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1933 PEN Congress Speech
I regret that the German delegates are not present. Many people advised me not to speak today. But the author is solely bound to the spirit. He who believes… More
2011 PEN Translation Fund Recipient Featured in Zeitgeist Festival
I hadn't been meaning to write about the Zeitgeist Festival—which presents staged readings of the work of younger playwrights from German-speaking countries—since the festival's materials exclude the names of… More
Reckoning with Torture: Readings by Kelly Clark and Eve Ensler
In honor of International Day in Support of Victims of Torture, watch two videos from the Reckoning with Torture project. More
Mexico Signs New Laws Protecting Journalists
[caption id="attachment_13866" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="photo by archer10 (Dennis) on a Creativecommons license"][/caption] It is encouraging to see that Mexican President Felipe Calderón has signed a new law to protect journalists.… More
Case Histories
Lydia Cacho, born in Mexico City in 1963, is an author, journalist, and women’s rights activist. Following the publication of her first book, Los Demonios del Edén, she was… More
Blogger Hamad Al-Naqi Imprisoned
PEN believes that he is being targeted solely for the peaceful exercise of his right to freedom of expression as guaranteed by Article 19 of the International Covenant on… More
Enoh Meyomesse: My Time in Kondengui Prison
Enoh Meyomesse is the author of 15 books and a founding member of the Cameroon Writers Association. In October 2011, he ran for office against President Paul Biya, but… More
“The Ivory Tower, or The Soap Box?”: The Place of Propaganda in Literature
Perhaps because I belong to a race about whom the written word has been very stereotyped, discussion by me of “ivory tower” and “soap-box” is largely academic. So fixed… More
Russian Court Refuses to Free Pussy Riot Members
PEN is shocked by a Russian court’s decision to keep the members of Russian punk group Pussy Riot in jail until at least late July. More
“Poem for a Persian Singer” and “Aubergine”
I’m pretty sure / the song describes / how it feels when / something important / does not happen / most of the afternoon / still listening I think… More