Elise Valmorbida

In 2010, PEN International looked back at 50 emblematic cases illustrating where and how and why the Writers in Prison Committee worked. PEN centres around the world participated and reported on events, their own work and campaigns on current cases. And they looked to the future, to see how the WiPC must evolve and adapt to meet new challenges. Because writers must speak their minds.

At 26 we paired each of the 50th anniversary writers with a writer from 26. The brief? To write 50 words, no more, no less, inspired by the life and work of the 50th anniversary writer. These 50 parcels of poetry, prose, meditation and agitation were posted online, day by day, through to the last day of Free the Word! festival in London on 18 April. 26:50 started on Saturday 27 February with 1960: Musine Kokalari. The project ended with an unnamed writer for 2010.

		PEN International 26:50

		Home Books Teaching Writing Projects Fine Cell Work 26 for Norwich 26:50 PEN International From Here to Here Common Ground The Bard & Co Events Contact + Links		2010: The unnamed writer [by Elise Valmorbida] Here is a mind caught in the elision between personal, political. Here is a nib charged with invisible ink that under iron heat turns blood-brown. Here is a silence. (Death happens in brackets) but still you can hear the bell of the voice, chiming, tolling, the scratching of the pen. In 2010, PEN International looked back at 50 emblematic cases illustrating where and how and why the Writers in Prison Committee worked. PEN centres around the world participated and reported on events, their own work and campaigns on current cases. And they looked to the future, to see how the WiPC must evolve and adapt to meet new challenges. Because writers must speak their minds. At 26 we paired each of the 50th anniversary writers with a writer from 26. The brief? To write 50 words, no more, no less, inspired by the life and work of the 50th anniversary writer. These 50 parcels of poetry, prose, meditation and agitation were posted online, day by day, through to the last day of Free the Word! festival in London on 18 April. 26:50 started on Saturday 27 February with 1960: Musine Kokalari. The project ended with an unnamed writer for 2010.