American doctor and writer Abraham Verghese combines his medical knowledge with a deep literary vision, which has allowed his novels to take a place on the bestseller list. His works are called 'literary events' because of the ability to study various current humanitarian problems by blending the accuracy of scientific work with human measurement. This has led to the dissemination of his experience around the world, including Dubai and the Aviation Literature Festival 'Emirates', where he returned to discuss the uniqueness of his approach.
A happy participant of the 17th Aviation Literature Festival 'Emirates', Verghese shared his joy of participating in the event and his attachment to Dubai and its audience. 'This is my second visit to the festival, and it may be the fifth or sixth in this remarkable year, where I have many friends... I am happy to be part of this event, enriched with knowledge, meetings with other writers; the audience in Dubai is diverse, which creates discussions and book signings, an inspiring experience.'
Verghese shares his vision of the importance of good stories and their global value for readers. 'Local stories carry universal lessons that readers find themselves. It inspires me to create novels,' he emphasized. He immerses himself in themes of work, faith, perseverance, love, and family, demonstrating how these aspects gave meaning to people's lives in the past and in the present.
Verghese successfully balances his medical profession with his writing activity, not considering them separate. He believes that the humanitarian aspect of the interaction between a doctor and a patient is key. He also discusses the impact of artificial intelligence on healthcare and emphasizes the importance of deep human connections even in a world of technology.
His novel 'A Piece of Stone' successfully maintained its place on the bestseller list of the 'New York Times' throughout the entire year. The recently published book 'Water Offering' is also enjoying success and was highlighted in 2023 in the bestseller section of the 'New York Times'. A screen adaptation of the novel is planned on the Netflix platform.
At the Aviation Literature Festival 'Emirates', Verghese discussed the significance of stories told about voices, often unheard in literature, and about losses that we experience.
