Salman Rushdie's Recent Appearances and Awards in the Literary World

Novelist Salman Rushdie made a surprise appearance at PEN America's annual gala, his first public appearance since being stabbed and gravely wounded at a literary event last year. Rushdie received an award for courage from the freedom of expression organization. The gala highlighted the high stakes of the current moment, where freedom of expression is under siege on many fronts, across the political spectrum, not just abroad but at home. Rushdie praised the group's efforts on behalf of teachers, libraries, and authors, and hailed those who had saved his life during the attack.