Sir Salman Rushdie has been longlisted for the prestigious Baillie Gifford Prize for his latest memoir, Knife: Meditations After An Attempted Murder, per standard.co.uk. The book, released earlier this year, offers a gripping account of the harrowing knife attack Rushdie suffered on stage at the Chautauqua Institution in New York in August 2022.
The 77-year-old author, who was left blind in one eye following the incident, could make history if he wins the non-fiction book award. Rushdie would become the first writer to claim both the Booker Prize and the Baillie Gifford Prize, having won the former in 1981 for Midnight’s Children.
The Baillie Gifford judges praised Rushdie’s work for its unflinching honesty and unexpected humour in the face of tragedy. They noted that Knife serves as both a personal statement and a testament to the power of art.
Rushdie’s nomination comes amidst ongoing controversy surrounding his 1988 novel The Satanic Verses, which has led to death threats against the author for decades. The man accused of the 2022 attack, Hadi Matar, maintains his innocence and is set to stand trial in October, with Rushdie expected to testify.
The £50,000 prize’s longlist features a diverse array of works, including memoirs, biographies and scientific explorations. The shortlist will be announced on October 10th at the Cheltenham Literature Festival, with the winner revealed on November 19th.
