News & Analysis
The latest news and analysis from PEN America’s research and advocacy.
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Press Releases • Commentary
New York City Mayoral Candidates Commit to Supporting Literary Arts
With just three months to go until the primary, contenders for New York City mayor have proclaimed their commitment to financially supporting writers and the literary arts if elected. More
PEN America Condemns Indian Government Attempts to Block COVID Criticism
PEN America today condemned the Indian government’s attempts to stifle free expression by censoring social media posts amid the country’s battle with a massive surge in COVID-19 cases. More
PEN America Responds to Decision to Take Philip Roth Biography Out of Print
We are concerned about a precedent whereby even egregious misdeeds by an author result in a book being withdrawn, and potentially taken off limits for readers. More
PEN America: Simon & Schuster Should Not Cancel Pence Book Deal
Publishers are free to choose what books to release, but once those decisions are made, there should be a very high bar for reversing them as a result of… More
Writers in the Schools Committee Interview ‘Rampage’ Student Staff
James Traub, founder and director of Writers in the Schools, interviewed staff members of ‘Rampage,’ produced by the Newspaper Club at the Manhattan Center for Science and Math. More
Cuban Artist Under House Arrest Begins Hunger and Thirst Strike
Independent Cuban artist and activist Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara announced that he would begin a hunger and thirst strike this week after being placed under de facto house arrest.… More
PEN World Voices Festival of International Literature Returns, Celebrating Power to the People
The literary and free expression group PEN America today announced that tickets are now on sale for the 2021 PEN World Voices Festival of International Literature, running May 18-22.… More
PEN America Responds to Publisher’s Decision to Pause Philip Roth Biography
(New York, NY) — This week, publisher W. W. Norton said it would pause shipments and promotion of Blake Bailey's anticipated book Philip Roth: The Biography after serious and… More
PEN America Welcomes House Passage of Protection of Saudi Dissidents Act
In a strong bipartisan vote Wednesday, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Protection of Saudi Dissidents Act of 2021. More
On One Year Anniversary of His Arrest, Vietnamese Writer Tran Duc Thach Must Be Freed
— On the one year anniversary of Vietnamese writer Tran Duc Thach’s arrest, PEN America reiterates its call for Vietnamese authorities to release him. More