Original copyright 1980.

Saleem Sinai was born at midnight, the midnight of India's independence, and found himself mysteriously "handcuffed to history" by the coincidence. He is one of 1,001 children born at the midnight hour, each of them endowed with an extraordinary talentand whose privilege and curse it is to be both master and victims of their times. Through Saleem's giftsinner ear and wildly sensitive sense of smellwe are drawn into a fascinating family saga set against the vast, colourful background of the India of the 20th century.

Booker Prize for Fiction winner, 1981.