On Tuesday, April 26, 2011, Livents had the honor in attending the PEN Literary Gala that was held at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City, NY. With 550 guests, the attendees ranged from writers to filmmakers to supporters, who helped raise $1,000,000 for the organization and its activities.
The PEN’s Freedom to Write Award honored Nasrin Sotoudeh, a human-rights lawyer and writer. An inspirational individual, who defended the opinions and beliefs of her clients, ranging from Iranian opposition activists and politicians. She was accused of activities against Iran national security and propaganda against the regime. Since her arrest, Sotoudeh has been held in solitary confinement and was denied to see her family. Sotoudeh continues to protest her detention and ill treatment by going on dry hunger strikes (refusal of both food and water). Her bravery becomes more and more admirable every day.
Additionally, Michael Ondaatje, Sri Lanka-born author of “The English Patient,” received the PEN Literary Service Award. His works include Divisadero, The Conversations: Walter Murch and the Art of Editing Film, Anil's Ghost, The English Patient, In the Skin of a Lion, Coming Through Slaughter, The Collected Works of Billy the Kid, and his memoir, Running in the Family. His collections of poetry include Secular Love, The Cinnamon Peeler, and Handwriting. He has made two documentary films: Sons of Captain Poetry and The Clinton Special. His forthcoming novel, The Cat's Table, will be published in the fall of 2011. Ondaatje's devotion to literature has influenced individuals across the nation and around the world.
The event is one of the PEN American Center's largest source of unrestricted support. It provides crucial funding for their work to secure the liberty of persecuted and imprisoned writers around the world, to defend freedom of expression wherever it is threatened, and to promote literature and international cultural exchange. The PEN/Barbara Goldsmith Freedom to Write Award is granted to an imprisoned writer of conscience in particularly dire circumstances. Also presented to a writer is the PEN Literary Service Award for critically acclaimed work that illuminates the human condition in original and powerful ways.
For more information, visit: http://www.pen.org/
