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Rushdie threatens to sue over John Blake book

04.08.08 | Anna Richardson

Salman Rushdie is threatening to sue John Blake Publishing over the forthcoming On Her Majesty's Service by Ron Evans, one of the special branch officers who protected him, reports the Guardian.

The Booker Prize-winning author is so unhappy over what he sees as the book's libellous portrayal of him as "mean, nasty, tight-fisted, arrogant and extremely unpleasant".

Evans claims Rushdie was imprisoned by his guards who "got so fed up with his attitude that they locked him in a cupboard under the stairs and all went to the local pub for a pint or two. When they were suitably refreshed they came back and let him out".

According to On Her Majesty's Service, which is due to be published this week, the police nicknamed Rushdie Scruffy because of his unkempt appearance.

The author was alerted to the claims by a newspaper story about the alleged cupboard incident last weekend, which has subsequently been picked up on websites and blogs.

• Anna Richardson
• John Blake
• Man Booker Prize
• Salman Rushdie