Salman Rushdie wrote about stabbing with the help of a therapist

Salman Rushdie leaned on a therapist to help him write about his near-fatal stabbing.

The 76-year-old writer was seriously injured after being attacked on stage moments earlier than during a lecture at the Chautauqua Establishment in upstate New York in August 2022 and is writing about his experiences in new upcoming films. e-book ‘Knife: Meditations After a Tried Homicide’ – and now it’s revealed that this was the most important e-book he ever had to help write.

During a question and answer session at an English PEN meeting at the Southbank Center in London, Rushdie described: “(It’s the) only e-book I’ve ever written with the help of a therapist.

“It gave me control over the story again. Instead of being a person lying on stage with a pool of blood, I’m a person writing an e-book and a few guys stay on stage with a pool of blood. That felt good.”

Nevertheless, he still found it powerful to explain the incident that almost cost his life. He said: “’The first chapter) in which I have to somehow explain the precise nature of the attack. It was very labor intensive to do.”

After the stabbing, Salman was airlifted to hospital and underwent an eight-hour surgical procedure. He lost an eye fixation and suffered a number of stab wounds to parts of his face, neck, chest and hand, leaving him under the care of doctors for 18 days before beginning three weeks of rehabilitation therapy.

Hadi Matar, 24, was arrested on suspicion of attacking the writer and later pleaded not responsible to charges of attempted murder and assault. He is currently behind bars awaiting trial.

Speaking at the event in London, Rushdie stressed that he plans to be in court to testify against the person accused of harming him. He said: “(The not guilty plea was) an absurdity…

‘I have no problem being in court with him. It should worry him.”