PEN America

PEN America is a nonprofit organization that works to advance literature, defend free expression, and foster international literary fellowship. Founded in 1922, it is one of the largest centers of PEN International, with members including renowned authors such as Don DeLillo, Toni Morrison, and Philip Roth. The organization is headquartered in New York City and has a strong presence in the United States, with members also participating in events and activities in Los Angeles, Chicago, and other major cities. PEN America's work is closely tied to that of other literary organizations, including the National Book Foundation, The Paris Review, and The New Yorker.

● History

PEN America's history dates back to 1922, when it was founded by a group of writers, including John Galsworthy and Joseph Conrad. The organization's early years were marked by a strong focus on promoting international literary exchange and cooperation, with members such as Ezra Pound and T.S. Eliot playing key roles. During World War II, PEN America worked to support writers and intellectuals affected by the war, including those who had been displaced or persecuted, such as Vladimir Nabokov and Isaiah Berlin. In the post-war period, the organization continued to grow and expand its activities, with members such as Allen Ginsberg and Norman Mailer becoming increasingly involved in social and political activism, including the Civil Rights Movement and the Anti-War Movement.

● Mission and Activities

PEN America's mission is to promote literature, defend free expression, and foster international literary fellowship. The organization's activities include hosting literary events and festivals, such as the PEN World Voices Festival, which features authors such as Salman Rushdie, Margaret Atwood, and Michael Ondaatje. PEN America also works to defend writers and intellectuals who are persecuted or threatened, including those such as Liu Xiaobo and Ai Weiwei, who have been targeted by governments such as the People's Republic of China. The organization's work is supported by a range of partners, including the Ford Foundation, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the Open Society Foundations, which are founded by George Soros.

● Notable Members and Awards

PEN America has a long history of recognizing and celebrating literary excellence, with notable members including Saul Bellow, Ralph Ellison, and Joyce Carol Oates. The organization presents a range of awards, including the PEN/Faulkner Award, which has been won by authors such as Tobias Wolff and Ha Jin, and the PEN/Hemingway Award, which has been won by authors such as Jhumpa Lahiri and Jennifer Egan. Other notable awards presented by PEN America include the PEN/Nabokov Award, which has been won by authors such as Cynthia Ozick and Richard Ford, and the PEN/Saul Bellow Award, which has been won by authors such as Philip Roth and Don DeLillo.

● Advocacy and Campaigns

PEN America is a strong advocate for free expression and intellectual freedom, with campaigns and initiatives focused on issues such as censorship, surveillance, and human rights. The organization has worked to support writers and intellectuals who are persecuted or threatened, including those such as Edward Snowden and Chelsea Manning, who have been targeted by governments such as the United States government. PEN America has also been involved in a range of international campaigns, including the Arab Spring and the Ukrainian revolution, and has worked to support writers and intellectuals in countries such as Turkey, Egypt, and Russia, where freedom of expression is under threat.

● Literary Programs and Events

PEN America hosts a range of literary programs and events, including the PEN World Voices Festival, which features authors such as Zadie Smith, Michael Chabon, and Junot Díaz. The organization also presents a range of other events, including readings, panels, and workshops, which feature authors such as Jonathan Franzen, Jennifer Egan, and George Saunders. PEN America's literary programs are supported by a range of partners, including the New York Public Library, the Brooklyn Academy of Music, and the 92nd Street Y, and are designed to promote literature and foster international literary fellowship, with authors such as Haruki Murakami, Alice Walker, and Gabriel García Márquez participating in events and activities. Category:Literary organizations