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Ayad Akhtar speaking at the lectern at the 2021 PEN America Literary Gala

Ayad Akhtar’s Remarks at the 2021 PEN America Literary Gala

Remarks
By: Ayad Akhtar | October 6, 2021

“Reading, of course, is an individual act, but a culture that fosters reading and one that supports writers, invariably compels us to presence, to protest, to celebration.” More

Suzanne Nossel headshot

The PEN Pod: On the Virtual Gala and the Beauty of Human Rights Work with Suzanne Nossel

InterviewDecember 11, 2020

“There’s something about individual cases of dissidents—these are human stories, faces, and individuals with families and life trajectories. When you can help them, it’s so concrete.” More

Table backdrop with the following words in front: “PEN America Virtual Gala: Tuesday, December 8, 2020”

2020 PEN America Gala

Tuesday, December 8, 2020 | 6:30 pm – 8:00 pm ET
 More Information
Table backdrop with the following words in front: “PEN America Virtual Gala: Tuesday, December 8, 2020”

2020 PEN America Virtual Gala

Event

The PEN America Gala reimagined our annual New York Literary Gala as a national and international virtual celebration. More

Marie Yovanovitch speaking at podium

PEN America to Award 2020 PEN/Benenson Courage Award to Marie Yovanovitch

Press ReleaseSeptember 28, 2020

“At a time when, for government officials, standing on principle can spell an end to a professional career, Ambassador Yovanovitch did not flinch or falter." More

Suzanne Nossel

A Letter from Our CEO: How We’re Reinventing PEN America

Letter
By: Suzanne Nossel | March 24, 2020

“At this exceptionally difficult time for all of us, I wanted to share how we at PEN America are responding to the COVID-19 crisis that has impacted every facet… More

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