Salman Rushdie
Born 1947 · Age 78
Indian-born British-American novelist whose work blends magic realism and historical fiction. Best known for Midnight's Children and The Satanic Verses; subject of a 1989 fatwa and subsequent years in hiding; active writer, teacher, and public intellectual.
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Life & Career Timeline
Born in Bombay (Mumbai)
Ahmed Salman Rushdie born into a Kashmiri Muslim family in Bombay, British India.
Moved to England; attended Rugby School
Left India to attend Rugby School in Warwickshire, England.
Graduated from King's College, Cambridge (History)
Received a BA/MA (Cambridge traditions) in History from King's College, Cambridge.
Began career as advertising copywriter
Worked as a copywriter in London (notably Ogilvy & Mather and later Ayer Barker).
Published debut novel Grimus
First novel, Grimus (science-fiction/fantasy), published but received little attention.
Married Clarissa Luard
First marriage to Clarissa Luard (later divorced in 1987).
Birth of son Zafar
Son Zafar born (mentioned in biographical sources).
Left advertising to write full-time (approx.)
Transition from advertising copywriter to full-time writer after completing Midnight's Children (approximate year).
Published Midnight's Children
Second novel, Midnight's Children, published to critical acclaim.
Won Booker Prize (Midnight's Children)
Midnight's Children won the Booker Prize, bringing international recognition.
Published Shame
Novel Shame published, satirizing Pakistani politics; won France's Prix du Meilleur Livre Étranger and shortlisted for the Booker.
Elected Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature
Elected FRSL in recognition of literary achievement.
Published The Jaguar Smile
Non-fiction travel/political book about Nicaragua published (1987).
Advance for The Satanic Verses reported (~$850,000)
Viking Penguin paid a large advance (reported ~$850,000) for Rushdie's forthcoming novel.
Published The Satanic Verses; won Whitbread
Fourth novel The Satanic Verses published; won the Whitbread Award but sparked major controversy.
The Satanic Verses banned in multiple countries
Book was banned in about 20 countries with large Muslim populations.
Published Observer column defending his novel
Rushdie published a column in The Observer noting Muhammad as 'one of the great geniuses of world history' while defending his novel's intent.
Ayatollah Khomeini issues fatwa calling for his death
On Valentine's Day 1989, Iran's Supreme Leader Ruhollah Khomeini announced a fatwa calling for Rushdie's death over The Satanic Verses.
UK and Iran break diplomatic relations
On 7 March 1989, diplomatic relations between the UK and Iran were severed over the Rushdie affair.
Failed bomb attack kills plotter in London
Mustafa Mahmoud Mazeh died when an RDX-packed bomb he was priming to target Rushdie exploded prematurely in Paddington, London.
Published Haroun and the Sea of Stories
Children's novel written in the shadow of the fatwa; allegorical defence of storytelling.
International Guerillay (film) depicts Rushdie
Pakistani film International Gorillay (International Guerillas) released depicting Rushdie as a villain and killing him; popular in Pakistan.
Published Imaginary Homelands
Collection of essays and criticism (1981–1991).
Translators attacked; Japanese translator murdered
In 1991 an Italian translator was stabbed (survived); Japanese translator Hitoshi Igarashi was murdered; attacks linked to controversy over The Satanic Verses.
Midnight's Children honored as 'Booker of Bookers' (1993)
On the 25th anniversary the Booker of Bookers (1993) recognized Midnight's Children as top winner among Booker winners.
Publisher William Nygaard shot (survived)
William Nygaard, Norwegian publisher of The Satanic Verses, was shot three times in 1993 and survived; attack linked to controversy.
Published The Moor's Last Sigh; won Whitbread
The Moor's Last Sigh (1995) won the Whitbread Award (Costa Book Awards).
Marriage to Marianne Wiggins ended (divorce finalized)
Marriage to Marianne Wiggins (married 1988) ended (divorced 1993 per sources; this event notes marital change around the 1990s).
Iran states it 'will neither support nor hinder' assassination
24 Sep 1998: Iranian government under President Mohammad Khatami gave public commitment as a precondition to restoration of diplomatic relations.
Published The Ground Beneath Her Feet
Novel 1999; also credited as lyricist for a U2 song based on the book.
Appointed Commandeur de l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (France)
French government honour for services to the arts.
Moved to the United States
Rushdie began living in the United States (from 2000 onward).
Published Fury; cameo in Bridget Jones's Diary (film release year)
Novel Fury (2001). Also made a cameo appearance in the film Bridget Jones's Diary (2001 film).
Published Step Across This Line (essays)
Collection of essays published in 2002 on varied contemporary topics.
Became President of PEN American Center
Served as President of PEN America from 2004 to 2006; also founded the PEN World Voices Festival.
Married Padma Lakshmi
Became husband of model/TV personality Padma Lakshmi (marriage later ended in 2007).
Published Shalimar the Clown; received Hutch Crossword Book Award
Novel Shalimar the Clown (2005) won the Hutch Crossword Book Award and was shortlisted for other prizes.
Guest host on The Charlie Rose Show
On 12 May 2006, Rushdie guest-hosted The Charlie Rose Show and interviewed filmmaker Deepa Mehta.
Knighted for services to literature
Received a knighthood in the UK (Sir Salman Rushdie) in 2007.
Distinguished Writer in Residence at Emory (five-year term begins)
Began a five-year term as Distinguished Writer in Residence at Emory University in Atlanta and deposited his archives there.
Elected Foreign Honorary Member of the American Academy of Arts and Letters
Elected a Foreign Honorary Member in May 2008.
Ranked 13th on The Times list of 50 greatest British writers since 1945
The Times placed Rushdie 13th on its 2008 list.
Received apology in High Court from Ron Evans and others
On 26 August 2008 Rushdie received an apology in the High Court over claims made in a book about his years in hiding.
Appeared on HBO's Real Time with Bill Maher
Appeared as a panellist on Real Time with Bill Maher in September 2008 and March 2009 (public appearances around this period).
Signed Al-Qaeda target list (appeared)
Rushdie's name appeared on an Al-Qaeda hit list published in Inspire magazine in 2010.
Published Luka and the Fire of Life
Sequel to Haroun and the Sea of Stories published November 2010.
Midnight's Children film production began
Production of film adaptation of Midnight's Children began in September 2010; Rushdie collaborated on the screenplay.
Founding patron of Ralston College
In November 2010 Rushdie became a founding patron of Ralston College, whose motto quotes his 1991 Columbia address.
Wrote first draft for Showtime series 'The Next People'
Announced in June 2011 that he wrote a first draft script for a Showtime TV series and would be an executive producer.
Cancelled Jaipur Literature Festival appearance; cited threats
Planned appearance in January 2012 cancelled due to threats; later returned to India to address a New Delhi conference on 16 March 2012.
Embraced Booktrack; published short story 'In the South' on platform
One of the first major authors to publish on Booktrack (synchronised soundtracks for ebooks).
Published Joseph Anton: A Memoir
Released memoir recounting his life under the fatwa and years in hiding; Joseph Anton was his secret alias.
Taught seminar on British literature; keynote speaker in 2015
Taught a seminar (2014) and later served as keynote speaker (2015) as part of academic activities (Emory/elsewhere).
Named Distinguished Writer in Residence at NYU Journalism Institute
Joined New York University as Distinguished Writer in Residence at the Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute.
Published Two Years Eight Months and Twenty-Eight Nights
Novel (2015) drawing on One Thousand and One Nights and jinn mythology.
Became U.S. citizen
Acquired United States citizenship while retaining British citizenship.
Published The Golden House
Novel (2017) set in contemporary America about an immigrant family in New York.
Cameo on Curb Your Enthusiasm (Season 9, Episode 3)
Appeared as himself in an episode of Curb Your Enthusiasm (2017).
Published Quichotte; shortlisted for Booker
Quichotte (2019), a modern retelling of Don Quixote, was shortlisted for the Booker Prize in 2019.
Published Languages of Truth (essays)
Collection of essays written between 2003 and 2020 published in 2021.
Married Rachel Eliza Griffiths
Rushdie's fifth marriage to poet and novelist Rachel Eliza Griffiths (2021).
Attacked and stabbed onstage at Chautauqua Institution
On 12 Aug 2022 Rushdie was stabbed repeatedly before a lecture in Chautauqua, NY; airlifted to UPMC Hamot and underwent surgery.
Attacker identified as Hadi Matar (arrested)
Suspect identified as 24‑year‑old Hadi Matar of Fairview, New Jersey; taken into custody at scene.
Reported loss of sight in one eye and use of one hand
By 23 Oct 2022 Rushdie had lost sight in one eye and use of one hand as a result of the attack.
Published Victory City (first post-attack novel)
Victory City published Feb 2023; his first released work after the 2022 attack (completed prior to the attack).
Named to Time's 100 Most Influential People
Time magazine named Salman Rushdie one of the 100 most influential people in the world (April 2023).
Knife becomes Sunday Times #1 (General hardbacks)
Knife hit number one in the Sunday Times Bestsellers List (General hardbacks) after publication.
Knife finalist for National Book Award (Nonfiction)
Knife: Meditations After an Attempted Murder was a finalist for the 2024 National Book Award for Nonfiction.
Assailant trial jury selection scheduled (originally)
Jury selection for the assailant's trial was originally scheduled to begin on 8 January 2024 (scheduling noted in sources).
Published Knife: Meditations After an Attempted Murder
Autobiographical memoir about the 2022 attack and recovery published April 2024.
Britannica article updates and indexes (final source update)
Encyclopaedia Britannica coverage updated through 2025 including summary of career and honors.
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