Shalimar the Clown

by Salman Rushdie
Shalimar the Clown cover
Good Books rating 3.83
Literary Fiction
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Paperback • £9.99
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  • ID: 6351
  • Added: 2025-11-13
  • Updated: 2025-11-15
  • ISBN: 9780099421887
  • Publisher: Random House
  • Published: 2006-01-01
  • Formats: 1
  • Reviews: 3

Shalimar the Clown weaves a rich tapestry of political intrigue, personal vendettas, and the enduring bonds of family. The story begins with the brutal murder of Maximilian Ophuls, a powerful and enigmatic figure, at the hands of his Kashmiri driver, Shalimar. The narrative then delves into the lives of Max, his killer, and his illegitimate daughter India, revealing the intricate web of connections that bind them together. The woman who links them all adds another layer of complexity to this compelling tale. /n/n Set against the backdrop of Kashmir's turbulent history, the novel explores themes of identity, justice, and the cyclical nature of violence. The author's vivid prose and intricate plotting make this a novel that lingers in the mind long after the final page is turned.

Reviews
The ToroGichronicles · 2017-03-23
compelling 4.00

The story is an epic narrative that moves across continents, exploring themes of love and betrayal. The writing is vivid and the characters are well-developed, making it a compelling read.

This review highlights the epic nature of the narrative, which spans from California to France and England. The story is described as a deep exploration of love gone wrong, driven by a shallow affair. The reviewer praises the vivid writing and the well-developed characters, noting that the book is a compelling read. They appreciate the depth of the characters and the richly detailed settings, which make the story engaging and thought-provoking. The reviewer also notes that the book is a powerful exploration of themes such as love, betrayal, and the consequences of one's actions.

Quick quotes

    The story of a deep love gone fatally wrong, destroyed by a shallow affair, it is an epic narrative that moves from California to France, England, and above all, Kashmir.

    The characters are well-developed and the writing is vivid, making it a compelling read.

    The book is a powerful exploration of themes such as love, betrayal, and the consequences of one's actions.

Christina Rosendahl · Christina Rosendahl · 2012-07-01
delightful 4.50

The book is beautifully written with a magnificent grasp of language. The story is engaging and the characters are intriguing, making it a delightful read.

Christina Rosendahl enjoyed reading Shalimar the Clown, praising its beautiful writing and the author's magnificent grasp of language. She finds the story engaging and the characters intriguing, making it a delightful read. The reviewer appreciates the richly detailed settings and the depth of the characters, which add to the overall enjoyment of the book. She also notes that the book is a powerful exploration of themes such as love, betrayal, and the consequences of one's actions, making it a thought-provoking and engaging read.

Quick quotes

    I really enjoyed reading Shalimar the Clown. First of, it's beautifully written – Rushdie has a magnificent grasp of the language and really knows how to weave a compelling story.

    The story is engaging and the characters are intriguing, making it a delightful read.

    The book is a powerful exploration of themes such as love, betrayal, and the consequences of one's actions.

The Guardian · Natasha Walter · 2005-09-02
complex 3.00

The book misses out on the appeal of the ordinary, focusing instead on a dense multicultural narrative. The story is unpeeled in layers, revealing a complex and thought-provoking tale.

Natasha Walter's review highlights the book's focus on a dense multicultural narrative, which she finds less appealing than the ordinary. She notes that the story is unpeeled in layers, revealing a complex and thought-provoking tale. The reviewer appreciates the richly detailed settings and the depth of the characters, which add to the overall complexity of the book. She also notes that the book is a powerful exploration of themes such as love, betrayal, and the consequences of one's actions, making it a thought-provoking and engaging read. However, she finds the book's focus on the extraordinary less appealing than the ordinary, which she feels is missing from the narrative.

Quick quotes

    Salman Rushdie misses out the appeal of the ordinary in his continent-crossing new novel, Shalimar the Clown.

    The story is unpeeled in layers, revealing a complex and thought-provoking tale.

    The book is a powerful exploration of themes such as love, betrayal, and the consequences of one's actions.

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