East, West (1994) is an anthologized work, one of the most distinctive works to have been written by Salman Rushdie. The anthology consists of a myriad of short stories and is divided into three sections - “east”, “west”, and “east, west”. The stories that are found in each section are representative of the ethos of that respective landscape.
While all these stories are fictitious, it is well known that they are inspired by the time when Salman Rushdie had to live in the west in hiding due to the Fatwas issued against him. His life was in such danger that many critics and readers considered even the fact that he was writing an act of courage.
This work is charged with heavy popular culture references. Much like all his other works, is a pointed commentary on a political scenario that plagues several parts of the world.
