Queen confers knighthood on Salman Rushdie
LONDON (AP) -June 25, 2008 Some Muslims accused Rushdie him of blasphemy in the book and
Iranian leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini pronounced a death
sentence on him in 1989.
"I really have no regrets about any of my work," Rushdie told
reporters after being asked about "The Satanic Verses."
"This is, as I say, an honor not for any specific book but for
a very long career in writing and I'm happy to see that
recognized," he said.
Rushdie, 61, published his first novel, "Grimus," in 1975.
Success came with his next book, "Midnight's Children," which
won the prestigious Booker Prize in 1981.
Rushdie was forced to accept round-the-clock protection after
"The Satanic Verses," was published in 1988. The Iranian
government withdrew the death sentence in 1998 and Rushdie has
gradually returned to public life.
"It's been a long time - my first novel was published 33 years
ago but I think the thing you hope to do as a writer is leave
behind a shelf of interesting books and it's great just to have
that work recognized," Rushdie told reporters.
He added: "At this stage ,you know, it's certainly not a day to
talk about controversy, it's a day for myself and my family to
celebrate this."
