After the attack on the writer Salman Rushdie, his books regained popularity in Germany. According to the Penguin Random House publishing group, this applies above all to “The Satanic Verses”. In recent years, the novel has been sold in the four-digit range every year, a spokeswoman said. A new paperback edition was published in 2017 and has been available continuously since then.
“After the assassination of Salman Rushdie on August 12, demand skyrocketed so that the book was out of print for a few days,” said the publisher’s spokeswoman when asked by dpa. A subsequent edition of 25,000 copies is now available again. “Another edition is in preparation.”
According to the industry service Nielsen BookData, demand for Rushdie’s books has also increased significantly in Great Britain since the attack. The sales figures increased compared to the beginning of August almost thirtyfold.
The author was attacked and seriously injured in the United States in mid-August. As a reaction, there was not only a great wave of solidarity, but also a renewed classification of the literary significance of his work across all media, according to the publisher in Germany. “For example, Daniel Kehlmann in the “Zeit” wished Salman Rushdie back on the bestseller list: “One suggestion: buy “The Satanic Verses” now.”
New novel to be published in April 2023
The German Library Association asked around in Cologne, Hamburg and Frankfurt am Main. There, too, the number of loans of Rushdie’s works had increased. More inquiries were also observed at the Dussmann department store in Berlin. “The satanic verses” were also recently discussed in the “literary quartet” on ZDF.
Because of the 1988 book, the former Iranian revolutionary leader Ayatollah Khomeini issued a fatwa, an Islamic legal opinion, calling for the British-Indian author to be killed. He accused Rushdie of insulting Islam, the Prophet and the Koran in his novel. The death sentence was followed by Rushdie’s dramatic escape and years of hiding. Rushdie’s new novel Victor City is scheduled to be published in German in April 2023.
Publishing house for “The satanic verses” The “literary quartet” on ZDF Publishers for Salman Rushthe website of the “literary quartet” Calling up the literature festival International Literature Festival Berlin
