Presents a variety of new essays on this prolific and sometimes controversial writer. For readers who are studying Rushdie for the first time, a biographical sketch relates the details of his life and four essays survey the critical reception of Rushdie's work, explore its cultural and historical contexts, and review key themes in his work. Readers seeking a deeper understanding of the writer can then move on to other essays that explore topics like Rushdie's views on faith and religion, his responses to politics and the effect of social, religious and political conflicts on his own life.