Salman Rushdie is making a return this fall with a new collection of novellas and short stories—his first published fiction following his harrowing experience last year. After surviving a violent stabbing incident in 2022, Rushdie’s forthcoming release, “The Eleventh Hour,” has been announced by Random House, setting the release date for November 4th.
This collection, described as a suite of “five interlinked stories and novellas,” delves into the profound enigma of life’s final moments. Readers can anticipate encountering a cast of captivating characters, including a “musical prodigy with a magical gift,” a spectral Cambridge academic who aids a student in achieving overdue retribution, and a literary guide whose demise remains shrouded in mystery. The novellas explore settings in India, England, and the U.S., locations that hold significant personal ties to Rushdie.
“The three novellas in this volume, all written in the last 12 months, explore themes and places that have been much on my mind — mortality, Bombay, farewells, England (especially Cambridge), anger, peace, America. And Goya and Kafka and Bosch as well,” Rushdie expressed in a statement via Random House. He shared his vision of these stories as interconnected pieces that converse with one another, merging into what he perceives as a cohesive whole.
The acclaimed author is perhaps best known for his Booker Prize-winning masterpiece, “Midnight’s Children.” His literary achievements include titles like “Shame,” “The Moor’s Last Sigh,” and the recently completed “Victory City,” which Rushdie finished just before the attack at the Chautauqua Institution.
Earlier this year, Rushdie, now 77, took the stand in the trial of his attacker, Hadi Matar, who was subsequently convicted of assault and attempted murder. These charges could lead to a sentence of up to 25 years in prison, with a decision expected on April 23.
Rushdie’s memoir “Knife,” reflecting on the traumatic event, was released last year and garnered recognition as a National Book Award finalist. However, he regards his return to fiction as indicative of his ongoing recovery and revitalized creative faculties—whether after the fatwa-induced seclusion following “The Satanic Verses” or the recent attack that left him with significant injuries.
During his promotional activities for “Knife” in 2024, Rushdie shared with the public that while he attempted to resume writing fiction, he found it challenging to overlook the significant impact of the assault. “I didn’t want to write this book,” Rushdie remarked, referring to “Knife.” “I actually wanted to get back to fiction, and I tried, and it just seemed stupid. I just thought, ‘Look, something very big happened to you.’”
As he ventures back into the fictional realm, Rushdie’s narrative demonstrates resilience and a return to the craft that continues to define his illustrious career.