Midnight's Children by Salman Rushdie

Midnight's Children by Salman Rushdie

At the exact stroke of midnight on August 15, 1947, as India proclaims its independence, Saleem Sinai bursts into the world—and finds himself mysteriously "handcuffed to history." His arrival coincides with that of 1,000 other children born in that first hour of freedom, each imbued with strange, wondrous powers, and all linked telepathically through Saleem's own mind. Hear the cacophony of their thoughts, a thousand burgeoning hopes and fears mirroring the turbulent birth of a nation. Follow Saleem's sprawling journey—from Bombay's vibrant chaos to the front lines of war, through family secrets swapped at birth and political emergencies that crack the country apart—as his personal life becomes an uncanny echo of India's own triumphs and tragedies. Listen as Saleem, racing against the decay of his own body, furiously pickles his memories in words, trying to contain the multitudes within him and make sense of a life impossibly intertwined with millions. Salman Rushdie's Booker Prize-winning masterpiece is a dazzling, dizzying, and profoundly imaginative epic where the fate of one man and his extraordinary "family" reflects the story of a subcontinent.

Why You’ll Love This Book

Salman Rushdie's novel erupts with linguistic energy, unforgettable characters, and breathtaking imaginative leaps, blending magical realism seamlessly with historical fact. This sprawling epic offers a unique and profound exploration of India's post-independence journey through the lens of one extraordinary life. Considered a groundbreaking masterpiece, Midnight's Children is a dazzling, challenging, and ultimately rewarding reading experience that showcases the power of storytelling itself.