The 2009 Arthur Miller Freedom to Write Lecture was presented by Egyptian novelist, psychiatrist, and activist Nawal El Saadawi. PEN President and acclaimed author Kwame Anthony Appiah joined Dr. Saadawi on stage for a far-reaching conversation about her life and work. This video contains excerpts from her lecture. For the full lecture and discussion, click here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jue04c1_wkY

For more than 50 years, Dr. Saadawi has written books that focus on identity, sexuality and the legal status of women—particularly Arab women—and has continued her work despite the fact that these activities cost her her position as Egypts Director of Public Health and led to imprisonment, threats to her life, and, ultimately, exile. One of the leading literary, cultural, and political voices of our times, Saadawi once noted, Danger has been a part of my life ever since I picked up a pen and wrote. Nothing is more perilous than truth in a world that lies.