Fresh Air

Best Of: A Writer Grapples With A Life-Changing Accident / The Post WWII 'Red Scare'

Mar 29, 2025
Hanif Kureishi, an award-winning screenwriter and author of "Shattered," shares his profound journey after a life-altering fall and his newfound sense of purpose through writing. He candidly discusses vulnerability and resilience while exploring identity. Journalist Clay Risen delves into his book "Red Scare," shedding light on the anti-communist hysteria of post-WWII America and its chilling parallels to current politics. TV critic David Bianculli reviews the BritBox series "Ludwig," unraveling its intriguing blend of mystery and familial ties.
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ANECDOTE

Early Career Success

  • Hanif Kureishi's writing career began remarkably after briefly writing pornography.
  • His first screenplay, My Beautiful Laundrette, earned an Oscar nomination.
ANECDOTE

The Fall

  • Kureishi, after feeling dizzy, woke up in a pool of blood.
  • He initially didn't recognize his hands, feeling divorced from his body.
INSIGHT

Disconnection

  • The initial experience of paralysis involved a disturbing disconnection from one's own body.
  • Kureishi describes seeing his hands as separate, curled "live creatures."
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