With Gioconda Belli, Iva Bittová, Mircea Cărtărescu, Deborah Eisenberg, Evan Fallenberg, Malcolm Gladwell, Hanif Kureishi, Andrea Levy, Agi Mishol, Amélie Nothomb, Salman Rushdie, and Wallace Shaw.

Taking place in the stunning Lighthouse at Chelsea Piers, the opening event of the Seventh Annual PEN World Voices Festival explored the living nature of writing with a stellar lineup of authors and actors. Participants included Festival Chair Salman Rushdie and Malcolm Gladwell, a duo-reading by Wallace Shawn and Deborah Eisenberg, a special appearance by renowned Czech violinist-vocalist Iva Bittová, and readings from the PEN Prison Writing Program.