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British novelist Salman Rushdie says he's back to writing

Sunday May 28 2023
Salman Rushdie

British author Salman Rushdie arrives for the PEN America Literary Gala at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City, US on May 18, 2023. PHOTO | TIMOTHY A. CLARY | AFP

By BBC

British novelist Sir Salman Rushdie has started writing again after being attacked in New York last year.

The Booker Prize winner was among those recognised at Windsor Castle on Tuesday after being made a Companion of Honour.
Asked when he expects to complete his next book, he said: "Oh, I'll let you know."

Rushdie was repeatedly stabbed at an event in New York last year as he was about to make a speech.

He spent six weeks in hospital following the attack and lost vision in one eye.

Speaking after the investiture ceremony on Tuesday, in which he met the Princess Royal, Rushdie said it was a "great honour" to be recognised for a "lifetime" of work and described Anne as "very generous".

He said it "took a while" but he has finally started working again.

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During a festival in Washington at the weekend he disclosed: "I am not reading as fast as I used to, but I am writing what I think will be a fairly short book about what happened."

Read: SA author wins 2021 Booker Prize

Rushdie has long faced death threats for his 1988 novel The Satanic Verses.

The Order of the Companions of Honour is an honour given to people in the Commonwealth realms who have made a significant contribution to the arts, science, medicine or the government over a long period of time.

English snooker player Mark Selby was also honoured at Windsor on Tuesday.

Selby, known by fans as the Jester from Leicester, was made an MBE for his services to snooker and charity in the 2022 Birthday Honours List, the late Queen's last.

The snooker ace was praised by mental health charity Mind for speaking publicly about his ongoing struggle with depression, admitting he suffered a "relapse" after losing a Masters tournament in January 2022.

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