RUSHDIE SALMAN: (1947- ) British Indian Novelist & Essayist. Book signed, being a softcover uncorrected advance proof copy of The Satanic Verses, published by Viking, London, 1988. Signed by Rushdie in black ink to the title page, also adding the title 'The Satanic Verses' in his hand above his signature. Although it would appear that there are no differences in the text between the proof and first trade editions of The Satanic Verses, the present proof copy does possess some unique features. There are no ornamental devices separating the sub-chapters and page 549 (the 'Acknowledgements' page) is completely lacking. The beginning of chapter IV entitled Ayesha (page 203) allows for a numerical sub-division although is unnecessary as there are none. Proof copies of the book vary in so much as some have the title printed on the title page and others don't; the present copy does not have the printed title (presumably the reason why Rushdie added the title in his own hand in the present copy). Bound in the publisher's blue wraps and with red lettering to the front cover. Rare in this form. Some slight age toning to the text block, minor creasing to the spine and with some slight age wear and creasing to the edges and corners of the wraps, otherwise VG


The 1981 Booker Prize winning Rushdie's work combines magical realism with historical fiction and much of his work is set on the Indian subcontinent. His fourth novel, The Satanic Verses, was the subject of a major controversy which resulted in the British government placing the author under police protection. In 2008 The Times ranked Rushdie thirteenth on its list of the 50 greatest British writers since 1945.