Pen Pinter Prize 2024 Winner

The announcement of the winner of the PEN Pinter Prize 2024 brought new attention to bold literary voices and the courage of writers speaking truth to power. Awarded annually by English PEN in honour of the late playwright Harold Pinter, this prize recognises authors who cast an unflinching, unswerving gaze upon the world and demonstrate a fierce intellectual determination to define the real truth of our lives and societies. This year’s recipient is the acclaimed writer and activist Arundhati Roy, whose body of work spans fiction, non‘fiction and sustained engagement with issues of social justice, human rights and the environment. Along with Roy, the Prize is shared with a Writer of Courage, chosen by the winner from a shortlisted group of individuals who face serious risks for their advocacy of free expression.

What the PEN Pinter Prize Represents

The PEN Pinter Prize was established in 2009 to honour the memory of Harold Pinter and his belief in the power of language to expose injustice and speak truth. The prize is awarded to a writer of outstanding literary merit, resident in the United Kingdom, Ireland or the Commonwealth, who uses their work to reflect on social realities, challenge power structures and remain steadfast in the face of adversity. Alongside the winner, the Prize includes the designation of a Writer of Courage a person often persecuted or imprisoned for their commitment to expressing opinion or documenting truths others seek to suppress.

Selection Criteria and Process

• The winner must be an author of significant achievement fiction, essays, poetry or non-fiction whose work is written in English or widely translated into English.
• They must demonstrate both literary excellence and the willingness to engage with difficult social, political or cultural issues.
• The choice of a Writer of Courage is made by the winner in consultation with English PEN’s Writers at Risk Committee, highlighting the companion importance of freedom of expression globally.
• An awards ceremony is held annually around 10 October Harold Pinter’s birthday complete with a public address by the winner at the British Library in London.

Arundhati Roy A Brief Profile

Arundhati Roy first attracted global attention with her debut novel, The God of Small Things (1997), which won the Booker Prize and was translated into dozen of languages. Beyond fiction, Roy has written extensively on topics including environmental activism, corporate power, militarism, human rights abuses, democracy and the politics of postcolonial societies. Her non‘fiction includes works such as Capitalism A Ghost Story and Azadi Freedom, Fiction, Fascism, underlining her engagement with urgent global concerns.

Why She Was Chosen for the Prize

According to the judges of the 2024 Prize Chair of English PEN Ruth Borthwick, actor and activist Khalid Abdalla and writer‘musician Roger Robinson Roy was selected because she tells urgent stories of injustice with wit and beauty, remaining a luminous voice of freedom and justice. Her critiques of environmental degradation, rights violations and global power dynamics have resonated widely. Roy herself described the selection as an honour and spoke of her wish that Harold Pinter would still be here to write about the almost incomprehensible turn the world is taking.

The 2024 Winner Announcement and Ceremony

In April 2024, Arundhati Roy was announced as the winner of the PEN Pinter Prize. The announcement noted her powerful body of work and the timely nature of her voice in a world facing deep crises. A formal award ceremony is held at the British Library on 10 October 2024, at which Roy will deliver an address and share her prize with the designated Writer of Courage.

Writer of Courage 2024 Alaa Abd el‘Fattah

Roy has chosen the British‘Egyptian writer and activist Alaa Abd el‘Fattah as the Writer of Courage for 2024. Abd el‘Fattah is widely noted for his digital activism, prison writings and advocacy for democratic reform in Egypt despite enduring years of incarceration and legal harassment. His selection reinforces the prize’s international dimension and the importance of protecting freedom of expression.

Impact of the 2024 Award on Literature and Advocacy

Awarding Arundhati Roy the 2024 PEN Pinter Prize signals recognition not just of a singular literary figure but of the broader intersection between literature, activism and global justice. The Prize bolsters narratives that challenge dominant power structures, defend marginalised voices, and reaffirm the role of writers as engaged citizens.

Encouraging Writers and Readers

For aspiring writers and readers alike, this award highlights important lessons the value of literary craft married to social purpose; the capacity of language to mourn, critique and imagine alternative futures; and the necessity of courage when confronting uncomfortable truths. The pairing of Roy with Abd el‘Fattah also signals that writing and activism are deeply interlinked even where the personal risks are high.

Broader Cultural and Political Significance

In an era marked by increasing threats to press freedom, creeping authoritarianism and global inequality, literary awards like the PEN Pinter Prize serve as vital cultural markers. They celebrate creators who refuse to retreat into neutral territory, instead choosing to engage with the world’s most contentious issues be it climate crisis, social injustice or political repression. The 2024 award makes visible the continuity of this tradition and underscores the relevance of Harold Pinter’s credo for a new generation.

Historical Context and Past Winners

Since its inception in 2009, the PEN Pinter Prize has been awarded to a remarkable array of writers including Margaret Atwood, Salman Rushdie, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Michael Rosen and Tsitsi Dangarembga. Each recipient has embodied the spirit of looking un‘flinchingly at the world and offering a fiercely intellectual engagement with life. The Prize’s companion Writer of Courage award has equally highlighted persecuted writers globally, reinforcing the link between literary excellence and human rights advocacy.

A Selection of Past Laureates

• 2018 Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
• 2020 Linton Kwesi Johnson
• 2022 Malorie Blackman
• 2023 Michael Rosen
• 2024 Arundhati Roy (Winner) & Alaa Abd el‘Fattah (Writer of Courage)

What’s Next for Arundhati Roy and the Prize

Receiving the PEN Pinter Prize typically brings both recognition and the opportunity to amplify one’s ongoing work. For Arundhati Roy, the award arrives at a moment when her voice continues to be both celebrated and contested. As she prepares to deliver the prize address in October, readers can expect incisive reflection, potentially new writing projects and continued engagement across global issues.

Meanwhile, the PEN Pinter Prize organisation will continue to spotlight writers who challenge the status quo and defend freedom of expression ensuring the award remains a vital platform for literary activism in the years ahead.

The 2024 PEN Pinter Prize celebrates Arundhati Roy’s sustained literary and activist contributions, acknowledging her ability to combine storytelling with incisive critique of injustice, inequality and power. By selecting Alaa Abd el‘Fattah as the Writer of Courage, the prize also draws attention to the ongoing struggles of writers worldwide who face persecution for their words. Together, they embody the spirit of the prize writing as a form of public witness, language as a tool of resistance, and literature as a force for change. For readers, writers and advocates alike, the 2024 winner invites us to read deeply, question boldly and value the authors who dare to speak truth to power.