Big Take Weekend Listen: Salman Rushdie Isn’t Afraid of Free Speech
Dec 7, 2025
Salman Rushdie, the acclaimed novelist known for works like Midnight's Children, discusses his tumultuous journey after surviving a stabbing in 2022. He reflects on the challenges of writing through trauma and views his craft as a form of optimism. Rushdie shares insights on his early inspirations, including a memorable encounter with E.M. Forster, and highlights the current political climate in India and the U.S. He passionately defends free speech, warns against book bans, and reveals his hopes for future writings.
42:59
Recovering And Reclaiming The Story
- Salman Rushdie describes recovering from the 2022 stabbing and feeling surprisingly well despite severe injuries.
- He says writing about the attack made it his story rather than remaining a passive victim.
Writing Is An Act Of Hope
- Rushdie calls writing an act of hope and says producing work requires optimism despite uncertainty of reception.
- He ties solitary long-term labor to the expectation that readers will value the outcome.
Forster, Turing And A Ghost Story
- Rushdie recalls meeting E.M. Forster at King's College and receiving encouragement to write about India.
- He also fused Forster and Alan Turing into a character, leading unexpectedly to a revenge ghost story.
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Intro
00:00 • 2min
Rushdie's Recovery and Perspective
01:43 • 4min
Writing Through Trauma
05:33 • 43sec
Writing as Optimism
06:16 • 35sec
Early Struggles and Finding Voice
06:50 • 2min
Cambridge, Forster and Turing Echoes
08:31 • 4min
Editing Midnight's Children
12:58 • 1min
Family Background and Literary Choices
14:24 • 5min
Reclaiming Bombay and Research Trip
19:27 • 4min
Politics in Midnight's Children
23:33 • 2min
Worries about India Today
25:12 • 1min
Imaginary Homelands and Predicting Trends
26:18 • 34sec
Family Reaction to Fiction
26:52 • 3min
Farewell to Bombay in The Eleventh Hour
29:44 • 1min
Visiting India and Safety Concerns
31:03 • 23sec
Writing Memoirs: Distance and Voice
31:27 • 2min
Keeping a Journal During the Fatwa
33:01 • 49sec
From Regional Criticism to Free Speech Champion
33:49 • 13sec
Defending Free Speech Principles
34:03 • 2min
U.S. Book Bans and Racial Erasure
36:09 • 2min
Importance of Diverse Histories
38:10 • 22sec
New York Politics and Civic Energy
38:32 • 2min
Views on Palestine and Two-State Solution
40:09 • 53sec
Free Speech and Protest in the UK
41:02 • 49sec
Echoes Across Three Countries
41:51 • 57sec
What Rushdie Writes Next
42:48 • 28sec
Routine and Discipline
43:15 • 57sec
Writing After Physical Injury
44:12 • 1min
Outro
45:35 • 3min
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Imaginary Homelands
Salman Rushdie
This information is not available.
#83287
Quixote
Miguel de Cervantes
#2466
• Mentioned in 15 episodes
Midnight's Children
Salman Rushdie
The novel tells the story of Saleem Sinai, who is born at the stroke of midnight on August 15, 1947, the moment of India's independence from British rule.
Saleem's life is intricately linked with the history of India, and he possesses telepathic powers that allow him to communicate with other 'midnight children' born between 12 a.
m. and 1 a. m. on that date.
Each of these children has unique magical powers, and Saleem acts as a conduit to connect them.
The story spans various historical events in India, including the partition, wars, and the Emergency declared by Indira Gandhi.
It explores themes of identity, history, and the fragmented nature of a newly independent nation.
#1377
• Mentioned in 24 episodes
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
Mark Twain
Published in 1884 in the UK and 1885 in the US, 'The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn' is a sequel to Mark Twain's 'The Adventures of Tom Sawyer'.
The novel follows Huck Finn, a young boy who escapes his abusive father by faking his own death, and Jim, a runaway slave.
Together, they embark on a perilous journey down the Mississippi River on a raft.
Along the way, they encounter various characters, including con artists and feuding families, and Huck grapples with moral dilemmas, particularly regarding his support for Jim despite the societal norms against helping a runaway slave.
The novel is a critique of pre-Civil War American society, especially its treatment of slavery and racial issues, and it has been praised for its realistic portrayal of boyhood and its exploration of complex moral themes.
#982
• Mentioned in 31 episodes
Satanic Verses
Salman Rushdie
The novel follows the lives of two Indian Muslims, Gibreel Farishta and Saladin Chamcha, who survive a plane hijacking and subsequent explosion.
As they fall from the plane, they are transformed into angelic and satanic figures.
The story delves into various themes, including the founding of Islam through the character Mahound, the story of a visionary girl named Ayesha, and the struggles of identity and faith.
The book is known for its complex, multilayered plot and its use of dreams within dreams, which generated significant controversy due to its satirical and imaginative treatment of Islamic themes.
#752
• Mentioned in 37 episodes
Beloved
Toni Morrison
Published in 1987, 'Beloved' is a work of historical fiction that delves into the aftermath of the American Civil War. The novel centers around Sethe, a Black woman who escaped from slavery in Kentucky and now lives in Ohio.
However, her life is haunted by the ghost of her two-year-old daughter, whom she killed to prevent her from being taken back into slavery.
The story is deeply intertwined with themes of mother-daughter relationships, the power of family and community, and the lasting impact of slavery on individuals and society.
The novel introduces a mysterious figure named Beloved, who is the physical manifestation of Sethe's murdered daughter, and explores how this presence disrupts and ultimately transforms the lives of Sethe and her surviving daughter, Denver.
Through a complex narrative that includes flashbacks, stream-of-consciousness monologues, and multiple voices, Morrison examines the trauma and resilience of those affected by slavery.
#10964
• Mentioned in 4 episodes
A Passage to India
E. M. Forster
A Passage to India, published in 1924, is one of E.M.
Forster's most celebrated works.
It delves into the complexities of colonial rule and the strained relationships between British and Indian characters, particularly through the trial of Dr. Aziz, who is falsely accused by Adela Quested.
The novel explores themes of racism, colonialism, and the challenges of cross-cultural understanding.
#161
• Mentioned in 108 episodes
To Kill a Mockingbird
Harper Lee
Harper Lee's "To Kill a Mockingbird" is a classic novel that explores themes of racial injustice, childhood innocence, and moral courage in the American South.
The story is narrated by Scout Finch, a young girl who witnesses the trial of Tom Robinson, a Black man falsely accused of a crime.
Lee's powerful storytelling captures the complexities of race relations in the Jim Crow South, highlighting the prejudice and injustice faced by Black people.
The novel's enduring appeal lies in its exploration of universal themes of empathy, compassion, and the importance of standing up for what is right.
It remains a powerful reminder of the ongoing struggle for racial equality in America.
#3889
• Mentioned in 10 episodes
Knife
Meditations After an Attempted Murder
Salman Rushdie
In 'Knife: Meditations After an Attempted Murder', Salman Rushdie provides a gripping and detailed account of the traumatic events following the knife attack on him in August 2022.
The book is a meditation on his survival, the metaphysical implications of his experience, and the purpose of writing.
Rushdie describes the horrific wounds he suffered, including the loss of his right eye, and reflects on the miraculous nature of his survival.
The memoir is characterized by its lack of self-pity, despite the immense pain and struggle Rushdie faced during his recovery.
It also touches on themes of art, pain, love, and the ongoing battle for free speech.
Salman Rushdie was nearly killed when he was stabbed 15 times on stage in upstate New York in 2022. His injuries were so severe that he lost an eye. It was an attack that came decades after he was first subjected to death threats over his novel, The Satanic Verses.
Once he had recovered, he found he was unable to write fiction. However, after publishing an account of what happened to him, the stories returned, with five brought together in his latest book, The Eleventh Hour.
In this conversation with Mishal Husain, Rushdie talks about free speech, the family connection they both share and the places he’s called home, from India to Britain and the US.
02:30 - “Don’t waste your time”
04:40 - Writing as a form of optimism
05:00 - Starting out as a writer
08:00 - Meeting E.M. Forster as a teenager
10:00 - “You write the story to find out what story you’re writing”
11:15 - Writing Midnight’s Children
12:46 - The family connection between Salman Rushdie and Mishal Husain
14:35 - The women in the family
16:00 - Getting together as a family
17:55 - Returning to India to write about childhood
20:30 - Reclaiming India
22:55 - India today and Prime Minister Modi
24:24 - “If you’re paying attention you see things coming”
24:50 - The family reacts to Midnight’s Children
26:44 - A farewell to India?
28:45 - Before and after the fatwa
31:30 - Defending free speech
32:25 - Banning books in the US
34:30 - Zohran Mamdani’s campaign
38:50 - The next novel
40:25 - “I’m a bit clumsier”
Watch this podcast here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLe4PRejZgr0Ns_wjGlmjlPz0cded0nTYS
You can find the written version of this interview with Mishal’s notes on Bloomberg Weekend: https://www.bloomberg.com/latest/weekend-interview
Contact The Mishal Husain Show mishalshow@bloomberg.net
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