Midnight’s Children by Salman Rushdie (preloved)

Midnight’s Children by Salman Rushdie is a historical novel that blends magical realism with the history of post-colonial India. The story is narrated by Saleem Sinai, a boy born at the exact moment of India’s independence from British rule at midnight on August 15, 1947. This magical birth grants Saleem special powers, and he is one of 1,001 children born in that hour, each with their own unique abilities.

The novel explores themes of identity, national history, and the effects of colonialism and independence on individuals. It spans several decades, depicting the political turmoil, cultural changes, and personal struggles that shape both Saleem’s life and the country’s journey. Midnight’s Children won the Booker Prize in 1981 and is considered one of Rushdie’s masterpieces, known for its rich narrative and symbolic use of magic and history.