COURAGE DAY EVENT IN NELSON

Every 15 November throughout the world, PEN – the international writers’ organisation that champions freedom of expression – marks the International Day of the Imprisoned Writer.

NZSA, which incorporates PEN, honours this event as Courage Day. It is named jointly after James Courage, a novelist and poet whose novel ‘A Way of Love’ was banned because he dared to express homosexuality in his writing, and his grandmother Sarah Courage, whose book describing colonial life in New Zealand was burned by neighbours who resented comments they thought she made about them.

Courage Day recognises writers who defend the right of free speech, and those who suffer oppression and are killed or imprisoned for their work. The day is being observed in Nelson by an event on Friday 15 November at Volume bookshop, 15 Church Street, 5.30 pm.

Dana Wensley, the PEN (NZ) Representative for Freedom of Speech, will be talking about the writers whom PEN is focussing on this year, and local poets will read from works by imprisoned writers. Juliet Ayre will perform a violin sonata. Drinks and nibbles will be provided.