Salman Rushdie Makes First Public Appearance Since Stabbing: ‘It’s Never Been More Important to Fight’ Against War on Books
Sophia Scorziello editor Author Salman Rushdie was honored by PEN America with the Centenary Courage Award at their 2023 Literary Gala Thursday. It was the first time the former PEN president was seen in public since he was severely wounded by a knife attack in August 2022. At 75 years old, the “Satanic Verses” author has survived numerous death threats and assassination attempts throughout the years in response to his literature. Rushdie took the stage at the event held at the American Museum of Natural History in New York front of 700 guests. He wore a pair of glasses with the right lens tinted black to protect his right eye, which was blinded in the knife attack. He began his speech with a lighthearted flare.