New York, USA – Famed British writer Salman Rushdie has made a triumphant return to the literary world with the release of his highly-anticipated memoir, “Knife: Meditations After an Attempted Murder.” The memoir delves into the harrowing experience of his life, starting from the vicious attack he endured while preparing to deliver a lecture on free speech.
On August 12, 2022, Rushdie was set to speak at the Chautauqua Institution in New York state when an assailant stormed the stage and brutally stabbed him in multiple areas of his body. Following the attack, Rushdie spent six weeks in the hospital undergoing treatment and was left blind in one eye with lost feeling in some fingertips.
The renowned author, known for the global controversy surrounding his 1988 novel “The Satanic Verses,” decided to share his traumatic experience as a way to overcome creative obstacles hindering his other works.
Rushdie, who hails from Bombay, India, initially pursued a writing career that began with modest success with his first book, “Grimus,” in 1975. It was his novel “Midnight’s Children,” released in 1981, that catapulted him to literary acclaim by winning both the Booker Prize and later the Best of the Booker Prize in 2008.
However, it was the publication of “The Satanic Verses” in 1988 that sparked outrage in the Muslim world, leading to bans in several countries and threats to Rushdie’s life. The novel’s controversial portrayal of religious figures, including Prophet Muhammad, caused a wave of violence that forced Rushdie into hiding for nearly a decade.
Despite the turmoil caused by “The Satanic Verses,” Rushdie continued to write in seclusion, eventually reemerging as an advocate for free speech after Iran’s government lifted the fatwa against him in 1998.
In 2022, Rushdie faced another life-threatening incident when he was viciously attacked, resulting in severe injuries that left him hospitalized for weeks. The ongoing trial against the perpetrator, Hadi Matar, has been postponed as his lawyer considers Rushdie’s memoir as potential evidence.
Through all the challenges and controversies he has faced, Rushdie remains a steadfast supporter of free speech, emphasizing the importance of resilience in the face of adversity. His latest memoir serves as both a reflection on his own resilience and a testament to the enduring power of storytelling in the face of hardship.