Oleg Sentsov: I don’t want my children to live in a country of slaves
The you of today looks back at the you of yesterday, more sober, more shrewd, and in some ways even more cruel. More
PEN America Annual Literary Gala Honors Stephen Sondheim, The Women’s March, and Imprisoned Ukrainian Filmmaker Oleg Sentsov
New York’s literary community gathered Tuesday night at the 2017 PEN America Literary Gala to honor master composer and lyricist Stephen Sondheim, Macmillan CEO John Sargent, The Women’s March,… More
Ahmed Naji: ”I thought the world was as fragile as a glass while it is as strong as water”
Egyptian novelist and 2016 PEN/Barbey Freedom to Write Award winner Ahmed Naji, who was charged with two years in prison for “violating public modesty" for his latest novel, was… More
PEN Literary Gala Honors Celebrates Opponents of Censorship and Speaking Truth to Power
May 16 Ceremony Celebrates J.K. Rowling, Hachette CEO Michael Pietsch, Flint Activists Lee-Anne Walters and Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha, and Jailed Egyptian Novelist Ahmed Naji NEW YORK—New York’s literary community gathered… More
“His freedom guarantees mine”: J. K. Rowling at the 2016 PEN Literary Gala
My critics are at liberty to claim that I’m trying to convert children to Satanism., and I’m free to explain that I’m exploring human nature and morality, or to… More
PEN America Enlists Writers to Urge Egypt’s Leader to Free Author
At least 120 prominent writers and artists from around the world have signed a letter sent to Egypt’s president urging him to release Ahmed Naji, an Egyptian author and… More
Six PEN Members Decline Gala After Award for Charlie Hebdo
The decision by PEN American Center to give its Freedom of Expression Courage award to the French satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo has prompted six writers to withdraw as literary… More
May 5 PEN Literary Gala Honors Free Expression Defenders on the Front Lines
In a year bloodied by violent attacks on expression, PEN will honor Tom Stoppard, Charlie Hebdo, and Penguin Random House CEO Markus Dohle. More
PEN/Barbara Goldsmith Freedom to Write Award: Ayşe Berktay
PEN American Center named Ayşe Berktay, a translator, writer, and activist in Turkey, as the recipient of its 2013 PEN/Barbara Goldsmith Freedom to Write Award. Berktay, a leading advocate… More
The PEN/Allen Foundation Literary Service Award: Philip Roth
Philip Roth reflects on his lifetime of literary endeavor and his personal involvement in promoting freedom and democracy in Eastern Europe at the 2013 PEN Gala. More
Alert Us
Are you an artist at risk or know someone who is?
PEN America On 
As far higher estimates of #Wuhan deaths surface I am reminded of @wangnanfu's bracing @onechildnation which @PENamerica celebrated @sundancefest. It took decades to expose that what masqueraded as sound social policy was actually mass infanticide. https://www.newsweek.com/wuhan-covid-19-death-toll-may-tens-thousands-data-cremations-shipments-urns-suggest-1494914
As our writing community faces unique challenges during the #coronavirus crisis, here are #mentalhealth tips and resources for writers and other creative professionals from Lyn Morris, senior VP of clinical operations at @DidiHirsch Mental Health Services.
https://bit.ly/3ar8VUb
Press freedom groups are criticizing the firing of a US critical doctor & barring a reporter from a #COVID19 news briefing. "This pandemic is bad enough without being compounded by a resort to punitive tactics aimed to suppress vital info" https://pen.org/press-release/doctors-and-journalists-who-critique-officials-shouldnt-be-punished/ @PENamerica