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aAn invaluable anthology. . . . The individuals in this
anthology . . . tell stories so vital and impassioned that we are
moved to become lecteurs engagA(c)s, moved not merely by their
writing but by their courage and conviction of the their
lives.a
--"BookForum"
aAs an act of commemoration, as well as a sobering reminder of
the world in which writers are frequently -- and all too
easily--silenced, this is an exceptional anthology.a
--"Publishers Weekly"
aSome of the prose is sparse, testifying to the economy of
writers hurried by the threat of discovery; other pieces are rich
with the care of dazzling minds left with no company but
words.a
--"Utne Reader"
aThe selections make clear that many countries not ordinarily
thought of as authoritarian are nevertheless not really safe for
free expression. A compelling and worthwhile purchase; recommended
for all libraries.a
--"Library Journal"
aPEN acts as the voice and conscience of everyone who cares
about literature. In telling their stories, the incredible writers
in this collection uncover some of the worldas darker corners. This
extraordinary book shows us once again why literature
matters.a
--Antonia Fraser, author of "Marie Antoinette: The Journey"
aI defy readers not to be profoundly moved by this splendid
anthology. But I have no doubt they will also be stirred by the
extraordinary courage of all these writers to triumph over
injustice and cruelty. This book is an inspiration.a
--Ronald Harwood, Oscar-winning screenwriter of "The Pianist";
author of the play "The Dresser"
aEngrossing. Reza Barahenias piece is simply electric and
others, such asKen Saro-Wiwaas letters, deeply moving. More than
anything the collection stands as a testament of courage and a
clarion call to recognize free expression for what it really is --
a basic human right.a
--Monica Ali, author of "Brick Lane"
aThis anthology is essential reading for anyone who has ever
been moved by the written word. The authors of these pieces have
one thing in common. They have all been coerced into not writing.
This means that not only do they have powerful stories to tell, but
that when, thanks very often to the work of organizations like PEN,
they are eventually allowed to tell them, the result is spare,
powerful writing, which jolts and challenges our prejudices and
assumptions.a
--Michael Palin, author of numerous travel books, including "Around
the World in 80 Days"
The freedom to write is under threat today throughout the world,
with more than 1,000 writers, journalists, and publishers known to
be imprisoned or persecuted in more than 100 countries. Writers
Under Siege bears witness to the power and danger of the pen, and
to the powerful longing for the right to use it without fear.
Collected here are fifty contributions by writers who have paid
dearly for the privilege of writing. Some have been tortured; some
have been killed. All understand the cost of speaking up and
speaking out.
This book was prepared by PEN, which is both the worldas oldest
human rights organization and the oldest international literary
organization. It commemorates PENas eighty-fifth anniversary and
celebrates PENas work by giving voice to persecuted writers from
around the globe. The contributors come from more than twenty
countries, from Belarus to Zimbabwe. Many arewell-known in the
English-speaking world, including Orhan Pamuk, from Turkey, winner
of the 2006 Nobel Prize for Literature; Harold Pinter, from
England, winner of the 2005 Nobel Prize for Literature; Aung San
Suu Kyi, from Burma, winner of the 1991 Nobel Peace Prize; and Anna
Politkovskaya, from Russia, the noted journalist and author who was
murdered in 2006, shortly after writing the piece that appears in
this collection. Other contributors are less famous, perhaps, but
their contributions are no less compelling. In prose and poetry, in
fiction and non-fiction, they reveal the personal consequences of
war, conflict, terrorism, and authoritarianism.
While the pieces collected here differ in their settings and
their subjects, all are riveting. Grouped into four sections --
Prison, Death, Asylum, and The Freedom to Write -- they call our
attention to the fundamental humanity we share and highlight the
inhumanity we can so easily condone.
Contributors include: Chris Abani, Angel Cuadra Landrove, Asiye
Guzel, Augusto Ernesto Llosa Giraldo, Mamadali Makhmudov, Orhan
Pamuk, Harold Pinter, Anna Politkovskaya, Aung San Suu Kyi, Thich
Tue Sy, Gai Tho, and Ken Saro-Wiwa.
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