I no longer feel the slightest urge to defend the novel or myself. The essays “In Good Faith” and “Is Nothing Sacred?” and the memoir Joseph Anton contain everything I have to say on those subjects. For the rest, I am content to be judged by the books I’ve written and the life I’ve lived. Let me say this right up front: I am proud of the work I’ve done, and that very much includes The Satanic Verses. If anyone’s looking for remorse, you can stop reading right here. My novels can take care of themselves.
