DeepSummary
This episode features an interview with renowned author Salman Rushdie, who was attacked and stabbed multiple times in August 2022 while giving a lecture, nearly 34 years after Iran's former supreme leader issued a fatwa calling for his death over his book 'The Satanic Verses.' Rushdie provides a vivid account of the attack, describing how he initially thought the assailant was 'a time traveler' emerging from his past to carry out the decades-old fatwa.
Despite losing an eye and suffering other severe injuries, Rushdie miraculously survived the attack. He discusses his long recovery process, the lingering effects of his wounds, and the profound impact the near-death experience has had on him, giving him an 'immensely increased sense of the value of every day of life.'
Rushdie also reflects on the role of literature and the power of storytelling, asserting that realism alone is insufficient to capture the surreal nature of the world. His new memoir, 'Knife,' serves as his own metaphorical 'knife' to confront the attack and its aftermath through his craft.
Key Episodes Takeaways
- Salman Rushdie's life was nearly taken in a shocking attack in 2022, over three decades after a fatwa was issued against him for his novel 'The Satanic Verses.'
- Despite sustaining severe injuries, including the loss of an eye, Rushdie miraculously survived the attack and chronicles his experience in his memoir 'Knife.'
- The attack and near-death experience have instilled in Rushdie a profound appreciation for life and a deeper commitment to his belief in the power of storytelling to capture the surreal nature of the world.
- Rushdie's memoir serves as a metaphorical 'knife' for him to confront the attack through his literary craft, using language as a weapon to make sense of the experience.
- The episode highlights the enduring impact of controversial ideas and the risks faced by artists and writers who challenge societal norms and beliefs.
- Rushdie's resilience and dedication to his artistic principles in the face of adversity are showcased, exemplifying the strength of the human spirit.
- The interview provides a firsthand account of a shocking, high-profile attack that captured global attention, offering insights into the personal toll such events can have.
- The episode underscores the ongoing relevance of debates around freedom of expression, censorship, and the power of words to ignite both inspiration and outrage.
Top Episodes Quotes
- “I retreated into literature and chose this name from the first names of Conrad and Chekhov. Joseph Conrad. Anton Chekhov equals Joseph Anton. I had to be invisible. And this name, the name is all that could be visible.“ by Salman Rushdie
- “I got myself into a knife fight. Somehow I had to have a knife of my own.“ by Salman Rushdie
- “I can imagine just immensely. Just wake up in the morning and you think, still here.“ by Salman Rushdie
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Episode Information
Consider This from NPR
NPR
4/17/24
While Rushdie saw it as an exploration of Islamic culture, some Muslims saw it as blasphemous. The year after it published, Iran's supreme leader issued a fatwa, ordering Muslims to kill Rushdie.
Rushdie moved to New York in 2000, and was able to resume the public life of a popular author, but that all changed on August 12th, 2022 when a young man charged at Rushdie while he was on stage at an event, stabbing him at least a dozen times.
After two years, he has chronicled his brush with death, and the aftermath in his new memoir 'KNIFE'.
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