The Moor's Last Sigh
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The Moor's Last Sigh is a 1995 novel by Salman Rushdie. Set in the Indian city of Bombay (or "Mumbai"), its central theme is the conflict of interests and how they are resolved (sometimes inappropriately) according to the priorities of individuals. Also colouring everything in the novel is this sense of echoing loneliness that seems to be a part of many of Rushdie's works.
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[edit] Plot introduction
About post-independence India, the book speaks about the changes occurring in Indian society. Though in the very unreal style of Rushdie, a sense of having your finger on the pulse of things prevails. At least, on a certain perception of them.
Explanation of the novel's 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 "the last sigh of the Moor".
[edit] Plot details
The main characters, being descendants of Portuguese settlers, happen to be members of a prolific family that belongs to a minority community. The plot speaks of their 'rise to power' and the various struggles involved in the resolution of conflicts, at both a larger, more global level and an equally compelling, domestic level. Though temporal linearity is disregarded completely, the story proceeds fairly simply, with digressions that add colour to the experience in a truly Rushdie-esque manner.
[edit] Awards and nominations
The book won the Whitbread Prize for 'Best novel' in 1995, and the Aristeion Prize in 1996.
