Which book by Salman Rushdie won the 1981 Booker Prize?
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: C
Explanation
Correct Answer
Midnight's Children
Explanation
Salman Rushdie's acclaimed novel "Midnight's Children" won the Booker Prize in 1981. The book deals with India's transition from British colonial rule to independence and the subsequent partition of British India. It is considered a masterpiece of magical realism and postcolonial literature. Its significance was further cemented when it was awarded the "Booker of Bookers" in 1993 and the "Best of the Booker" in 2008 to celebrate the 25th and 40th anniversaries of the prize, respectively.
Key Points
The story is narrated by its chief protagonist, Saleem Sinai, who is born at the exact moment India gains independence—midnight on August 15, 1947.
Saleem discovers that all children born in India between midnight and 1:00 AM on that date possess special telepathic powers, binding their destinies to the history of their newly independent nation.
The other options represent different notable works by Rushdie: "Shame" was published in 1983, "The Satanic Verses" in 1988, and "The Golden House" much later in 2017.
Important Questions and Answers
Question: Which unique honor did "Midnight's Children" receive in 1993 and 2008?
Answer: It won the "Booker of Bookers" (1993) and the "Best of the Booker" (2008), being named the greatest novel to have ever won the prize in its history.
Question: What literary style is prominently used by Salman Rushdie in "Midnight's Children"?
Answer: The novel primarily uses magical realism, blending historical facts and political events of post-independence India with supernatural elements.