Knife: Meditations After an Attempted Murder

On August 12, 2022, Salman Rushdie was attacked onstage at the Chautauqua Institution while preparing to deliver a lecture on writer safety. A man wielding a knife rushed toward him in a sudden act of violence that drew international attention. In this account, Rushdie describes the traumatic events of that day and their aftermath in detail. He recounts his physical recovery and the healing process supported by his wife Eliza, his family, medical professionals, and his readers worldwide. The book reflects on the attack thirty years after the fatwa previously ordered against him. Rushdie examines how literature can help make sense of traumatic experiences, offering meditations on life, loss, love, and art in the face of violence.