Book Review: Victory City by Salman Rushdie

 

One needs to be on a certain lengthwave to enter the ambiance of a historical/fantastical novel. You have to leave behind everything connects you to the surrounding reality and switch completely to the fantastic worlds you are invited to discover.

I may confess that most part of the time I avoid such escapes. On one hand, my imagination is mostly rooted into everyday life and fantasy needs a very special setting to manifest. On the other hand, my life is sometimes so busy that I hardly have time to breath the fresh air of creative freedom. My mind need to follow a schedule, accomplish tasks and deliver results. 

However, every time I have the chance to read something by Salman Rushdie, I will always put aside some extra time. He´s one of the best writers of our times, with a beautiful language and always an array of topics opening up your mind and soul. Yes, his novels are usually difficult journeys through the maze of imagination, but it nurtures the soul and the mind.

It took me a couple of good months until I´ve found that magic time to read his latest, Victory City. As in other novels, he introduces elements of history and geopolitical considerations: the action of the book takes place during the raise of the Vijayanayara Empire, in the South of India, between the 15th and the 16th century. During this time, globalisation expands through the various trade interactions between different worlds set apart by geography such as China, Venetian Republic, Portuguese traders. 

And there is the mythical figure of the goddess Pampa Kampana, whose written chronicle found in a pot is brought to life by the anonymous chronicle - Jayaparajaya, which includes both the words Victory and Defeat - reader of the book. She spent most of her 247-year long life at the forefronts of history, including by sharing the seeds - of okra and beans - that created the Victory City itself. A teller of truth with a taste of getting involved in palace intrigues and fancing women warriors and in position of power. 

But she will end up being a victim of her own circumstances, in a war where there are no winners or losers. After all, she was only half-goddess. 

The writing doesn´t let you think about anything else, completely absorbed into the story. The complexity of thoughts shared do require a high attention and dedication to it: women self-empowerment, women and power, illusions of power. In the vein of old chronicles, there are no character judgement, only facts and their consequences, samples of life and its illusions.

Rating: 5 stars