One of the most celebrated and controversial novelists of our time, Salman Rushdie is best known for his Booker Prize-winning Midnight's Children and The Satanic Verses. A passionate advocate for human rights and a humanistic vision of Islam, his lecture appearances take the audience on an exhilarating journey into the themes covered in his books: freedom of expression, religion and its relationship to popular culture, current events at home and abroad, and the role of the artist in society. His UCSD visit coincides with the publication of his forthcoming novel, Shalimar the Clown, a fascinating tale that spans continents from California to Kashmir and explores the tumultuous relationship between Pakistan and India. Co-presented with UCSD's Art Power! and in partnership with the UCSD Center for the Humanities and the University Libraries.