Full Disclosure with James O'Brien cover image

Full Disclosure with James O'Brien

Hanif Kureishi: A freak accident left me paralysed - and it broke me

Nov 1, 2024
Hanif Kureishi, an acclaimed novelist and playwright, discusses his life-altering experience following a fall that left him paralysed. He shares insights from his new book, Shattered, capturing the duality of his identity as both a writer and a tetraplegic. The conversation delves into the emotional upheaval and existential fears following his accident, the challenges of documenting personal trauma, and the role of community support in healing. Hanif reflects on his vibrant creative journey and the transformative power of storytelling amidst adversity.
59:13

Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • Hanif Kureishi's desire to write serves as a critical lifeline for expressing his profound experiences following a life-altering accident.
  • The sudden paralysis Kureishi suffered emphasizes life's fragility, illustrating how random events can drastically change one's reality in an instant.

Deep dives

The Writer's Resilience

The desire to write is integral to one's identity, as prominently displayed by Hanif Qureshi. After suffering a life-changing injury that left him tetraplegic, he immediately felt an urge to express his experiences through writing. Despite his physical limitations, he creatively constructed blog posts in his mind, dictating them to his partner for publication. This instinct to articulate his challenges showcases the powerful connection between personal suffering and the drive to communicate and create art.

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