Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

‘Knife’ by Salman Rushdie longlisted for UK non-fiction award

The judges described Salman Rushdie’s memoir as an “intimate and personal account of a world-historical event” as he recovers from the serious stabbing.

Novelist Salman Rushdie reacts on stage prior to a lecture from his book 'Knife: Meditations After an Attempted Murder', in Berlin on May 16, 2024. (Photo: Getty Images)
Novelist Salman Rushdie reacts on stage prior to a lecture from his book 'Knife: Meditations After an Attempted Murder', in Berlin on May 16, 2024. (Photo: Getty Images)

BOOKER Prize-winning author Salman Rushdie may become the first writer to win a major literary award in both fiction and non-fiction. His memoir about surviving an attempted assassination on stage was included in the longlist for the GBP 50,000 Baillie Gifford Prize for Non-Fiction in London on Thursday.

‘Knife: Meditations After an Attempted Murder’ by the Indian-American-British author is one of twelve books on the longlist for this top non-fiction award, which is open to authors of any nationality. The judges described Rushdie’s memoir as an “intimate and personal account of a world-historical event” as he recovers from the serious stabbing.


“Reaching a longlist in a year when so many wonderful non-fiction books have been published was never going to be easy, but I could not be happier with the result,” said Isabel Hilton, chair of judges. Hilton is a journalist and broadcaster based in London.

“It is, of course, a list of remarkable and outstanding books, and they shed new and brilliant light on our contemporary world through explorations of history, of memory, of science and nature. Collectively this wonderful reflection of creativity, of critical thinking and great writing left us in no doubt that the non-fiction world is overflowing with energy and talent,” she added.

Australian author Richard Flanagan, another Booker Prize-winning novelist, is also longlisted for the non-fiction prize with his book ‘Question 7’, which discusses his own near-death experience.

Other longlisted authors include Gary J Bass for ‘Judgement at Tokyo: World War II on Trial and the Making of Modern Asia’; Jonathan Blitzer for ‘Everyone Who Is Gone Is Here: The United States, Central America, and the Making of a Crisis’; Annie Jacobsen for ‘Nuclear War: A Scenario’; and Adam Shatz for ‘The Rebel's Clinic: The Revolutionary Lives of Frantz Fanon’. Vietnamese-American Viet Thanh Nguyen is longlisted for ‘A Man of Two Faces: A Memoir, A History, A Memorial’, and Belgian author David Van Reybrouck for ‘Revolusi: Indonesia and the Birth of the Modern World’.

British authors Rachel Clarke for ‘The Story of a Heart’; Rachel Cockerell for ‘Melting Point: Family, Memory and the Search for a Promised Land’; Sue Prideaux for ‘Wild Thing: A Life of Paul Gauguin’; and Helen Scales for ‘What the Wild Sea Can Be: The Future of the World's Ocean’ are also on the longlist.

The 2024 judging panel includes Chitra Ramaswamy, Heather Brooke, Alison Flood, Peter Hoskin, and Tomiwa Owolade. They selected the books from 349 published between November last year and October this year, noting that the longlisted authors cover topics that impact “our past, present and future”.

The six shortlisted books for the Baillie Gifford Prize for Non-Fiction, each receiving GBP 5,000, will be announced on October 10 at the Cheltenham Literature Festival. The winner, who will receive GBP 50,000, will be announced at an awards ceremony on November 19.

(With inputs from PTI)

More For You

Andrew Tate Sued by Ex-Girlfriend Brianna Stern Over Sexual Assault Allegations

Tate’s attorney, Joseph McBride, has dismissed the lawsuit

Getty

Andrew Tate faces sexual assault lawsuit from ex-girlfriend Brianna Stern

Social media personality Andrew Tate is facing a new lawsuit from his ex-girlfriend, Brianna Stern, who has accused him of sexual assault, battery, and gender violence. The lawsuit, filed in Los Angeles, details allegations of abuse and an incident that allegedly took place at The Beverly Hills Hotel on 11 March 2025.

Allegations in the lawsuit

According to the legal complaint, Stern claims that Tate initially appeared as a "dream come true" but later became emotionally and physically abusive. The lawsuit describes a violent encounter at the hotel, where she alleges Tate physically assaulted and threatened her.

Keep ReadingShow less
Voices of Faith 2025: A journey through spirituality and wisdom

Soumik Datta (R) and Gurdain Singh Rayatt

Voices of Faith 2025: A journey through spirituality and wisdom

Mahesh Liloriya

The inaugural edition of Voices of Faith commenced on Friday at the iconic Barbican Centre, Silk Street, London, marking the beginning of an extraordinary three-day festival exploring theological philosophies, interfaith dialogues, and the deeper essence of spirituality through conversations, music, and healing vibes.

Organised by Teamwork Arts, the creators of the Jaipur Literature Festival (JLF) and JLF London, Voices of Faith is presented by the Kamini and Vindi Banga Family Trust, with the support of Tech Mahindra. Eastern Eye and Garavi Gujarat serve as the official media partners of this landmark event. This unique festival seeks to offer insights into navigating the complexities of modern life through the timeless wisdom enshrined in global religious traditions. It focuses on the universal ideals of compassion and interconnectedness that underpin the world’s faiths, fostering dialogue that transcends barriers and deepens mutual understanding.

Keep ReadingShow less
Court reopens Asian child sex offender's deportation case

Home Office successfully challenged a ruling that allowed him to remain in Britain (Photo for representation: iStock)

Court reopens Asian child sex offender's deportation case

A PAKISTANI man convicted of sexually assaulting a child under 13 will face a fresh deportation hearing after the Home Office successfully challenged a ruling that allowed him to remain in Britain, reported The Times.

The offender, who cannot be named for legal reasons, had initially won his case to stay in the UK after claiming he would face "inhuman or degrading treatment" if sent back to Pakistan due to his alcoholism.

Keep ReadingShow less
India launches Operation Brahma to aid quake-hit Myanmar

Rescue teams work to save residents trapped under the rubble of the destroyed Sky Villa Condominium development in Mandalay on March 29, 2025. (Photo by SAI AUNG MAIN/AFP via Getty Images)

India launches Operation Brahma to aid quake-hit Myanmar

INDIA has swiftly responded to the devastating earthquake in Myanmar by launching Operation Brahma, sending emergency relief and rescue teams to the disaster-stricken nation.

A C-130J military transport aircraft of the Indian Air Force landed in Yangon on Saturday (29), carrying 15 tonnes of relief supplies including hygiene kits, blankets and food parcels. The aid mission comes after a powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck Myanmar on Friday (28), killing more than 1,000 people and injuring nearly 2,400 others.

Keep ReadingShow less
Britain’s happiness crisis: UK hits record low in global wellbeing rankings

Pakistan stands at 109th place out of 147 countries

Britain’s happiness crisis: UK hits record low in global wellbeing rankings

THE UK has experienced a significant blow to its national morale, plummeting to 23rd place in the World Happiness Report for 2025 – its lowest ranking ever – despite being the world’s sixth richest nation.

Released to mark the UN’s International Day of Happiness last Thursday (20), the report provided a nuanced exploration of national contentment that extends far beyond economic measurements.

Keep ReadingShow less