Salman Rushdie's First In-Person Appearance Since Stabbing Highlights Importance of Defending Books.

Salman Rushdie made his first in-person appearance since being stabbed last August at the annual gala of PEN America, where he received the PEN Centenary Courage Award. Rushdie dedicated his remarks to those who came to his help during the attack and emphasized the importance of not letting terror and violence deter us. Other honorees at the gala included Lorne Michaels and Narges Mohammadi. The event was eventful, with PEN and Penguin Random House suing a Florida school district over book removals and writer Masha Gessen resigning as vice president of the PEN board.