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Victory City

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Victory City

Written by: Salman Rushdie
Narrated by: Sid Sagar
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Buy Now for ₹879.00

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About this listen

 The epic tale of a woman who breathes a fantastical empire into existence, only to be consumed by it over the centuries - from the transcendent imagination of Booker Prize-winning, internationally bestselling author Salman Rushdie.In the wake of an insignificant battle between two long-forgotten kingdoms in fourteenth-century southern India, a nine-year-old girl has a divine encounter that will change the course of history. After witnessing the death of her mother, the grief-stricken Pampa Kampana becomes a vessel for the Goddess, who begins to speak out of the girl's mouth. Granting her powers beyond Pampa Kampana's comprehension, the goddess tells her that she will be instrumental in the rise of a great city called Bisnaga - literally 'victory city' -the wonder of the world.Over the next two hundred and fifty years, Pampa Kampana's life becomes deeply interwoven with Bisnaga's, from its literal sowing out of a bag of magic seeds to its tragic ruination in the most human of ways: the hubris of those in power. Whispering Bisnaga and its citizens into existence, Pampa Kampana 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. As years pass, rulers come and go, battles are won and lost, and allegiances shift, the very fabric of Bisnaga becomes an ever more complex tapestry - with Pampa Kampana at its centre.Brilliantly styled as a translation of an ancient epic, this is a saga of love, adventure and myth that is in itself a testament to the power of storytelling. Fairy Tales Fantasy Genre Fiction Historical Literary Fiction Magical Realism Medieval
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I believe the story lacks the true Rushdie we saw in The Midnight's Children. The nuance is missing, characters are dropped in suddenly, events seem to be brought in on a whim. It sounds like skimming over periods like a school history book or a Wikipedia article.

That said it is still a sound piece of literature. Narration by Sid is top-notch.

Not Rushdie's best

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Victory City by Salman Rushdie is a spellbinding historical fantasy that blends mythology, politics, and storytelling. The novel follows Pampa Kampana, a mystical poet who breathes life into Bisnaga, a magical empire. Rushdie’s signature prose is rich, lyrical, and brimming with allegory as he explores themes of power, gender, destiny, and the impermanence of empires. The narrative spans centuries, weaving history with magic in an enchanting style. Pampa’s struggle as a woman in a patriarchal society is deeply resonant, and the novel reflects on storytelling’s role in shaping reality and memory. There are echoes of real historical events, adding depth to the fictional world. Rushdie’s wit and sharp satire make the novel both profound and entertaining. Victory City is a captivating and thought-provoking tale, showcasing Rushdie at his best.

Storytelling like a master

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It would have been difficult for me to have read the book. Sad, for I value Salman greatly, and this book was a tad disappointing. But Sid Sagar brings it alive and persists successfully in keeping the interest... His voice has an arresting charm and a vibrancy that helps in many portions of the tale.

Sid is a master narrator!

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Rushdie weaves magic through these pages about the greatest ever south Indian empire, the Vijayanagara empire. Mixing fiction with real events, he makes us go back in time to 650 years ago and relive the lives of the people of that era. Through the book he advocates equality for women and religious coexistence.

A note on the audio performance of the book. The word 'Raya' is pronounced so poorly through out the book that it took me some time to understand that it is the same 'Raya' as in Krishna Deva Raya. Also many Indian names and places are poorly pronounced.

Brilliant Book Capturing the Rise and the Fall of Vijayanagara Empire

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Victory city is a very interesting and captivating book written by Salman Rushdie, which falls under the genre of historical fantasy.
There was not a single dull moment in this book and it was highly engaging with some very touching lines and some very hilarious lines as well. Rushdie is a good author, but there were certain sections on Hindu mythology where the beliefs did not match conventional beliefs. However, that is not a problem at all.
The real issue is the narrator,Sid, who is a very terrible narrator. His pronunciation of Indian words and names is atrocious, he could not pronounce the Kannada names of people or places or customs.
I really wish they had chosen a native Kannadiga or atleast an Indian to narrate this book.

Captivating story, bad narration

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