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Victory City

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Victory City

By: Salman Rushdie
Narrated by: Sid Sagar
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About this listen

Brought to you by Penguin.

She will breathe a new empire into life – but all worlds can escape their creator…

In the wake of an unimportant battle between two long-forgotten kingdoms, a nine-year-old girl has a divine encounter that will change the course of history. Pampa Kampana becomes a vessel for a goddess, who tells her that she will be instrumental in the rise of a great city called Bisnaga, ‘victory city’.

Over the next two hundred and fifty years, Pampa Kampana’s life becomes deeply interwoven with Bisnaga’s as she attempts to make good on the task that the goddess set for her: to give women equal agency in a patriarchal world. But all stories have a way of getting away from their creator, and Bisnaga is no exception.

‘Full of adventure… A celebration of the power of storytelling’ GUARDIAN

‘Mesmerising’ ELIF SHAFAK, author of The Island of Missing Trees

‘A total pleasure to read’ SUNDAY TIMES

‘One of the planet’s greatest writers’ EVENING STANDARD

‘A triumph… Enthralling’ I

© Salman Rushdie 2023 (P) Penguin Audio 2023

 Fantasy Fiction Genre Fiction Historical Fiction Literary Fiction Magic Magical Realism World Literature Tear-jerking Royalty

Critic Reviews

In its haunting, uncanny, predictive power Victory City shows once again why his work will always matter.
A novel by a man who still, in his eighth decade, derives delight in his talent and all that he can do with it. The book is a total pleasure to read, a bright burst of colour in a grey winter season.
A joyfully extravagant alternative Mahabharata... a mashup of myth and fairytale, comedy and melodrama, celebrating women's agency and the enduring power of storytelling.
Victory City is full of life and colour, and some of Rushdie's key themes: female strength, the importance of storytelling, the danger of censorship.
What of Rushdie's powers? We cannot know if they are god-given, but on the evidence of this profoundly entertaining tale... Rushdie certainly still has the gift of alchemy.
A playful, magical realist epic, full of adventure and comically clashing registers, and a celebration of the power of storytelling and the endurance of literature.
Rushdie’s sheer love of fiction is irrepressible.
One of the richest and most exuberant books Salman Rushdie has written in years... remarkable.
Rushdie's relentless creative energy pairs well with his understanding of how history works... It's as if Rushdie has dropped a molecule of divinity into a petri dish containing the other basic stuff of life, and watched a civilization cultivate.
Rushdie's lavish, playful 15th novel plants him firmly back on Indian soil, cooking up an alternative Mahabharata and spinning an elaborate founding myth from the bare bones of history. He's enjoying the enterprise and his sense of fun is infectious.
All stars
Most relevant
Thought provoking other worldly and fabulous as only Salmon Rushdie’s books can be. Thoroughly enjoyable.

Salmon Rushdie’s wonderful story telling mixing fable truth and imagination

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The story doesn’t have the momentum or character but in his other works imho oh well

Well performed but not an engaging story

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Rushdie’s books are always difficult to get through, but very much worth the effort. This one was true to form, his usual blend of fantasy, absurdity and strong themes. Part fable, part commentary on the patriarchy, it focussed on the story of a girl possessed by a goddess and the creation of a city from magic beans. Like I said, absurdity is key here.

The only thing that disappointed me was the lack of strong characters; when a story covers 400 years, it’s difficult to get to know the characters well.

I listened to the audiobook and the narrator was an absolute delight. As was the protagonist’s name - Pampa Kampanar. Say that out loud and tell me it’s not fun to say.

Four bags of seed out of five.

Wonderful narration.

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