Blog
Filter By:
Advocacy • Analysis • Blog • Commentary • Drama • Essay • Event • Feature • Fiction • Graphic Narrative • Interview • Memoir • News • Obituary • Open Letter • Poetry • Press Release • Profile
Browse By Series:
PEN Poetry Series • Prison Writing • The PEN Ten Interviews • Illustrated PEN • Pen Pals • The PEN World
Browse By Email Subscription:
PEN America News • Educational Censorship News • Works of Justice
Announcing the 2012 PEN Literary Awards Recipients
We are pleased to announce the winners and runners-up of the 2012 PEN Awards, the most comprehensive literary awards program in the country. More
Translating Pussy Riot
Susan Bernofsky reports on how the closing statements by members of Russian punk band Pussy riot made it into English. More
Stand Up For Freedom!
Enjoy an evening of political comedy and commentary, as New York's top progressive performers joke, jab, rant, vent, prod, provoke, and revel in their right to express themselves at… More
Case Histories: Allen Ginsberg
"My books piled up before me for my use / waiting in space where I placed them, they haven't disappeared, time's left its remnants and qualities for me to… More
On Translating Andrea Tompa
Andrea Tompa's generation had no sultan to fear in distant Constantinople and his pashas, but they did have a Moscow-driven communist dictator and his secret police. No hostile armies… More
Excerpt from Andrea Tompa’s The Hangman’s House
I might make the third act, Juci had said that morning, perhaps she'll make the third act, thought her sister, because they both wanted to see their friend who… More
PEN Visits South Africa
I just returned from a fabulous trip to South Africa, where I traveled on behalf of PEN American Center with the poet Cathy Park Hong as part of our… More
PEN Translation Fund Donor’s Identity Revealed
Translator Michael Henry Heim, who passed away on Sunday, was revealed yesterday to be the donor who began and continues to support the PEN Translation Fund. More
Final Words: Book Banning Is Not Dead
In April of 2011, a visit with a close friend sparked the same question that was asked each time we were together: What are you working on now? I… More
A Banned Books Wrap-Up
This week the American Library Association celebrates Banned Books Week, honoring notable literature that has been challenged for controversial material. This September, PEN American Center reached out to writers, editors,… More