A milestone of world literature. When Saleem Sinai is born at midnight on August 15, 1947, he is welcomed with fanfare and fireworks, for it is at this very moment that India gains its independence. From then on, Saleem's life is inextricably linked to the fate of this extraordinary subcontinent. Yet, although he is just one of a thousand midnight's children, he possesses a very special ability. His telepathic gift allows him to delve into the fascinating history of his family—a story set against the backdrop of a century fraught with upheaval.