SaleemSinaiisbornatthestrokeofmidnightonAugust15,1947,theverymomentofIndia’sindependence.Greetedbyfireworksdisplays,cheeringcrowds,andPrimeMinisterNehruhimself,Saleemgrowsuptolearntheominousconsequencesofthiscoincidence.Hiseveryactismirroredandmagnifiedineventsthatswaythecourseofnationalaffairs;hishealthandwell-beingareinextricablyboundtothoseofhisnation;hislifeisinseparable,attimesindistinguishable,fromthehistoryofhiscountry.PerhapsmostremarkablearethetelepathicpowerslinkinghimwithIndia’s1,000other“midnight’schildren,”allborninthatinitialhourandendowedwithmagicalgifts.
Thisnovelisatonceafascinatingfamilysagaandanastonishingevocationofavastlandanditspeople–abrilliantincarnationoftheuniversalhumancomedy.Fortyyearsafteritspublication,Midnight’sChildrenstandsapartasbothanepochalworkoffictionandabrilliantperformancebyoneofthegreatliteraryvoicesofourtime.
