Anything to do with their religion provokes a tremendous response, as it does with many committed Christians of the very orthodox type. Whatever you have done, probably you wrote it as a good story. Godden Born in India, lives in Britain. It is regrettable that the phantasmagoric nature of your book has not been taken into consideration. Saints in the extremities of temptation are capable of nightmares beyond normal human fear.
Literature is closest to religion when it tries to contain all human desperation.
The madness in ''The Satanic Verses'' has been misread as yours and not that of your characters. Derek Walcott Born in St. Lucia, lives in the United States. I hope you are getting some exercise and listening to music, dear Salman. Write another book. Sontag, United States.