Sir Salman Rushdie to give first UK talk since stabbing

Sir Salman Rushdie is set to make his first in-person appearance in the UK since a stabbing left him blind in one eye.

The acclaimed British-Indian novelist said he is delighted to be returning "after too long", and is expected to take part in an exclusive session at the Hay Festival talking about his recent books Knife and Victory City.

An attack in 2022 happened after Sir Salman spent years in hiding because of threats to his life after his novel The Satanic Verses was published in 1988.

He will join figures in Hay-On- Wye, Powys, including Donald Trump's niece, Michael Sheen, Gavin and Stacey's Ruth Jones, and presenter Stacey Dooley.

Sir Salman is the author of 22 works of fiction and non-fiction and won the Booker Prize for Midnight's Children.

He was also shortlisted for The Satanic Verses and Quichotte.

The 77-year-old previously spent several years in hiding after the 1988 publication of The Satanic Verses - a fictional story inspired by the life of the Muslim Prophet Muhammad - triggered threats against his life.

It was banned in India, Pakistan and South Africa and prompted then Iranian leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini to issue a decree calling for Sir Salman's death in 1989.

More than 35 years after the release of Sir Salman's novel, he was attacked multiple times on a New York lecture stage in August 2022.

He was left with severe injuries including damage to his liver, vision loss in one eye and a paralysed hand caused by nerve damage to his arm.

The attacker, Hadi Matar, 27, was convicted of attempted murder and assault and faces a sentence of more than 30 years in prison.

Speaking two years after the attack in 2024, Sir Salman said his eye was left hanging down his face "like a soft-boiled egg", and that losing it upsets him "every day".

"I remember thinking I was dying," he said.

"Fortunately, I was wrong."

Sir Salman said he used his new book, Knife, as a way of fighting back against what happened.

About 150,000 people visit Hay-on-Wye for the arts and literature event each spring and this year marks the 38th spring edition of the festival.

With more than 600 events from 22 May to 1 June, Sir Stephen Fry, Hay Festival president, described the event as a "carnival of ideas".

Hay Festival global chief executive Julie Finch, said organisers are honoured to welcome Sir Salman back in person.

She said: "In a very special event, we'll explore his recent work and the power of storytelling to change the world.

"We know how much this appearance will mean."