Join us for Tanzanian novelist Abdulrazak Gurnah’s first U.S. appearance since his momentous Nobel Prize win last October. Gurnah's vital writing chronicles an Africa on the brink of change while shedding light on the legacies and consequences of European colonialism. This very special opening night event celebrating Gurnah’s body of work and its place within a vibrant and rich canon of African literature features readings, performances, and conversation with Booker Prize-shortlisted novelist Nadifa Mohamed, Windham Campbell Literature Prize winner Aminatta Forna, acclaimed actor Esau Pritchett, Sudanese American musician Alsarah, and others. GET TICKETS ››

Afterparty admission included with event ticket (Carroll Place, 157 Bleecker St, New York, NY 10012).  

In a 2018 lecture, PEN Ukraine President Andrey Kurkov said that “democracy is not eternal if it is not supported and not monitored daily, if we do not appreciate our rights and freedoms.” In recent months, Kurkov—along with the Ukrainian people—have embodied that very spirit and offered inspiration to all who value and struggle for freedom around the world. Ukrainian poet and translator Iya Kiva will kick off the event with a reading, after which Kurkov will deliver this year’s Arthur Miller Lecture. The lecture will be followed by an interview with novelist Gary Shteyngart and Q&A. GET TICKETS ››

5pm pre-event reception admission included with event ticket. 

Join us for a 100-year journey through archival letters, notes, and speeches detailing PEN America's history, featuring Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah, Rachel Eliza Griffiths, Isaac Fitzgerald, Jewher Ilham, and Meghan O’Rourke. We'll revisit the words of Toni Morrison, Jack Kerouac, Larry Kramer, Don DeLillo, Grace Paley, Margaret Atwood, Robert Frost, Susan Sontag, Mary McCarthy, Kurt Vonnegut, and many others, as we uncover moments in history when writers mobilized to defend expression and debate artists’ responsibility in the fight for a free and open exchange of ideas. GET TICKETS ››

In response to the recent onslaught of book bans across the country, PEN America is convening a celebration of the freedom to write, read, and think featuring dramatic readings from some of the most “dangerous” texts ever printed, from writers including Toni Morrison, Art Spiegelman, Kurt Vonnegut, and more. Wajahat Ali, New York Times contributing op-ed writer, public speaker and author of the recently published book Go Back to Where You Came From will host this star-studded gathering, featuring a vast array of writers and artists, including Molly Crabapple, V (formerly Eve Ensler), Eileen Myles, Jason Reynolds, Tochi Onyebuchi, and many others. Presented in collaboration with the PEN America’s Children’s and Young Adult Book Committee and Free Expression and Education Program. GET TICKETS ››

Afterparty admission included with ticket (Alphabet Bar & Cafe, Moxy East Village, 112 E 11th Street, New York, NY 10003).