Salman Rushdie in this week's New Yorker

This week, Rushdie has a long piece remembering in detail the aftermath of the famous fatwa issued on him after the publication of "Satanic Verses." It's eerie timing, in light of this week's news event that shall not be named.

More to the point here, though, Rushdie writes the entire piece in third person. I can't think of any purpose to this stylistic choice, and find it very distracting. The only other work I can think of that employs that technique is "All the President's Men."

Thoughts?

 

It's a book excerpt from his memoir, Joseph Anton.

The name is the alias he chose when he went underground, is it not? Third person seems apt when you have to remake yourself as a stranger.

 

Does he go by Sal Bass?