Books

London: Viking Press, 1988. First British edition, early printing of Rushdie's classic novel. Octavo, original cloth. Association copy, inscribed by the author "to Simon and Sheila, best wishes, Salman Rushdie 22nd Nov '89." A fascinating Rushdie association item. After the Fatwah against Rushdie for the publication of The Satanic Verses was issued, the writer was forced into hiding in 1990. Within two weeks Rushdie was forced into hiding with the London Metropolitan Police Special Branch protection for a decade. In the first few months of the Protection Detail, due to the high grade and imminent nature of the Intelligence threats received against him, it had been required to relocate the author and his wife once every 3-4 days. A number of safe houses, some friends, but other officially rented premises were utilized for the purpose. The person to whom this book signature is inscribed was the Metropolitan Police Special Branch Detective responsible for the Subject's Close…

The Satanic Verses is Salman Rushdie's fourth novel, first published in 1988 and inspired in part by the life of Muhammad. It was met with significant controversy due to its portrayal of Islamic themes which led Rushdie to face death threats and a fatwa calling for his assassination.