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Midnight's Children

By: Salman Rushdie
Narrated by: Nikesh Patel, Meera Syal, Anneika Rose, Preeya Kalidas, Aysha Kala, full cast
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Publisher's Summary

Nikesh Patel stars as Saleem in BBC Radio 4's epic dramatisation of Salman Rushdie's Booker Prize-winning novel of love, history and magic.

Saleem Sinai is born on the stroke of midnight on 14th-15th August 1947, at the exact moment that India and Pakistan become separate, independent nations. From that moment on, his fate is mysteriously handcuffed to the history of his country.

But Saleem's story starts almost thirty years earlier, when his grandfather, Dr Aadam Aziz, falls in love with a woman concealed behind a perforated sheet. That pivotal moment in Kashmir in 1919 sparks a series of bizarre events that will lead to a cryptic prophecy and the birth of a boy with an extraordinary destiny. As a 'Midnight's Child', Saleem has magical powers, and can telepathically tune in to all the other gifted children whose birth coincided with India's division. However, his strange entanglement with the fate of India will have dramatic repercussions for both him and his country....

Adapted by Ayeesha Menon, this dazzling dramatisation of Rushdie's many-layered, magical realist masterpiece is both an enthralling family saga and a riveting history of post-colonialism. First broadcast to mark the 70th anniversary of the Partition of India, it features Nikesh Patel as Saleem, with a star cast including Abhin Galeya, Meera Syal, Anneika Rose and Narinder Samra.

Also included is an interview with Salman Rushdie, in which the author talks to radio drama director Emma Harding about his multi-award winning novel.

Midnight's Children won the Booker Prize in 1981, and was subsequently awarded the 'Booker of Bookers' prize in 1993 and 'The Best of the Booker' prize in 2008.

©2017 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2017 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Critic Reviews

"Radio drama of the year." (Gillian Reynolds, The Telegraph)

What listeners say about Midnight's Children

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Like listening to a play

Amazing voice acting brings the story alive, the writing really sets the feeling for each character, their experiences, success and mistakes really effect the listener..

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Fantastic!

Loved the dramatised version. The book is amazing and I thoroughly recommend it. I'd love to read the undramatised/ original version when I have time

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  • 03-08-2019

So great I don’t want it to end!

I have listened to 4 out of the 5 episodes. It’s been terrific. I read the novel a long time ago but this is a very dynamic productive. It’s not to be missed.

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