Writers’ Circle
Update – February 2024
‘It gives me the greatest pleasure to welcome Viv Groskop to our International Writers Circle. Viv is a best-selling author and award-winning podcaster, as well as impressing as a comedian and inspirational speaker! The generous support and solidarity of Viv and other Writers Circle members is of immense value to PEN, helping us to assist writers at risk every day, all over the world.’ Romana Cacchioli, PEN International Executive Director.
Members of the PEN International Writers’ Circle believe that literature and freedom of expression are at the heart of a strong, vibrant society. They support PEN International’s work to help silenced, unheard and unknown voices reach readers and writers everywhere.
We are facing a steep rise in people turning to us for help. We need donations more than ever to protect writers at risk. The International Writers’ Circle is essential to this ongoing delivery of our humanitarian projects.
Patrons of the Writers’ Circle pledge an annual gift in one of three tiers starting at £1,000 or $1,350, which funds our vital work. Your donations go towards helping persecuted writers find safety, and furthers our broader mission of advancing literature across borders and defending freedom of expression.
Without literature, there can be no meaningful freedom of expression. Without freedom of expression, there can be no meaningful literature.
Enquire
For details on joining the Writers’ Circle, please write to us:
MEMBERS
Hanan Al-Shaykh
Mona Arshi
Margaret Atwood
Hanan Awwad
Catherine Banner
Andrea Barnet
Simon Beckett
Louis de Bernières
Gloria Browne-Marshall
Carolyn Cohagan
Anthony Doerr
Gwen Edelman
Carleton Eastlake
Gina Frangello
Rita Gabis
Joan Gelfand
Nina George
Arthur Golden
Lauren Groff
Viv Groskop
Hakan Günday
Jane Hirshfield
Laura Hubber
Debra Jo Immergut
Karl Ove Knausgaard
David Lagercrantz
Eric Lax
Joanne Leedom-Ackerman
M. G. Lord
Geert Mak
Yann Martel
Marisa Matarazzo
Vida Ognjenović
Ben Okri
Sofi Oksanen
John Ralston Saul
Sir Ian Rankin
Petra Reski
Bernhard Schlink
Jane Smiley
Burhan Sonmez
Frances Spurrier
Colm Tóibín
Ayelet Waldman
Jess Walter
Jamie Wolf
Klaus-Peter Wolf
Yosef Wosk