Pretending and Meaning

Exploring the intersection of fiction and reality, the book delves into the controversy surrounding Salman Rushdie's The Satanic Verses and the broader implications of blasphemy in literature. It examines the critical questions raised by the outrage over the novel, particularly the significance of authorial intent and the complexities of meaning in fiction. Through this lens, it challenges readers to reconsider the boundaries between truth and falsehood, as well as the nature of literary interpretation in the face of societal backlash.