Salman Rushdie ‘road to recovery has begun’ but ‘will be long,’ agent says

Author is off ventilator and able to talk after suffering stab wounds to his neck, stomach, eye, chest and thigh in New York attack

• Rushdie had started to believe his life was normal again'
• Stabbing suspect pleads not guilty to attempted murder

Salman Rushdie's road to recovery has begun" but will be long" after his stabbing in western New York late last week, the novelist's agent has said.

The injuries are severe," the agent, Andrew Wylie, said Sunday in an email to the Guardian, alluding to stab wounds that the author suffered to his neck, stomach, eye, chest and thigh two days earlier. But his condition is headed in the right direction."