English PEN
English PEN is a United Kingdom-based writers’ organisation that promotes literature, freedom of expression, translation, and support for writers at risk.
Last updated August 26, 2026
AI crawler reads
No AI crawler has read this profile since Oct 28, 2026.
Overview
English PEN is a literary and human-rights organisation founded in London in 1921 by novelist Catherine Amy Dawson Scott. It began as a writers’ club intended to create an international meeting place for people working in literature and quickly became the founding centre of the worldwide PEN movement. The name originally referred to Poets, Playwrights, Editors, Essayists and Novelists, although the organisation’s membership and activities have since expanded well beyond those professions. The organisation combines cultural and advocacy work. Its literary programme promotes international writing, literature in translation, emerging and established authors, and public discussion about books and ideas. Its freedom-of-expression work supports writers, journalists, artists, translators, publishers and other literary professionals who face censorship, imprisonment, intimidation, persecution or exile. English PEN also campaigns on domestic UK issues affecting expression, including libel law and the protection of literary and journalistic speech. English PEN was instrumental in the creation of PEN International. Within three years of its formation, PEN had developed 19 centres internationally, and the first meeting of what became the annual PEN Congress took place in London in 1923. PEN’s principles were subsequently formalised through the PEN Charter, which has guided the movement’s work on international understanding, literature without frontiers and opposition to censorship and hatred. After the Second World War, the organisation became increasingly associated with the developing international human-rights framework, while PEN International obtained advisory relationships with bodies including the United Nations and UNESCO. English PEN’s programmes include Writers at Risk, a long-running campaign for persecuted writers; a residency programme offering respite to international writers facing censorship or persecution; PEN Translates, which helps UK publishers bring literature from other languages into English; PEN Transmissions, an online publication focused on international and translated voices; and a range of prizes and public events. Its prizes include the PEN Pinter Prize, the PEN Hessell-Tiltman Prize and, from 2024, the PEN Heaney Prize. The PEN/Ackerley Prize was associated with English PEN until 2023, after which that relationship ended. The organisation marked its centenary in 2021 with the Common Currency programme, named after the PEN Charter’s conception of literature as a shared medium across political and national divisions. English PEN remains a membership organisation with more than 1,000 members, including writers, editors, publishers, translators, agents, journalists, activists and readers. It is governed by an elected board of trustees. Margaret Busby became president in April 2023, succeeding Philippe Sands; Daniel Gorman is director and Ruth Borthwick is chair. English PEN’s present positioning combines literary culture with civil-society advocacy: it treats access to literature, translation and free expression as connected elements of a more equitable public sphere.
History
English PEN was founded in London in 1921 by novelist Catherine Amy Dawson Scott. Its inaugural dinner took place at the Florence Restaurant in Soho on 5 October 1921, where John Galsworthy was appointed president. Forty-one writers attended alongside Dawson Scott and her daughter Marjorie, forming the organisation’s first membership. The original P.E.N. initials represented Poets, Playwrights, Editors, Essayists and Novelists. Dawson Scott’s central idea was to create a club that would connect writers across national boundaries and provide a common meeting place for literary professionals. The concept spread rapidly. Within three years, 19 PEN clubs had been established internationally. A gathering held in London in May 1923 became the first meeting of what developed into the annual PEN Congress. As the network expanded, members adopted common principles; the first version of the PEN Charter was approved at the 1927 Congress in Brussels. The organisation’s political and ethical role became more visible during the 1930s and 1940s. In 1940, English PEN published an appeal for the protection of freedom of expression written by Storm Jameson, its first woman president, and supported by writers including Vita Sackville-West, E. M. Forster, H. G. Wells, Vera Brittain and Rebecca West. After the Second World War, PEN contributed to the emerging international understanding of freedom of expression as a condition for literary creation. PEN International developed relationships with the United Nations and UNESCO while centres around the world continued to campaign for imprisoned, exiled and censored writers. The PEN Charter, formally adopted in its post-war form at the 1948 PEN Congress in Copenhagen, remains a foundation of the movement. In 2017, the Charter was amended at the PEN Congress in Lviv. The revision broadened its language against hate to include categories such as gender and religion alongside race, class and nationality, reinforcing the organisation’s emphasis on mutual understanding, respect and a shared humanity. English PEN’s Writers at Risk work originated in 1960, when the organisation established what was then known as the Writers in Prison Committee. The programme later broadened to cover writers and other creative or media professionals facing persecution, harassment, detention or violence because of their expression. Its related residency programme provides selected international writers with a period of safety and creative respite. Former residents have included Zehra Doğan and Nurcan Baysal. In the United Kingdom, English PEN has campaigned on legal and cultural questions affecting expression. In 2009 it worked with Index on Censorship on a year-long inquiry into libel law. The resulting report, Free Speech Is Not For Sale, examined the chilling effects of libel tourism on investigative journalism and scientific debate. English PEN subsequently joined Sense about Science in the Libel Reform Campaign. The campaign attracted broad institutional and public support and contributed to the political momentum that preceded the Defamation Act 2013. English PEN also supports international literary exchange. Its PEN Translates programme began in 2012 with support from Arts Council England, helping UK publishers meet translation costs and encouraging the publication of books originally written in other languages. The programme also emphasises proper recognition and payment for translators. English PEN publishes PEN Transmissions, an online magazine featuring translated writing, interviews and essays from international authors. The organisation celebrated its hundredth anniversary in 2021 through Common Currency, a programme of UK-wide and online events, residencies and workshops that concluded with a festival at the Southbank Centre. A separate memorial to persecuted writers, Antony Gormley’s empty-chair sculpture Witness, had been commissioned for English PEN’s ninetieth anniversary and unveiled outside the British Library in London in 2011. English PEN continues to operate as a membership organisation open to people who support the PEN Charter. Its more than 1,000 members include authors, poets, playwrights, journalists, editors, publishers, translators, agents, activists and readers. Current activity combines advocacy, literary programming, prizes, translation support, public events and international solidarity.
- 2024
PEN Heaney Prize launches
[1]English PEN partners with Irish PEN and the Seamus Heaney estate to establish a new annual poetry award.
- 2021
Centenary programme Common Currency
[1]English PEN marks its hundredth anniversary with events, residencies, workshops and a London festival.
- 2017
PEN Charter is amended
[1]The Lviv Congress broadens the Charter’s language on countering hate and respecting human diversity.
- 2013
Defamation Act receives royal assent
[1]The UK’s defamation reform process culminates in legislation following the wider Libel Reform Campaign.
- 2012
PEN Translates is launched
[1]The translation-grant programme begins with Arts Council England support to encourage UK publication of literature from other languages.
- 2011
Witness memorial is unveiled
[1]Antony Gormley’s empty-chair sculpture Witness is unveiled outside the British Library to represent imprisoned writers.
- 2009
Libel Inquiry begins
[1]English PEN and Index on Censorship launch a year-long examination of UK libel law and its effects on public-interest speech.
- 1960
Writers at Risk work begins
[1]English PEN establishes the Writers in Prison Committee, the predecessor of its current Writers at Risk Programme.
- 1948
PEN Charter receives its post-war formulation
[1]The Charter is adopted at the Copenhagen Congress and becomes a central reference for PEN’s literary and human-rights work.
- 1940
Appeal to the Conscience of the World
[1]English PEN publishes a wartime appeal calling for protection of freedom of expression.
Products and positioning
A literary membership organisation and freedom-of-expression advocate connecting cultural exchange, translation and human-rights campaigning.
Freedom-of-expression advocacy · 1960
Writers at Risk Programme
A long-running campaign supporting writers, journalists, artists, cartoonists, musicians and other literary or media professionals who face censorship, persecution, imprisonment, harassment or violence because of their expression. The programme advocates for individual cases and connects English PEN’s work with the wider PEN International network.
Translation funding · 2012
PEN Translates
A grant programme supporting UK publishers that acquire books translated into English from other languages. It is designed to broaden the range of international literature available to English-language readers while promoting proper credit and payment for translators.
Online literary publication
PEN Transmissions
English PEN’s online magazine for international and translated voices. It publishes interviews, personal essays and other literary material from established and emerging writers, connecting English-language audiences with global writing.
Literary prize · 2009
PEN Pinter Prize
An annual prize established in memory of Harold Pinter. It recognises a writer from Britain, Ireland or the Commonwealth whose work demonstrates an uncompromising engagement with social and political reality. The recipient selects an international writer of courage in association with the Writers at Risk programme.
Historical nonfiction prize
PEN Hessell-Tiltman Prize
An annual award for a book of historical nonfiction. The prize celebrates research-driven writing that makes significant historical subjects accessible through literary and intellectual quality.
Poetry prize · 2024
PEN Heaney Prize
A poetry award run with Irish PEN and the estate of Seamus Heaney. It honours a volume of outstanding literary merit that engages with the effects of cultural or political events on human conditions or relationships.
Writer residency
Writers in Residence programme
A residency initiative intended to give international writers facing persecution or censorship a period of safety, rest and creative opportunity. The programme has hosted writers including Zehra Doğan and Nurcan Baysal.
Literary autobiography prize
PEN/Ackerley Prize
A prize for excellence in literary autobiography, established in memory of J. R. Ackerley. Its association with English PEN ended in 2023, after which the award continued independently under the Ackerley Prize name.
Marketing campaigns
- 2021Common Currency centenary programme
United Kingdom · Online
A year-long centenary programme using events, residencies and workshops to explore literature’s role in connecting people across political and national divisions.
Outcome. The programme culminated in a three-day festival of free thinking at London’s Southbank Centre.
- 2018Lady Chatterley’s Lover trial-copy crowdfunding campaign
United Kingdom
English PEN appealed for public support to preserve the judge’s copy used in the landmark 1960s UK obscenity trial involving D. H. Lawrence’s Lady Chatterley’s Lover.
Outcome. The copy was acquired by the University of Bristol in 2019.
- 2009Libel Reform Campaign
United Kingdom
English PEN worked with Index on Censorship on a public inquiry into libel law and later joined Sense about Science in campaigning for reform. The campaign argued that libel tourism and legal uncertainty discouraged investigative journalism, scientific debate and other public-interest speech.
Outcome. The campaign helped build public and institutional support for reform and preceded the UK Defamation Act 2013.
Brand decisions
2024
Creation of the PEN Heaney PrizeProduct launchBackground
English PEN sought to recognise poetry engaging with the effects of political and cultural events on human relationships and conditions.
Action taken
English PEN partnered with Irish PEN and the estate of Seamus Heaney to establish an annual poetry award.
Aftermath
Susannah Dickey received the inaugural prize for ISDAL.
2017
Revision of the PEN CharterStrategyBackground
PEN members revisited the Charter’s language on human dignity, mutual understanding and opposition to hatred for the first time since its earlier adoption.
Action taken
The Lviv Congress approved broader wording covering hate based not only on race, class or nationality but also gender, religion and other identity categories.
Aftermath
The revised language strengthened the organisation’s contemporary human-rights framework.
2012
Launch of PEN TranslatesStrategyBackground
English PEN identified translation as a way to widen the English-language literary landscape and create opportunities for publishers, translators and writers from other linguistic traditions.
Action taken
It introduced a grant programme, supported by Arts Council England, to help UK publishers cover translation costs for new works.
Aftermath
The programme became a major part of English PEN’s translation and international-literature work.
Recent events
- 2024
English PEN launches the PEN Heaney Prize[1]
Product launch
English PEN, Irish PEN and the estate of Seamus Heaney established an annual poetry prize; Susannah Dickey won the inaugural award for ISDAL.
- 2023
Margaret Busby becomes president[1]
Leadership change
Margaret Busby succeeded Philippe Sands as president of English PEN.
- 2021
English PEN marks its centenary with the Common Currency programme[1]
Campaign
English PEN held a programme of events, residencies and workshops across the United Kingdom and online, culminating in a three-day festival at London’s Southbank Centre.
- 2021
Ruth Borthwick becomes chair of English PEN[1]
Leadership change
Ruth Borthwick succeeded Maureen Freely as chair, with Aki Schilz becoming vice-chair.
Sources2 sources
Cite this profile: Cite the canonical profile. /brand-wiki/english-pen · Editorial policy · How profiles are compiled