It’s Time You Knew PEN

PEN American Center
Best of 2007
“Arthur Miller once suggested that PEN exists to remind us that humanity’s survival transcends any nation’s political interest, and that ‘the most convincing example—if not proof—of humanity’s essential oneness [is] the universality of the best literature.’ For years, PEN American Center and its Members have worked tirelessly to advance literature, defend free expression, and foster an international community of writers. Not until recently have we had the means to share our concerted efforts. PEN is pleased to present The Best of PEN 2007, featuring exclusive online conversations, essays, poetry, translations, audio clips from PEN programming, and photo galleries. Check back each week for new additions.”

2008 PEN LITERARY AWARDS
Call for Submissions
PEN American Center is currently accepting nominations and submissions for the 2008 Awards. Honors will be awarded in the categories of fiction, nonfiction, poetry, drama, translation, and children’s literature.

PEN History
“The P.E.N. (poets, playwrights, essayists, editors, and novelists) American Center was founded in New York City in the spring of 1922. A year earlier in London, the first seed of building an international organization had been sown: Mrs. C. A. Dawson Scott, a Cornish novelist, and John Galsworthy, a well-known literary figure, together founded the first P.E.N. organization, and decided to call it “The P.E.N. Club.” This Club was borne out of Mrs. Dawson Scott’s “unshakable conviction that if the writers of the world could learn to stretch out their hands to each other, the nations of the world could learn in time to do the same.” The idea could not have come at a more appropriate time, as bitter hatred existed between the nations following the First World War.”