The Moor's Last Sigh

"The Moor's Last Sigh" is a 1995 novel by Salman Rushdie. Set in the Indian city of Bombay (or "Mumbai") and Cochin (or "Kochi'), it is the first major work that Rushdie produced after the " The Satanic Verses" affair, and thus is referential to that circumstance in many ways, especially the isolation of the narrator, as well as the shadow of death that seems to constantly hang over him. It is written in the same style as "Midnight's Children", and raises issues of individuality and the possibility of hybridity in an world moving toward singularity.

Title

The title is taken from the story of Boabdil, the last Moorish king of Granada, who is also mentioned frequently in the book. The spot from which Boabdil last looked upon Granada after surrendering it is known as Puerto del Suspiro del Moro ("Port of the Moor's Sigh").

Plot details

"The Moor's Last Sigh" traces four generations of the narrator's family and the ultimate effects upon the narrator. The narrator, Moraes Zogoiby, traces his family's beginnings down through time to his own lifetime. Moraes, who is called "Moor" throughout the book, is an exceptional character, whose physical body ages twice as fast as a normal person's does and also has a deformed hand. Moor leads an interesting life, especially in his relationships with women, including his mother Aurora, who is a famous national artist, his first female tutor, and his first love, a charismatic, demented sculptress named Uma.

Awards and nominations

The book won the Whitbread Prize for 'Best novel' in 1995, and the Aristeion Prize in 1996.

ee also

* Alhambra

External links

* [http://www.randomhouse.com/vintage/read/moor/ Information] from Random House. ISBN 0-679-74466-5.
* [http://www.english.emory.edu/Bahri/Ref.html References in "The Moor's Last Sigh"]