It’s the literary event of the moment. The knife, by Salman Rushdie, was released in bookstores this Thursday, April 18. The British-American writer of Indian origin returns for the first time to the knife assassination attempt that he experienced during a conference, on August 12, 2022, in the United States, more than 30 years later the fatwa pronounced against him.
In this reconstruction book, the author recounts his attack, the suffering experienced after the attack, and his resurrection. At the very end there is a scene with his wife, Rachel Eliza Griffiths, with whom he returns to the scene of his attack on September 18, 2023, i.e. 13 months after the events. The writer’s wife appears under the name of Elisa, and brings light into the life of this character turned upside down by what he has experienced.
Rachel Eliza Griffiths is an artist, like her husband
Like Salman Rushdie, Rachel Eliza Griffiths writes. She is notably the author of Promisede, a novel about the violence of prejudice, but also about audacity and love. The 46-year-old intellectual also writes poetry. Five of his collections have been published. She notably explores memory, black femininity and American society.
A multiple artist, Rachel Eliza Griffiths is also a photographer and videographer. In May 2023, she answered questions from Hapers Bazaar as part of the publication of his novel Promise. She explained the origins of her passion for creation: “ When I was a child, if you gave me pencils, paint and paper, I would be in a state of bliss for hours. I always wanted to be a writer, I always wanted to be an artist. »
How long have Salman Rushdie and Rachel Eliza Griffiths been together?
Salman Rushdie and Rachel Eliza Griffiths met in 2017 and married in 2021, in Chautauqua, a town in the Western United States. Interviewed by Telerama as part of the promotion of his novel The knifethe 76-year-old writer delivered a few words about this love: “ When [le cœur] tells you that you are in love and happy, then you are.”
Rachel Eliza Griffiths also delivered very nice words to Hapers Bazaar about her husband. She had described the relationship full of esteem which brought together these two sensitive souls. “He respects me a lot. I am very lucky: we share so much happiness, laughter and joy. We congratulate, celebrate and support each other. »
