Or visit our page on Gift Memberships to purchase membership for a friend or loved one.
Why join English PEN?
English PEN is one of the world's oldest human rights organisations, championing the freedom to write and the freedom to read around the world.
With the support of our members – a community of writers, readers and activists – we protect freedom of expression whenever it is under attack. We campaign for writers facing persecution around the world and offer respite residencies for 3-5 writers per year.
We celebrate contemporary international writing through our online magazine, PEN Transmissions, and we award literary grants for translating new works into English.
We bring together outstanding writers, readers and translators for unforgettable conversations and we celebrate courageous writing with our annual literary prizes – the PEN Pinter Prize and the PEN Hessell-Tiltman Prize.
*You are eligible for a concessionary membership if you are: retired; a student; in receipt of Jobseekers’ Allowance, Disability Benefits, Income Support, or Working Tax Credits; low-waged (earning less than the UK Living Wage or London Living Wage); or unwaged. Please email us on [email protected] if you have any queries.