‘Have to deal with it’: Salman Rushdie to write a book on losing eyesight in knife attack

Salman Rushdie has revealed his plans to pen a book detailing the harrowing incident in which he was stabbed on stage during a performance in New York in 2022, resulting in the loss of sight in one eye. Speaking at the esteemed Hay literary festival, Rushdie expressed his intent to explore the implications and significance surrounding the attack, rather than focusing solely on the incident itself.

The book, expected to be a concise yet poignant piece spanning a couple of hundred pages, holds personal significance for Rushdie as he aims to overcome this traumatic episode and resume his creative endeavours.

He emphasised the necessity of addressing this ordeal before embarking on unrelated literary projects. “I can’t really start writing a novel that’s got nothing to do with this … So I just have to deal with it,” The Guardian quoted him as saying.

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Following the knife attack, Rushdie endured a six-week hospitalisation. In addition to the loss of vision, the injuries to his hand have resulted in diminished sensation in certain fingertips, making typing a challenging task. The alleged assailant, Hadi Matar, has been charged with attempted murder in connection with the attack.

This distressing incident marked a grim reminder of Rushdie's tumultuous past. Having lived without round-the-clock security for two decades, he had previously endured a decade-long period in hiding following the controversial publication of his novel, The Satanic Verses, in 1988. 

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The book sparked widespread protests and outrage, leading to death threats and the infamous fatwa issued by Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the then-leader of Iran, which included a substantial bounty on Rushdie's head.

Despite the adversity he has faced, Rushdie expressed gratitude for the positive reception of his latest novel, Victory City, which had been completed prior to the attack and published subsequently. The author shared his appreciation for the readers' favourable response, emphasising that he never takes such support for granted.

In recognition of his literary achievements, Rushdie was awarded the prestigious Hay festival medal for prose for Victory City. Esteemed authors Margaret Atwood and Elif Shafak praised the novel during a panel discussion, describing it as a captivating blend of political themes, reality, and imaginative storytelling.