75th International PEN Congress 'Words, words, nothing but words ... ?'

Linz, Austria

PEN members from across the globe will gather in Linz from 19 - 24 October for the 75th International PEN Congress, which this year includes the international launch of the Free the Word! festival of literature. Hosted by Austrian PEN, the programme will include workshops, debates and presentations focussing on the importance of words and literature, reading and writing, and the right to read and write, as means for social and cultural understanding and change. Guest participants will include Vice President of International PEN and eminent Russian writer, Andrei Bitov.

The theme of Congress, ‘Words, words, nothing but words ...?' embodies the essence of International PEN and its belief that the value and exchange of words gives insights into other worlds through shared stories and experiences. It also embodies the belief that dialogue and freedom of expression can encourage greater awareness of different perspectives, giving space for open conversation that may otherwise not occur.

This Congress will include the election of a new President for International PEN to succeed Ji?í Gruša. The two candidates standing are Margaret Busby and John Ralston Saul. Margaret Busby CBE is a distinguished writer, journalist, editor, critic and broadcaster. She was born in Ghana and lives in the UK and has been associated with numerous organisations including the Africa Centre, English PEN, Wasafiri magazine and the Organisation of Women Writers of Africa. John Ralston Saul is a celebrated Canadian novelist and essayist and former President of Canadian PEN. He has been awarded, among others, Italy's Premio Letterario Internazionale and the Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres de France. The renowned writer Amin Maalouf was also due to stand, however his candidacy was withdrawn due to health problems. The successful candidate will be announced on Wednesday 21 October.

The first Free the Word! to take place outside London is presented by Austrian PEN between the 22 and 24 October. Free the Word! is International PEN's festival of literature that celebrates the best contemporary writing from around the world. It brings together ‘the great writers you know and the great writers you don't' in cities across the globe, giving a platform to explosive and exciting storytelling and dialogue and discussion across cultures and languages, connecting writers with readers everywhere.

'Free the Word! is International PEN in spirit and action - a festival for authors and readers to make sparks across the divide between national literatures' Sir Tom Stoppard, International PEN Author Advocate

Free the Word! Linz takes the theme ‘Words, words nothing but words ...?' with events on the connection between literature and science, religion, nature and politics, as well as a focus on Japanese Manga culture and the role of sign language in the reading of texts. Participants include Adalbert Stifter (Austria), Daniel Kehlmann (Austria/Germany), György Konrad (Hungary), Silvija Hinzmann (Germany) and Yang Lian (China). Free the Word! journeys onto Guadalajara, with an event as part of the 23rd International Book Fair Guadalajara between 28 November - 6 December. Participants include José Emilio Pacheco (Mexico), Claribel Alegría (Nicaragua) and Donato Ndongo (Equatorial Guinea).

For more information please contact Emily Bromfield, Communications Director: emily.bromfield@internationalpen.org.uk or 011 44 20 7405 0338