themes.
Quichotte Don Quixote , Quichotte reimagines the quest narrative for 21st-century America. A metafictional road trip that satirises modern media and obsession, it demonstrates Rushdie’s enduring playfulness and sharp social commentary.
Echoes of Cervantes’s classic abound, but above all this book is a love letter to Rushdie’s own omnivorous knowledge of – and love for – modern culture, from Oprah, Vonnegut and Cornershop to Pinocchio , Law & Order and The Real Housewives of Atlanta . Above all, as one character puts it, it’s "colour after a lifetime of black and white".
Languages of Truth
Set in 14th-century southern India, Victory City is an epic saga chronicling the rise and fall of a mythical empire. Its heroine, Pampa Kampana, literally speaks a city into existence — a metaphor for the creative and political power of language.
Why you should read Salman Rushdie
Rushdie's work often intertwines history, myth, politics and identity - weaving stories that speak across cultures. His writing has provoked discussion, controversy and admiration, all while exploring freedom of speech, migration, religion and the act of storytelling itself. There is no doubt that he is one of our most vital voices in contemporary literature, continuing to publish vibrant and inventive work with lasting impact.
