Victory City
by Salman Rushdie
Why read it
Framed as a modern retelling of an ancient epic poem, this sweeping tale blends myth, historical fiction, and magical realism. It follows a young orphan blessed by a goddess who breathes an entire empire into existence from a bag of magical seeds. Over more than two centuries, she steers the realm's rise, political upheavals, artistic flourishing, and eventual decline. It serves as an exuberant celebration of language, female agency, and the enduring power of storytelling.
Where to get it
In the Netherlands, borrow the English original or Dutch translation ('Overwinningsstad') via the public library network (de Bibliotheek / onlinebibliotheek.nl). For digital formats, find ebook and audiobook versions on Kobo Plus, Storytel, Nextory, and Bol.com. Physical copies are readily stocked at major Dutch and English-language booksellers such as Athenaeum Boekhandel, Scheltema, Donner, Waterstones Amsterdam, and ABC (American Book Center).
What to expect
Tone is playful, mythic, and grand, balancing vibrant folklore with sharp political satire. The pace is brisk and episodic across centuries. It is moderately demanding—rich in allegorical wit and language, yet one of Rushdie's most straightforward and accessible narratives. Content notes: contains depictions of violence and warfare, religious intolerance, grief, early sexual abuse, and physical trauma (including blinding).
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