Joseph Anton
On February 14, 1989, Salman Rushdie learned he had been 'sentenced to death' by the Ayatollah Khomeini for writing 'The Satanic Verses.' This memoir recounts the extraordinary nine years Rushdie spent in hiding, constantly moving with armed police protection. Adopting the alias Joseph Anton, he navigated the grim and sometimes comic realities of his situation, fighting for freedom of speech and seeking support from governments, publishers, and fellow writers. This is the story of how he regained his freedom and the ongoing drama that began with his fatwa.
The title "Joseph Anton" refers to the pseudonym Salman Rushdie adopted during the nine years he spent in hiding after the fatwa was issued against him. He chose the name by combining the first names of two writers he admired: Joseph Conrad and Anton Chekhov.
This memoir directly chronicles the events and personal impact of the fatwa issued against Salman Rushdie following the publication of his novel The Satanic Verses. It provides an intimate account of the period immediately after that book's release, focusing on his life in hiding and the global controversy.
Salman Rushdie is the sole author of Joseph Anton, which is his personal memoir. He wrote it in the third person, referring to himself as "Joseph Anton" throughout the narrative, which offers a unique perspective on his experiences during that time.