with Salman Rushdie, meeting his readers in Orsay

STORYTELLING – On the occasion of the publication of his latest book, published by Gallimard, The knife, an exceptional meeting was organised. This is the only public meeting on French territory of the writer affected by a fatwa since the publication of the Satanic verses in 1988.

His entrance is worthy of a rock star. He arrives surrounded by five police officers who form a nucleus around him. It’s 7pm in Paris, Friday 3 May. In France since the day before, Salman Rushdie he has just entered under the golden paneling of the town hall Orsay Museum under the applause of a standing crowd, united by the same fervor. Each of those present this evening is aware that they are witnessing an exceptional event: the only public meeting on French territory of the American-British writer of Indian origin hit by a fatwa after the publication of Satanic verses in 1998.

The confidential meeting was organized on the occasion of the publication of his latest book, by Gallimard: The knife . Reflections after an attack. Salman Rushdie talks about the attack that almost cost him his life, which occurred on 12 August 2022 in the amphitheater of the town of Chautauqua in the United States, when a “idiot” as the writer describes.

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