Super Short Summary

Published in 2024, Salman Rushdie’s memoir Knife: Meditations After an Attempted Murder recounts the 2022 attack that nearly took his life. The book follows Rushdie’s physical and psychological recovery and expresses his gratitude to those who supported him through it—particularly his wife, Rachel Eliza Griffiths. The young man who attacked him was moved to violence by fundamentalist Islamic propaganda, partially regarding one of Rushdie’s own novels. Knife reasserts Rushdie’s staunch advocation of free speech, defending his and others’ right to speak out against institutions such as religion. This study guide includes descriptions of violence and both physical and emotional trauma.