Shame (Rushdie novel)

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Shame
ShameNovel.JPG
First edition
Author Salman Rushdie
LanguageEnglish
Genre Magic realism
Publisher Jonathan Cape
Publication date
8 September 1983
Publication placeUnited Kingdom
Media typePrint (Hardcover, Paperback)
Pages317 (1983 edition)
ISBN 978-0-224-02952-0
OCLC 9646560
823 19
LC Class PR6068.U757 S5 1983

Shame is Salman Rushdie's third novel, published in 1983. This book was written out of a desire to approach the problem of "artificial" (other-made) country divisions, their residents' complicity, and the problems of post-colonialism when Pakistan was created to separate the Muslims from the Hindus after Britain gave up control of India.

Contents

The book is written in the style of magic realism. It portrays the lives of Iskander Harappa (sometimes assumed to be Zulfikar Ali Bhutto), and General Raza Hyder (sometimes assumed to be General Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq), and their relationship. The central theme of the novel is that begetting "shame" begets violence. The concepts of 'shame' and 'shamelessness' are explored through all of the characters, with the main focus being on Sufiya Zinobia and Omar Khayyám.

Characters

Shakil family

Hyder family members

Harappa family members

Additional characters

Plot

This story takes place in a town called "Q" which is actually a fictitious version of Quetta, Pakistan. In Q, one of the three sisters (Chunni, Munnee, and Bunny Shakil) gives birth to Omar Khayyám Shakil, but they act as a unit of mothers, never revealing to anyone who is Omar's birth mother. In addition, Omar never learns who his father is. While growing up, Omar lives in purdah with his three mothers and yearns to join the world. As a birthday present one year, Omar's "mothers" allow him to leave Q. He enrolls in a school and is convinced by his tutor (Eduardo Rodriguez) to become a doctor. Over time, he comes in contact with both Iskander Harappa and General Raza Hyder.

Awards

See also

Bibliography

Rushdie, Salman. Shame. Vintage: London, 1995.

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References

  1. PORTRAIT SALMAN RUSHDIE - Actualité Celebre - EVENE
  2. Daniel Pipes: The Rushdie Affair: The Novel, the Ayatollah, and the West (1990), p.49

Further reading