English PEN
@englishpen
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We are the founding centre of the international association of writers. We promote the freedom to write and the freedom to read. Instagram: @ englishpen_
Joined May 2009
English PEN will cease posting on Twitter/X from 27 February 2025, together with many other PEN centres. Find out why and where to follow us at the link below 👋.
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We are thrilled to announce that Arundhati Roy is the winner of the PEN Pinter Prize 2024. She will receive the award in a ceremony co-hosted by the @britishlibrary on 10 October. #PENPinterPrize.
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We are thrilled to announce that @MichaelRosenYes is the winner of the PEN Pinter Prize 2023. He will receive the award in a ceremony co-hosted by @britishlibrary on 11 October. #PENPinterPrize.
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#PENTransmissions spoke to Joshua Wong and Jason Y. Ng, authors of Unfree Speech (@PenguinUKBooks), about #HongKong, global democracy, and the value of freedom of expression in our current moment. Transmitting from #HK.
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Arundhati Roy, winner of the #PENPinterPrize 2024, has announced imprisoned British-Egyptian writer Alaa Abd el-Fattah as this year’s Writer of Courage #FreeAlaa @freedomforalaa.
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We are thrilled to announce that Tsitsi Dangarembga is the winner of the PEN Pinter Prize 2021. She will receive the award at a public ceremony on 11 October in partnership with @britishlibrary. @efie41209591 #PENPinterPrize.
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'Just days ago, our @penamerican colleagues filed a suit challenging President Trump's actions towards the press. His praise for Congress member Greg Gianforte for violently attacking @Guardian journalist Ben Jacobs shows just how necessary this suit is' - Director, Antonia Byatt.
Statement from @PENamerican on Trump’s praise of Gianforte: “a startling new low in terms of the White House’s open hostility toward the press.”
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We are very concerned about the updated ACE policies on 'reputational risk' and the chilling effect it may have on artistic expression. We will continue to engage with @ace_national about the impact of these updates on freedom of expression and artistic freedom.
APNews: Arts Council England (@ace_national) has updated its policies, warning that "political statements" made by individuals linked to an organisation can cause "reputational risk", breaching funding agreements (1/5).
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We join fellow free expression organisations in urging the Home Secretary to reject the US government request to extradite @Wikileaks publisher Julian Assange. ➡️ #FreeAssangeNOW
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Birthday vigil for Raif Badawi.1-2pm, Friday 13 January.Saudi Arabian Embassy, London.#FreeRaif #HappyBirthdayRaif
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PEN centres condemn the decision of the High Court to clear the way for Julian #Assange to be extradited to the USA. This decision is a shocking blow to media freedom, with far reaching implications for investigative journalism worldwide. Our statement:.
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And the 2020 PEN Hessell-Tiltman Prize goes to – @tweeter_anita, for The Patient Assassin! Chair of judges Rana Mitter described it as ‘a genuine historical classic that will be read for decades to come.’ Congratulations, Anita!
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We are thrilled to announce that author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie is winner of the PEN Pinter Prize 2018. She will receive the award at a public ceremony on 9 October @britishlibrary where she will deliver an address. #ChimamandaNgoziAdichie #PENPinterPrize
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We are appalled by the news that award-winning author and PEN member Salman Rushdie has been attacked onstage in New York. We join PEN centres around the world in condemning the attack, and wish him a full and fast recovery.
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We're delighted to announce that Margaret Busby has been appointed President of English PEN.
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Today marks five years since the brutal public flogging of imprisoned blogger Raif Badawi. Five years later, he remains in prison, alongside many other writers and activists. Join us in continuing the all to #FreeRaif
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We are deeply concerned for the well-being of novelist ZP Dala http://t.co/7pKvOT4q59.@PENSouthAfrica.
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We’re thrilled to announce that this year’s #PENPinterPrize winner is. Linton Kwesi Johnson! . ‘a poet, reggae icon, academic and campaigner, whose impact on the cultural landscape over the last half century has been colossal and multi-generational’ .
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Two months after the brutal attack on Salman Rushdie, friends & colleagues will gather at the @britishlibrary to celebrate his strength and dedication as a writer, activist, & a champion of free expression. Join us Thurs 13 Oct online or in person:
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#Turkey is the world's biggest jailer of journalists. Join us in calling for their release #GazetecilereOzgurluk #FreePress #FreeTurkeyMedia
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We are extremely concerned about the @UKRI_News response and their decision to suspend Research England's EDI Advisory Group. We have written to the UKRI and will continue to engage with them about the impact of their decision on freedom of expression in the UK.
Yesterday, UKRI responded to a letter from Secretary of State, Michelle Donelan. Now we are publishing that response and the Terms of Reference for the review we are setting up.
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As the fifth anniversary of blogger @raif_badawi's arrest nears, join us in urging Saudi Arabia to #FreeRaif
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Excellent news from #Turkey: journalist Erdem Gül has been acquitted of ‘publishing state secrets’. We continue to call for all charges against him and his co-defendant @candundaradasi to be dropped. #FreeTurkeyMedia
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We're thrilled to announce the winners of this year’s PEN Presents – our award for sample translations – featuring 7 titles representing 7 languages and 7 regions. #PENPresents funds the work of translating samples & promotes new translations.
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English PEN joins PEN centres worldwide in strongly condemning the decision of the UK Home Secretary to approve the extradition of @Wikileaks founder and publisher Julian Assange to the US. @pen_int.
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'I am a writer. I am neither where I am nor where I am not.'. Ahmet Altan's stunning collection of essays from prison, translated by @YaseminCongar_ & with a foreword by our President @PhilippeSands, is out now. #FreeAhmetAltan #FreeTurkeyMedia #SpeakOut
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On 14 February, independent bookshops across the UK will hold events to raise money for the PEN Emergency Fund to provide support for writers at risk who are in and from Palestine. #valentines4palestine. All proceeds directed via @englishpen. More info:
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Happy Women in Translation month! Over the coming weeks we'll be celebrating wonderful women writers supported by #PENTranslates. #WITMonth
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I am a writer. I am neither where I am nor where I am not. Wherever you lock me up I will travel the world with the wings of my endless mind. - Ahmet Altan. #FreeAhmet #LetAhmetAltanGoFree #FreeTurkeyMedia .
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Today, as Alaa Abd el-Fattah spends yet another birthday in prison in Egypt, PEN colleagues around the world are continuing to call for his release. #FreeAlaa @pen_int @FreedomForAlaa
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We're thrilled to announce the shortlist for PEN Presents: 13 titles, 16 translators, representing 10 languages & 13 territories. #PENPresents funds the creation of samples & works to diversify the literary landscape. w/ @translatewomen.
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It's competition time! In celebration of #WiTMonth we've got a book bundle giveaway - like & RT by 6pm tomorrow! #womenintranslation
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'You can imprison me but you cannot keep me in prison. Because, like all writers, I have magic. I can pass through walls with ease.'. Ahmet Altan is serving life in prison in Turkey. His first appeal hearing is due to take place tomorrow. #FreeTurkeyMedia #FreeAhmetAltan
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So honoured to be hosting the wonderful @Mimimefo237 here in London! Less than a week into her residency, she has already appeared on @BBCWorldService, given a talk at @cityjournalism & nailed the journey to @FreeWordCentre. Watch this space!
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'We die. That may be the meaning of life. But we do language. That may be the measure of our lives.'. Thank you for everything, Toni Morrison. Rest in power.
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We're delighted to announce 19 #PENTranslates awards, featuring titles from 15 countries and 13 languages, "united in being exceptional works of literature":
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Publisher and human rights activist Osman Kavala has been behind bars for 4 years. His next hearing is due to take place on 26 November. Please continue to send him messages of solidarity: . #FreeOsmanKavala
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We’re delighted to announce that Francesca Stavrakopoulou has won the 2022 #PENHessellTiltman Prize for God: An Anatomy @picadorbooks. Our congratulations to @ProfFrancesca!.
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We’re delighted to announce 15 new #PENTranslates awards. Featuring titles from 14 countries, 10 languages &, for the first time, a title from Mali & the first memoir by a Sudanese woman to be translated from Arabic to English. Read more here ⬇️.
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Thrilled to announce the latest winners of our #PENTranslates award: 17 books from 17 different countries, from queer poetry to highly anticipated novels. Bookmark these titles! Congrats to the writers, translators & adventurous publishers. #Translation
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Join us online on 9 February for an unmissable free evening celebrating @SalmanRushdie. @MargaretAtwood & @neilhimself, chaired by @EricaWgnr, will discuss Salman Rushdie’s new novel, Victory City, with readings by Sarita Choudhury. Register now:
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Hundreds of people are calling for the release of leading journalist Ahmet Şık. Please join them #FreeAhmetŞık
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#Turkey's President Erdoğan is coming to the UK and will be meeting with Prime Minister @theresa_may on 15 May. We'll be heading to Downing Street too to stand in solidarity with writers at risk in Turkey, now the world's biggest jailer of journalists. #FreeTurkeyMedia
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Last week we joined colleagues around the world in welcoming the release of writer Ahmet Altan after more than three years in detention in Turkey. Tonight we come together once again to condemn his re-arrest. #AhmetAltan #FreeTurkeyMedia #Turkey
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Imprisoned academic Professor Rahile Dawut has been awarded the Writer of Courage Award by 2023 #PENPinterPrize winner @MichaelRosenYes. Join us in sending a message of hope and solidarity to Rahile Dawut's family through #PENWrites. #FreeRahile.
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Exciting news! PEN supporters @neilhimself & @amandapalmer have donated five specially annotated copies of Lady Chatterley’s Lover for us to auction for our ongoing campaign! Find out more & bid by 7 July
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Six years ago today, blogger @raif_badawi was arrested in #SaudiArabia. Six years later, we're continuing to call for his immediate and unconditional release. Join the #London vigil tomorrow from 1pm @pen_int
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We are thrilled to announce that Malorie Blackman is the winner of the PEN Pinter Prize 2022. She will receive the award at a public ceremony on 10 October in partnership with @britishlibrary #PENPinterPrize.
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We’re delighted to announce 13 titles new #PENTranslates awards. Featuring 12 countries & 9 languages, including, for the first time, Eastern Armenian and Kazakh, a title from Rwanda, & the first novel by a Comorian woman to be translated into English.
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PEN Presents is now open for submissions from translators anywhere in the world, for proposals to create sample translations of previously untranslated works in any language, of any form, genre and style. Apply ⬇️.
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Warmest congratulations to our resident @zehradoganjinha, winner of the May Chidiac Foundation Exceptional Courage in Journalism Award. Zehra dedicated the prize to 'journalist colleagues who are searching for real information in Rojava at this very moment.'
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Four years ago, blogger @raif_badawi was flogged 50 times as punishment for his writings. Four years later, we continue to hold monthly vigils @SaudiEmbassyUK & to call for his release. Thank you to everyone that has joined us & please help keep up the pressure to #FreeRaif!
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Happy Birthday, Roberto Saviano! . We continue to #StandWithSaviano as he faces up to three years in jail on charges of defamation. @robertosaviano @pen_int . (Photo credit: @GeorgeTorode)
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Writer Tsitsi Dangarembga, shortlisted for the #2020BookerPrize earlier this week, is due to appear in court in Harare tomorrow. Her publishers @FaberBooks are among those demanding her acquittal.
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We are pleased to announce 15 new #PENTranslates awards. Featuring titles from 14 countries and 12 languages – including, for the first time, titles from Guinea, Algeria and Benin, and work translated from the Gun and Kurmanji. Read more here:
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Braving the rain to stand in solidarity with imprisoned writers in Saudi Arabia. #FreeRaif #FreeWaleed #FreeAshraf
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Jamal Khashoggi's editor @KarenAttiah joins journalists around the world to read his final @washingtonpost piece. @pen_int #JusticeForJamal #SaudiArabia.
This is the last piece by Jamal Khashoggi, which @KarenAttiah received a day after he disappeared. Read by @KarenAttiah, @NickKristof, @HamidMirPAK, @jaketapper, @kshaheen, @NaomiAKlein, @jrezaian, @BDUTT, @Raniaab, @RamiKhouri, @monaeltahawy & @mehdirhasan. #JusticeForJamal 🕯
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This month marks six years since the young blogger @raif_badawi was arrested in #SaudiArabia. Join us @SaudiEmbassyUK on 18 June to continue calls for his immediate and unconditional release. #FreeRaif .
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We call for the immediate release of renowned investigative journalist & our former writer-in-residence Ahmet Şık @sahmetsahmet #Turkey
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Huge congratulations to Norman Erikson Pasaribu who has won the @PrizeRofc for Happy Stories, Mostly @TiltedAxisPress (trans. @TiffTsao). It was a joy to welcome Norman as writer in residence #EssexWritersHouse in partnership with @MetalSouthend.
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We’re delighted to announce that Rebecca Wragg Sykes has won the #PENHessellTiltman Prize 2021!. Chair of judging panel Professor Shahidha Bari described Kindred as ‘a staggeringly ambitious work, full of discovery, enquiry, empathy and imagination.’. ➡️
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Warmest congratulations to writer Aslı Erdoğan, winner of the 2019 Disturbing the Peace Award from the Václav Havel Library Foundation @HavelLibrary
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We’re delighted to announce 12 new #PENTranslates awards. Featuring titles from 11 countries and 11 languages – including, for the first time, titles from Yemen, Ecuador and Ireland. More information at:
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We're delighted to announce the six shortlisted titles for the inaugural PEN Heaney Prize, which recognises a single volume of outstanding poetry by one author, published in the UK or Ireland, with a focus on social engagement. Find out more:
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'This award is not just for me, but also for others who continue to stand up for press freedom'. So proud of our writer-in-residence @Mimimefo237, winner of the 2019 @IndexCensorship Freedom of Expression Journalism Award!. #IndexAwards2019
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‘We define our humanity through language. It’s very important we are very careful about how we use language.’ . Linton Kwesi Johnson explains the context and reads from ‘New Word Hawdah’ for the #PENPinterPrize 2020 virtual ceremony at the @BritishLibrary.
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We'll be standing in solidarity with writers & journalists in Turkey tomorrow. Join us .@IndexCensorship
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We’re delighted to announce that 16 titles from 11 regions and 10 languages have won #PENTranslates awards. They include, for the first time, titles from Cameroon and Singapore and translations from Greenlandic and Kannada. Discover the winners ⬇️.
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This Sunday marks six years since blogger @raif_badawi was arrested in #SaudiArabia & @WaleedAbulkhair's 39th birthday. We'll be back @SaudiEmbassyUK on Monday to call for their release #FreeRaif #FreeWaleed
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BREAKING: Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie announces #SaudiArabia lawyer, activist and writer @WaleedAbulkhair as the co-winner of the #PENPinter Prize 2018. #FreeWaleed
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We’re delighted to announce 18 new #PENTranslates awards. Featuring titles from 15 countries and 13 languages including, for the first time, titles from Djibouti and Bosnia and Herzegovina. Read more here:
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James Rhodes, author of 'Instrumental' with his friend Benedict Cumberbatch outside the UK Supreme Court http://t.co/5Vdrn1QpP3.
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'My father’s death makes me wonder about the other stories – the black men and women outside the cities, the ones who did not attend church or march with activists'. Today in #PENTransmissions, @LawrencePatrice with a deeply powerful, personal essay.
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Today marks Osman Kavala's 900th day in detention. Now, more than ever, he and many others detained in #Turkey and around the world for their peaceful activism need to be released immediately. #FreeOsmanKavala
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Turkey is the biggest jailer of journalists with over 150 currently in prison. Ask your MP to take action:
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Just announced: the winner of the 2017 PEN #HessellTiltman Prize is David Olusoga - congratulations!
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Hugely relieved to see writer and filmmaker Oleg Sentsov released and reunited with his family after more than five years in detention. #FreeSentsov #OlegSentsov
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'You can imprison an artist but you can’t stop her productivity'.#FreeZehraDoğan #FreeTurkeyMedia #ImprisonedWriter
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🎉🎉Ahmet Altan is free! 🎉🎉So relieved that @ahmtaltann was released and reunited with his friends and family last night. But he should never have been there at all. #FreeTurkeyMedia.
Ahmet Altan appears to be in great shape and upbeat spirit as he walked out of the jail, hugging and kissing family members, friends who came out to greet him as a free man. #Turkey is world's largest prison with close to 200 journalists languishing behind bars. #FreeAll
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We're recruiting! @EnglishPEN is looking for a new Translation and International Manager. Find out more and apply by 20 February:
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'So much that is good begins with the Lady Chatterley trial' . Still a few days to bid on these specially annotated copies of Lady Chatterley's Lover, donated by @neilhimself & @amandapalmer, in support of our ongoing campaign.
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Two writers of concern to PEN, @candundaradasi & @raif_badawi, on shortlist for 2017 Nobel Peace Prize
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Our thoughts and solidarity are with all affected by the racist and Islamophobic attacks taking place across the UK. We stand together against far-right violence and in support of all of our members and wider communities affected by these attacks.
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@amandapalmer @neilhimself @GoodOmensPrime And we're so grateful that you did! Massive thanks again to you both and to everyone bidding for these rare beauties!
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And the winner of the 2017 #PENAckerley Prize is @amy_may with The Outrun (@canongatebooks) - congratulations!
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'These awards go to seventeen books of outstanding merit and courage'. We're pleased to announce the latest #PENTranslates award-winners, featuring 17 books, from 16 countries, in 11 languages. @CharcoPress @commapress @ScotStreetPress @TinyOwl_Books .
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We’re pleased to announce the seven shortlisted titles for the PEN Hessell-Tiltman Prize 2022, which celebrates the best non-fiction on any historical subject. For more information & the full list ➡️ #PENHessellTiltman
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Bugün Onur Üyemiz Kürt yazar Nedim Türfent’in parmaklıklar ardında geçirdiği beşinci doğum günü. Dayanışma ve destek mesajlarınızı göndermek için: #PENWrites #NedimeÖzgürlük
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'One of the main reasons I was released was because of excessive national and international pressure'. Our writer-in-residence @Mimimefo237 spoke to CPJ about press freedom in #Cameroon and the need for more international support. @CPJAfrica @pressfreedom @pen_int.
In November 2018, Mimi Mefo was arrested after reporting on the death of a missionary in the Anglophone regions of #Cameroon. No journalist should face imprisonment for doing their work. #PressFreedom @CPJAfrica
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Great to see the SNP standing in solidarity with imprisoned blogger @raif_badawi. Thank you all! #FreeRaif
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We are deeply concerned for Alaa Abd El-Fattah, a British-Egyptian writer, activist, and Honorary Member of English PEN, amid reports that his family has lost contact with him. We call on the UK government to do all they can. #FreeAlaa #SaveAlaa #WhereIsAlaa
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We're delighted to announce @FaberBooks as a new partner and sponsor to support the annual PEN Pinter Prize over the next three years. The Prize celebrates courage in literature, recognising the powerful intersection between art and human rights.
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We welcome the news of #AhmetAltan’s release after over 4 years. Our President @philippesands said ‘He is one of the most remarkable and inspiring human beings I have ever known. I celebrate him and his freedom, and all those who made this happen.’ .
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