Rushdie, Salman (1988) ‘The Satanic Verses’, signed and dedicated ‘To Humour’ UK first edition

Salman Rushdie (1988) ‘The Satanic Verses’, UK first edition, first printing, published by Viking. Signed by Rushdie on the title page where he also added a dedication ‘To Humour’. This refers to the fact that a lot has been said about the book, but not much that it is actually funny as Salman explained during the interview at the Bath literature festival where Salman signed the book for us. It can also be interpreted that Salman took the whole fatwa episode with defying humour despite all the horrors and forced permanent hiding. This makes this copy uniquely inscribed indeed! The event ticket stays with us, but we are happy to provide a photocopy for your own provenance.

Condition: near fine. The book is tight, no lean and unread. A sniff of foxing to the upper page block (barely visible) and the dust jacket is slightly faded on the spine as pictured (very common), but not price clipped.

Rushdie won the Booker Prize in 1981 for ‘Midnight’s Children’. ‘Satanic Verses’ was shortlisted for the prize. A landmark novel that led to the infamous fatwa forcing Rushdie in to years-long hiding.