
Salman Rushdie’s tragicomic tale is very much of our deranged time, but was inspired by Miguel de Cervantes’ classic Don Quixote.
Salman Rushdie combines magic realism with a fierce rivalry to illustrate his central theme - that shame begets violence and violence begets shame.
Shame is set in an imaginary country that strongly resembles Pakistan - a vast, sprawling canvas that illuminates its history, language and politics. The story involves the rivalry between two very different men - one a celebrated warrior, the other a debauched playboy - who are engaged in a protracted duel that is played out in the political landscape of their country.
About the Author
Salman Rushdie has been nominated for the Booker Prize seven times, winning in 1981, and was knighted for services to literature in 2007.