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 Penguin author John Ralston Saul
elected President of International PEN
On 21 October 2009 the International PEN Assembly of Delegates elected John Ralston Saul as International President. He succeeds Jiri Grusa, who has held the post for six years. Earlier presidents have included Arthur Miller, Mario Vargas Llosa and Alberto Moravia.
“International PEN is the world’s most important and oldest freedom of speech and literary organisation. Almost a thousand writers who are in prison or are in danger around the world look to us for help. We have to invent new ways of turning back the rise of authoritarian controls," said Saul. "Threats to freedom of speech are expanding in new directions, especially with the rise of populism in the post-9/11 world.”
"In addition, hundreds of minority and indigenous languages and cultures are in danger of extinction. This is the ultimate denial of freedom of speech.”
Originally founded in 1921, International PEN has 144 centres in 102 countries across the globe. Their primary goal is to engage with, and empower, societies and communities across cultures and languages, through reading and writing. They do this through the promotion of literature, international campaigning on issues such as translation and freedom of expression and improving access to literature at international, regional and national levels.
Membership of is PEN open to all published writers who subscribe to the PEN Charter regardless of nationality, language, race, colour or religion. International PEN is a non-political organisation and has special consultative status at the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) and the United Nations Organisation (UNO).
Anthony Fleischer, President of SA PEN is pleased with Saul’s election: “The International President's role is important for the cause of global literature and free expression. SA PEN strongly supports the new president.”
John Ralston Saul, a long-time champion of freedom of expression, has been intimately involved with International PEN since 1987, when he was elected to the board of PEN Canada, serving as President from 1990-1992. Since 1999 he has been the Honorary Patron of PEN Canada and was one of the driving forces in the creation of their Writers In Exile Network in 2004.
An award-winning essayist and novelist, John Ralston Saul has had a significant impact on political and economic thought in many countries. Declared a “prophet” by TIME Magazine, he is included in the prestigious Utne Reader’s list of the world’s 100 leading thinkers and visionaries. His works have been translated into 22 languages in 30 countries.
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