Books to Prisoners

'Books to Prisoners' is a small committee which organises to send approximately 100 books to writers in prison around the world every year. In recent years, very few have been returned except a couple that were sent to China and there was no reason given by the authorities as to why these were sent back.  In most cases English language books are sent but  books in the prisoners' own languages are also sent if that is what they prefer. Each member of the committee has specific prisoners to whom they send out packages.

The Books to Prisoners Committee works closely with the Writers in Prison Committee (WiPC). The WiPC stay up-to-date with the changing status of individual prisoners - there may be those who have been released; those to whom it would be ill-advised to send parcels because that could rebound on their individual safety or the conditions in which they are kept; prisoners may have special requests. 

Released writer General Gallardo with his daughter and wife and some of the books he received from English PEN's Books to Prisoners Committee while he was in prison.