Lannan Foundation

Salman Rushdie is the author of numerous books that take readers on a provocative journey into the world of contemporary literature, politics, culture and philosophy. Rushdie's book, Step Across This Line: Collected Nonfiction, 1992-2002 discusses among other topics, the reaction of the media, various governments, and the writer himself to what he calls the "unfunny Valentine" he received on February 14, 1989, from the Ayatollah Khomeini: the fatwa (which was subsequently lifted by the government of Iran in 1998) calling for his death in response to his book The Satanic Verses. It was while living under constant threat of violence that Rushdie produced some of his most sincere and beautiful work, including The Moor's Last Sigh and Midnight's Children.

Salman Rushdie Bio and Cross Links

Michael Silverblatt, a New York native, studied at Johns Hopkins University, where he came under the influence of such cutting-edge author-teachers as Donald Barthelme and John Barth. Dubbed "the best reader in America" by Norman Mailer, he is the host of the literary talk show Bookworm, which he created in 1989 for KCRW 89.9 FM in Santa Monica. He has participated in numerous Readings & Conversations programs, interviewing Gore Vidal, Susan Sontag, Salman Rushdie, and A.S. Byatt, among others. Bookworm airs locally on KSFR 101.1FM every Sunday at 1:30pm.

Michael Silverblatt Bio and Cross Links