How To Fail With Elizabeth Day Salman Rushdie - ‘I’d rather have had a different life’
Jun 5, 2024
Salman Rushdie, the acclaimed author who survived a violent attack, shares insights on love triumphing over hatred, his new book 'Knife', advice on creativity, childhood struggles, failed acting aspirations, and lessons from early writing rejections. He also reveals what Margaret Thatcher was really like, offering a glimpse into his remarkable journey and wisdom for embracing imperfections.
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Near-Fatal Stage Attack
- Salman Rushdie recounts being stabbed multiple times on stage at Chautauqua and nearly dying during a 27-second assault.
- He survived but required extensive rehabilitation and lost one eye, which he describes in Knife.
Wife Rebuilt Their Love Story
- Rushdie describes how his wife Rachel Eliza Griffith took charge of his care and reconstructed their love story after the attack.
- He credits family, friends, and an outpouring of global support with giving him strength to recover.
Language As A Healing Tool
- Rushdie frames language as a tool equivalent to a knife that can cut open and explain experiences.
- He uses his book Knife to analyse and make sense of the attack through language.