PEN America Symposium Words on Fire: Writing, Freedom, and the Future

PEN America

Special symposium event celebrating PEN America's centenary, at the New-York Historical Society.

New-York Historical Society

Over the last 100 years, PEN America has mobilized countless writers, activists, and public intellectuals in the fight to defend free expression and the open exchange of ideas. Join PEN America CEO Suzanne Nossel and President Ayad Akhtar for Words on Fire: Writing, Freedom, and the Future, an afternoon of public conversation with world-renowned authors and staunch advocates for the freedom to write including Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Margaret Atwood, Jenny Finney Boylan, Dave Eggers, and Salman Rushdie. The speakers will reflect on milestone moments in PEN America&#x27;s history and current-day instances of silencing, charting the ways in which writing and free speech are being challenged through book bans, educational gag orders, online harassment, self-censorship, and the detention of journalists and artists worldwide. With trenchant analysis of the past and present, this special symposium will provide vital insight about the future of free expression.Words on Fire: Writing, Freedom and the Future is presented in conjunction with PEN America at 100: A Century of Defending the Written Word, curated by PEN America trustee Bridget Colman with Lisa Kolosek. On view at the New-York Historical Society through October 9, this special installation culls material from PEN America&#x27;s and PEN International&#x27;s rich archives to provide an in-depth look at how PEN America evolved from a post-World War I dining club into today&#x27;s leading free expression advocacy organization.Please note: PEN America Members should email membership@pen.org for more information about complimentary member tickets. New York City students are eligible for discounted tickets. A VIP reception will follow the symposium with limited tickets available for purchase.* PEN America is working with those closest to Salman Rushdie to determine how the Symposium can best honor his work and voice as he recovers from severe injuries in an attack chillingly linked to the themes of this event and PEN America’s work to defend and celebrate free expression.

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PEN America Symposium Words on Fire: Writing, Freedom, and the Future

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PEN America Symposium Words on Fire: Writing, Freedom, and the Future

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