Talk Easy with Sam Fragoso Novelist Salman Rushdie at ‘The Eleventh Hour’
Salman Rushdie, acclaimed novelist known for Midnight's Children, shares insights from his new book, The Eleventh Hour, and his memoir, Knife. He reflects on his childhood in Bombay and the impact of family trauma on his writing. Rushdie discusses the toll of the 1989 fatwa and its effect on public perception, alongside the ongoing threats to free speech. Humor plays a crucial role in his recovery from the 2022 attack, and he emphasizes the lasting power of literature in the face of censorship.
01:26:09
The Page He Calls Magic
- Rushdie recalls writing the opening page of Midnight's Children in a burst where the narrator 'wrote the book' and he merely typed it.
- That moment felt like the day he became a writer and unlocked his storytelling voice.
Pick A Coherent Book Scale
- You can write a great book by either capturing the whole world or focusing tightly on a single strand and polishing it.
- Choose the approach that fits your subject and commit to its scale and architecture.
Persecutors Often Don't Read The Books
- Rushdie observes that persecutors rarely read the books they condemn, making attack easier than engagement.
- He argues reading complicates judgment and reduces the fervor to burn or ban texts.
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Intro
00:00 • 1min
Rushdie on Early Reading and Voice
01:17 • 6min
Origins of The Eleventh Hour Stories
07:07 • 1min
Exploring the Shadow Self in Fiction
08:10 • 1min
How the Fatwa Changed Public Perception
09:35 • 5min
Bombay Childhood and Bookish Upbringing
14:31 • 7min
Family Strife, Trauma, and Writing's Honesty
21:56 • 8min
Boarding School, Otherness, and Early Writing
29:31 • 6min
Advertising Work and Returning to India
35:30 • 4min
Birth of Midnight's Children' Voice
39:57 • 11min
Explaining The Satanic Verses in Brief
51:11 • 2min
Book Burning, Protests, and Free Speech Threats
53:34 • 5min
Support from Publishers and Writers' Solidarity
58:04 • 2min
Personal Cost and Responsibility After Attacks
01:00:11 • 1min
The 2022 Stabbing and Maintaining Humor
01:01:13 • 7min
Comedy, Censorship, and Curb Your Enthusiasm
01:08:38 • 6min
Hallucinations, Letters, and the Book World
01:14:10 • 1min
Writing as Continual Access to Younger Self
01:15:37 • 3min
Staying on the Writer's Road Despite Fashion
01:19:02 • 2min
Recovery, Trauma, and Marriage After the Attack
01:21:06 • 3min
Freedom of Expression, Persecution, and Literature's Longevity
01:24:00 • 6min
Outro
01:29:42 • 2min
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Winnie-The-Pooh
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Published in 1926, Winnie-the-Pooh is a beloved children's book written by A.A.
Milne and illustrated by E.H. Shepard.
The book follows the adventures of Winnie-the-Pooh, a honey-loving bear, and his friends including Christopher Robin, Piglet, Eeyore, Owl, Rabbit, Kanga, and Roo in the fictional Hundred Acre Wood.
The stories are simple yet full of comic moments and insights into human behavior, making it a classic that appeals to readers of all ages.
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James Joyce
Ulysses is a groundbreaking and complex modernist novel that chronicles the experiences of three Dubliners over a single day.
The novel is loosely based on Homer's epic poem 'The Odyssey', with Leopold Bloom paralleling Odysseus, Stephen Dedalus paralleling Telemachus, and Molly Bloom paralleling Penelope.
It explores themes such as antisemitism, human sexuality, British rule in Ireland, Catholicism, and Irish nationalism.
The novel is known for its innovative use of language and narrative techniques, including stream-of-consciousness and multiple literary styles.
It captures the essence of early 20th-century Dublin, providing a detailed snapshot of the city's social, political, and cultural landscape.
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Knife
Meditations After an Attempted Murder
Salman Rushdie
In 'Knife: Meditations After an Attempted Murder', Salman Rushdie provides a gripping and detailed account of the traumatic events following the knife attack on him in August 2022.
The book is a meditation on his survival, the metaphysical implications of his experience, and the purpose of writing.
Rushdie describes the horrific wounds he suffered, including the loss of his right eye, and reflects on the miraculous nature of his survival.
The memoir is characterized by its lack of self-pity, despite the immense pain and struggle Rushdie faced during his recovery.
It also touches on themes of art, pain, love, and the ongoing battle for free speech.
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Joseph Anton
A Memoir
Salman Rushdie
In 'Joseph Anton: A Memoir', Salman Rushdie recounts his life under the pseudonym Joseph Anton, a name derived from his favorite writers Joseph Conrad and Anton Chekhov.
The memoir describes his period in hiding due to the fatwa issued after the publication of 'The Satanic Verses', detailing the grim and sometimes comic realities of living with armed police protection, his relationships, and his fight for freedom of speech.
Written in the third person, the book provides an intimate and explosive account of Rushdie's personal and public struggles during this period.
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Victory City
Salman Rushdie
In 'Victory City', Salman Rushdie narrates the journey of Pampa Kampana, a nine-year-old girl orphaned by war in 14th-century Southern India.
After hearing the voice of a goddess, Pampa gains magical abilities and vows to prevent other women from suffering the fate of her mother.
She creates the city of Bisnaga, which becomes a melting pot of diverse cultures and a symbol of progressive ideals.
The story follows Pampa's struggles and triumphs as she navigates the complexities of ruling in a patriarchal society, critiques societal gender norms, and grapples with the fleeting nature of power.
The narrative is framed as Pampa’s narrative poem, the 'Jayaparajaya', discovered centuries later, emphasizing that while individual power may fade, our stories endure.
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One Thousand and One Nights
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The frame story revolves around King Shahryar, who marries and kills a new wife each day after discovering his previous wife's infidelity.
His vizier's daughter, Shahrazad, marries the king and saves her life by telling him a new story each night, leaving the story incomplete to keep him curious.
The stories span various genres, including historical tales, love stories, tragedies, comedies, and more, drawing from the rich heritage of the Middle East, India, Persia, and other regions.
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Midnight's Children
Salman Rushdie
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Saleem's life is intricately linked with the history of India, and he possesses telepathic powers that allow him to communicate with other 'midnight children' born between 12 a.
m. and 1 a. m. on that date.
Each of these children has unique magical powers, and Saleem acts as a conduit to connect them.
The story spans various historical events in India, including the partition, wars, and the Emergency declared by Indira Gandhi.
It explores themes of identity, history, and the fragmented nature of a newly independent nation.
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Satanic Verses
Salman Rushdie
The novel follows the lives of two Indian Muslims, Gibreel Farishta and Saladin Chamcha, who survive a plane hijacking and subsequent explosion.
As they fall from the plane, they are transformed into angelic and satanic figures.
The story delves into various themes, including the founding of Islam through the character Mahound, the story of a visionary girl named Ayesha, and the struggles of identity and faith.
The book is known for its complex, multilayered plot and its use of dreams within dreams, which generated significant controversy due to its satirical and imaginative treatment of Islamic themes.
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J. M. Barrie
Peter Pan, written by J.M.
Barrie, is a whimsical and enchanting tale that explores the themes of youthful innocence, perpetual youth, and the reluctance to grow up.
The story follows Peter Pan, a free-spirited and mischievous boy who lives in Neverland, a magical island inhabited by fairies, mermaids, Native Americans, and pirates.
Peter Pan whisks away the Darling children—Wendy, John, and Michael—to Neverland, where they engage in various adventures.
The narrative delves into the contrast between childhood and adulthood, with Peter Pan representing the eternal child and Captain Hook embodying the fears and responsibilities of adulthood.
The book also touches on themes of motherhood, as seen through Wendy's role as a surrogate mother to the Lost Boys, and the psychological aspects of Peter's inability to age, which may be linked to his possible status as a symbol of children who died young.
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Vladimir Nabokov
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Humbert, a European intellectual and pedophile, becomes infatuated with Dolores Haze, whom he kidnaps and sexually abuses after marrying her mother.
The narrative delves into the complex and disturbing relationship between Humbert and Lolita, highlighting issues of morality, solipsism, and the erasure of Lolita's independent identity.
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Toni Morrison
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However, her life is haunted by the ghost of her two-year-old daughter, whom she killed to prevent her from being taken back into slavery.
The story is deeply intertwined with themes of mother-daughter relationships, the power of family and community, and the lasting impact of slavery on individuals and society.
The novel introduces a mysterious figure named Beloved, who is the physical manifestation of Sethe's murdered daughter, and explores how this presence disrupts and ultimately transforms the lives of Sethe and her surviving daughter, Denver.
Through a complex narrative that includes flashbacks, stream-of-consciousness monologues, and multiple voices, Morrison examines the trauma and resilience of those affected by slavery.
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The novel follows Huck Finn, a young boy who escapes his abusive father by faking his own death, and Jim, a runaway slave.
Together, they embark on a perilous journey down the Mississippi River on a raft.
Along the way, they encounter various characters, including con artists and feuding families, and Huck grapples with moral dilemmas, particularly regarding his support for Jim despite the societal norms against helping a runaway slave.
The novel is a critique of pre-Civil War American society, especially its treatment of slavery and racial issues, and it has been praised for its realistic portrayal of boyhood and its exploration of complex moral themes.
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Languages of Truth
Essays 2003-2015
Salman Rushdie
In 'Languages of Truth,' Salman Rushdie presents a collection of essays spanning from 2003 to 2020, exploring the power and purpose of storytelling in a world grappling with profound social and political changes.
Rushdie reflects on the works of other writers who have influenced him, including Toni Morrison, Gabriel García Márquez, and Philip Roth.
He delves into the importance of free speech, the dangers of censorship, and the role of the writer in challenging power.
The essays showcase Rushdie’s deep engagement with literature and his unwavering belief in its ability to illuminate and transform the human experience.
This collection serves as a testament to the enduring significance of literature in navigating complex realities and upholding the values of truth and freedom.
#88351
Borges and I
Jorge Luis Borges
'Borges and I' is a short essay by Jorge Luis Borges that explores the duality between the public persona of a writer and their private, internal self.
Borges delves into the idea that the 'Borges' who writes, publishes books, and engages with the world is distinct from the 'I' who experiences life, feels emotions, and contemplates existence.
The essay blurs the line between reality and fiction, questioning the nature of identity and the creative process.
Borges suggests that the writer's public self becomes a construct, often overshadowing the authentic self that exists beyond the realm of literature.
The essay is a reflection on the complexities of fame and the challenges of maintaining a sense of self in the face of public perception.
#83433
The Eleventh Hour
Essays
Salman Rushdie
'The Eleventh Hour' is a collection of five interlinked stories by Salman Rushdie, exploring themes of anger, peace, mortality, and legacy.
Each story delves into the complexities of human relationships and the challenges of navigating a world in crisis.
Rushdie's signature blend of magical realism and sharp social commentary is evident throughout the collection.
He examines the search for meaning in the face of uncertainty, the importance of human connection, and the enduring power of storytelling.
The stories showcase Rushdie's versatility as a writer and his ability to capture the nuances of the human condition.
For more than three decades, author Salman Rushdie has lived under threat. In 1989, a fatwa forced him into hiding. In 2022, he was stabbed more than a dozen times while speaking on stage—and nearly killed.
Less than two years later, he recounted the attack (and remarkable recovery) in his memoir Knife: Meditations After an Attempted Murder. Now, at seventy-eight, Rushdie returns to fiction with The Eleventh Hour, a collection of five interlinked stories that explore anger, peace, mortality, and legacy.
We begin with the inspirations behind the new quintet (5:52), Rushdie’s formative, bookish years in Bombay (14:20), and the tumultuous family life that shaped his early writing (21:20). Then, he reflects on his time at Cambridge (29:30), his stint as a copywriter (35:32), and the lightbulb moment that led to his breakout novel, Midnight’s Children (39:40).
On the back half, we discuss the fatwa (50:15) and book burning of The Satanic Verses (53:30), threats to free speech (56:36), and the slippery slope of political censorship (1:04:30). We also talk about Rushdie’s recovery and return to the page (1:14:10), his meta Curb Your Enthusiasm appearance (1:08:37), and the lasting power of literature (1:24:00).
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