No wonder authors like Sir Salman are up in arms

SALMAN RUSHDIE has intervened in the kerfuffle about the Royal Society of Literature under the presidency of Bernadine Evaristo, author of Girl, Woman, Other.

- Melanie McDonagh

Irked by questions from some members about whether the organisation is doing its job, especially protecting the interests of writers, she declared in the Guardian that this "historic institution" is doing just fine. But it had to be "impartial" about issues as in, though she didn't mention it, the attack on Sir Salman at a literary festival.

The great man has responded on X: "Just wondering if the Royal Society of Literature is 'impartial' about attempted murder, @BernardineEvari? (Asking for a friend.)" Dame Marina Warner, a past president, had complained that the RSL hadn't supported him.