PEN America Statement Regarding the 2024 Literary Awards Ceremony and Conferral of Annual Prizes
“We greatly respect that writers have followed their consciences, whether they chose to remain as nominees in their respective categories or not,” said Clarisse Rosaz Shariyf. “We regret that… More
Tony Kushner to Receive PEN/Mike Nichols Writing for Performance Award at April 29 Literary Awards
Tony Kushner said, “It’s intimidating enough that this honor is named after Mike Nichols, no one ever understood better than him the ways words can be made to perform.… More
Pham Doan Trang, Imprisoned Vietnamese Writer and Dissident, To Receive PEN America’s Freedom to Write Award at NYC Gala May 16
PEN America CEO Suzanne Nossel said: “Pham Doan Trang has galvanized the Vietnamese people through her writings on democracy, human rights, environmental degradation, and women’s empowerment. The Vietnamese government… More
Twelve Emerging Writers To Receive PEN/Robert J. Dau Short Story Prize
“This year’s recipients of the PEN/Robert J. Dau Short Story Prize for Emerging Writers represent the breadth of powerful short fiction published in the last year,” said Clarisse Rosaz… More
Songwriting Legend Paul Simon to be Honored at PEN America’s Spring Literary Gala in New York City
PEN America CEO Suzanne Nossel said: “Paul Simon has inspired fans worldwide with lyrics and songs that entire generations know by heart and can recognize from the very first… More
U.K. Pursuit of Assange on Espionage Charges Continues to Pose a Threat to Press Freedom
"The risk that Julian Assange could face charges in the U.S. under the Espionage Act continues to pose an alarming threat to press freedom. These charges encompass work that is… More
Statement on the Death of Alexei Navalny
"PEN America mourns the cruel death of Alexei Navalny who embodied the spirit of a free Russia with a spine of steel, unremitting determination and a spirit of derring… More
Oral Arguments Set for 1/10 on Groundbreaking Federal Lawsuit Challenging Book Bans in Florida
Katie Blankenship, PEN America’s Florida director, said: “School libraries are not state propaganda centers. They are meant to be sites of inquiry, where students can encounter a diverse range… More
More than 1,600 books banned in Escambia County, Florida
Five dictionaries are on Escambia County's list of more than 1,600 books banned pending investigation in December 2023, along with eight different encyclopedias, The Guinness Book of World Records,… More
PEN America Mourns the Death of Palestinian Scholar-Writer Refaat Alareer
“Through his writing, Refaat Alareer sought to shine a light on life in Gaza. He wanted the world to know the stories of how ordinary Palestinians lived and loved,… More
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