English PEN

Dissolving Sugar in Water: A Long Conversation with Solvej Balle Solvej Balle on time, morality, and searching.

'Gosh, this is difficult – it’s so difficult to try and explain something that has lasted 40 years.'

In #PENTransmissions, Solvej Balle on time, morality, and searching.
pentransmissions.com/2025/12/04/d...

Poet Tom Paulin wins 2025 PEN Heaney Prize

Delighted to work with @englishpen.bsky.social & @irishpen.bsky.social on this year's PEN Heaney Prize.

Congrats to Tom Paulin, winner of the 2025 award for Namanlagh @faberbooks.bsky.social.

The prize was presented at @nlireland.bsky.social on Monday evening: www.rte.ie/culture/2025...

We're delighted to announce with @englishpen.bsky.social & @seamusheaneyestate.bsky.social the winner of the PEN Heaney Prize is Namanlagh by Tom Paulin. It's a wonderful collection! Congratulations to all our finalists, and huge thanks to the judges Sasha Dugdale, Séan Hewitt & Zaffar Kunial 👏🍾

Tom Paulin wins PEN Heaney Prize 2025 - News & Events - English PEN

Together with @irishpen.bsky.social and the Estate of Seamus Heaney, we’re delighted to announce Tom Paulin’s Namanlagh @faberbooks.bsky.social as the winner of the #PENHeaneyPrize 2025, awarded tonight at the @nlireland.bsky.social.

Find out more ⤵️
www.englishpen.org/posts/news/t...

We are deeply saddened by the death of Tom Stoppard and extend our heartfelt condolences to his loved ones. A longtime supporter of English PEN and the recipient of the 2013 PEN Pinter Prize, Tom's contributions to literature and the arts leave an immense and enduring legacy.

Dublin poets! Come join us together with @englishpen.bsky.social & The Seamus Heaney Estate for the announcement of the PEN Heaney Prize 2025. @nlireland.bsky.social Monday 1st December - details for booking below 👇👇🏾👇🏼👇🏿👇🏼

Vacancy: Treasurer - English PEN

📣 We're looking for a new Treasurer!

If you're passionate about words, human rights, and good governance, we'd love to hear from you. Help guide the future of one of the world's oldest human rights organisations.

📅 Apply by 24 November ⤵️
www.englishpen.org/jobs/vacancy...

Join English PEN’s letter-writing campaign for Day of the Imprisoned Writer 2025: send a message of hope and solidarity to an imprisoned writer.

To mark Day of the #ImprisonedWriter today, send a message of solidarity through our letter-writing campaign, #PENWrites, and join indie bookshops across the UK who are taking part.

💌 Write a letter of hope: www.englishpen.org/campaigns/pe...

Join the Independent Chinese PEN Centre with PEN International for “Chinese Prisons and International War: The 2025 ICPC Awards and Panel Discussions” on 14 November 2025, 1–5 PM.

Tickets available now ⬇️ www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/chinese-pr...

#DayOfTheImprisonedWriter

We’ve joined @englishpen.bsky.social’s campaign: PENWrites x Day of the Imprisoned Writer.Bookshops: take part in the letter-writing campaign on 15 November in solidarity with imprisoned writers around the world.

Find out more: www.englishpen.org/posts/campai...

პოეტ პაატა შამუგიას 5-დღიანი ადმინისტრაციული პატიმრობა შეეფარდა თბილისის საქალაქო სასამართლომ პოეტი, პაატა შამუგია ადმინისტრაციულ სამართალდამრღვევად ცნო.

#Georgia: We condemn the sentencing of former PEN Georgia president Paata Shamugia to 5 days in prison for taking part in peaceful protests and urge the authorities to uphold fundamental rights.

www.interpressnews.ge/ka/article/8...

Police arrest poet Paata Shamugia Police have arrested Georgian poet Paata Shamugia during last night’s protest in Tbilisi. Reportedly, criminal police officers detained him near

#Georgia: We urge the immediate release of acclaimed poet and former president of PEN Georgia Paata Shamugia, who faces up to 15 days in prison for taking part in peaceful protests.

Read more ⬇️

georgiatoday.ge/police-arres...

Belarus: UN submission highlights brutal crackdown on cultural rights  — PEN International | Promoting Literature & Defending Freedom of Expression Worldwide 30 October 2025 – As the human rights record of Belarus comes under review at the United Nations on 3 November 2025, PEN Belarus, PEN International and PEN America reiterate grave concerns over the Belarusian authorities’ brutal clampdown on freedom of expression, cultural rights and linguistic righ

#Belarus: As the country’s human rights record comes under review at the UN on 3 November, we reiterate grave concerns over the authorities’ brutal clampdown on cultural and linguistic rights and urge action.

Read our joint submission ⬇️

www.pen-international.org/news/belarus...

Apply to PEN Presents - Grants for translators - English PEN PEN Presents: Brazil open until 30 November 2025.

PEN Presents: Translators around the world are invited to submit proposals for English sample translations of previously untranslated works of contemporary Brazilian literature, of any form/genre, originally published in any language of Brazil! @englishpen.bsky.social @britishcouncil.bsky.social

Between Worlds: Sabrina Mahfouz’s Encomium for Leila Aboulela Sabrina Mahfouz’s 2025 PEN Pinter Prize encomium.

'Faith, though often unfashionable in the arts, emerges in Aboulela’s work not as an oppressor, but as a source of solace – a well of deep knowing.'

In #PENTransmissions, Sabrina Mahfouz’s encomium for #PENPinterPrize 2025 winner Leila Aboulela.
pentransmissions.com/2025/10/24/b...

We're delighted to announce that our October release, The Banquet by Stav Poleg has been shortlisted for the 2025 PEN Heaney Prize! @englishpen.bsky.social

Congratulations to Stav, and all the other shortlisted poets and publishers! 🎉

Browse The Banquet:
www.carcanet.co.uk/978180017511...

And here's the PEN/Heaney Prize 2025 shortlist!

We at Irish PEN/PEN na hÉireann are delighted to partner once more with @englishpen.bsky.social and the Estate of Seamus Heaney.

The winner will be announced on 1 December at a ceremony at @nlireland.bsky.social National Library of Ireland.

The Day of the Imprisoned Writer is coming up on 15 November. Do take part!

Congratulations to Don Mee Choi, whose collection Mirror Nation has been shortlisted for the PEN Heaney Prize 2025 🎉

PEN Heaney Prize 2025 shortlist - News & Events - English PEN English PEN announces the six shortlisted titles for the PEN Heaney Prize 2025

Together with @irishpen.bsky.social & the Estate of Seamus Heaney, we’re delighted to announce the PEN Heaney Prize 2025 shortlist. The winner will be announced on 1 December at a ceremony held at @nlireland.bsky.social.

Find out more & book now ⤵️
www.englishpen.org/posts/news/p...

Stella Gaitano’s PEN Pinter Prize Writer of Courage 2025 Speech Stella Gaitano, PEN Pinter Prize Writer of Courage 2025.

'I want to remove the fingers of accusation that are always directed at others, and instead hold up a mirror. Because at some point the other becomes the self.'

Stella Gaitano’s #PENPinterPrize Writer of Courage 2025 speech is now in #PENTransmissions.
pentransmissions.com/2025/10/17/s...

Join PEN International, @sanmiguelpen.bsky.social, @englishpen.bsky.social and other PEN Centres with @amnesty.org and @article19.bsky.social. Together, we will gather in front of the Mexican Embassy in London to demand justice for murdered and disappeared journalists.

#NoOneIsGuaranteedSafety

“This is such an important project when we think about freedom of expression and creativity across the world, and is very close to our hearts” Meera Ghanshamdas @roundtablebookscic.bsky.social

English PEN is inviting indie bkshops to help them mark the annual “Day of the Imprisoned Writer”.

Something for all you Big Rebels to get behind!

A callout to UK indie booksellers to amplify Day of the Imprisoned Writer / 15th November.

The Inaccurate Mirror: Leila Aboulela’s PEN Pinter Prize 2025 Speech The Inaccurate Mirror: Leila Aboulela’s PEN Pinter Prize 2025 Speech

‘Without justice, the balance of the world is undone. Justice is the gravity keeping us upright as humans.’

Leila Aboulela’s #PENPinterPrize 2025 speech – delivered at the @britishlibrary.bsky.social – is now in our online magazine, #PENTransmissions.
pentransmissions.com/2025/10/10/t...

PEN International #China: Today, on the 10-year anniversary of the kidnapping of poet, bookseller and PEN member, Gui Minhai, 65 PEN Centres around the world renew our demand for his immediate and unconditional...

#China: Today, on the 10-year anniversary of the kidnapping of poet, bookseller and PEN member, Gui Minhai, 65 PEN Centres around the world renew our demand for his immediate and unconditional release.

Read our joint statement ⬇️

www.pen-international.org/news/china-p...

#FreeGuiMinhai

This Is Not My Story to Tell Hajera Khaja on telling her friend’s story.

‘Or maybe a story that’s entirely different, fighting for its own space, its right to exist. Like a series of concentric circles fighting to stay whole’

In #PENTransmissions, Hajera Khaja on telling her friend’s story. w/ @pencanada.bsky.social.
pentransmissions.com/2025/10/16/t...

PENWrites x Day of the Imprisoned Writer - English PEN Bookshops: join us to send messages of solidarity to imprisoned writers around the world

Calling all indie bookshops... 📣

Take part in our #PENWrites letter-writing campaign in solidarity with writers in prison for Day of the Imprisoned Writer on 15 November.

Find out more & sign up ⬇️
www.englishpen.org/posts/campai...

Leila Aboulela shares PEN Pinter Prize 2025 with Stella Gaitano - News & Events - English PEN Stella Gaitano is named Writer of Courage 2025 by Leila Aboulela, PEN Pinter Prize 2025 winner.

Congratulations to Leila Aboulela and Stella Gaitano, two writers honored with @englishpen.bsky.social's 2025 #PENPinterPrize. Aboulela named Gaitano as the 2025 Writer of Courage for Gaitano's active defense of freedom of expression. Read about their work: www.englishpen.org/posts/campai...

Leila Aboulela shares PEN Pinter Prize 2025 with Stella Gaitano - News & Events - English PEN

At English PEN’s #PENPinterPrize event on Friday, Leila Aboulela, winner of the 2025 PEN Pinter Prize, announced writer, journalist and human rights activist Stella Gaitano as this year’s Writer of Courage.

Congratulations to both writers!

www.englishpen.org/posts/campai...