Mirrors of a Nation

This is a free event, but registration is required.

Certain moments drastically reroute whole national trajectories and indelibly shape their futures. This event brings together three internationally acclaimed writers whose recent historical novels capture periods of political upheaval and transformation.

In River Spirit, Leila Aboulela evokes the Mahdist revolution in Sudan in the years leading up to Sudan’s colonization by the British. Georgian author Nino Haratischwili’s The Lack of Light (tr. Charlotte Collins and Ruth Martin) follows four lifelong friends as they come of age amid Georgia’s turbulent years of independence following the collapse of the Soviet Union. Mohammed Hanif’s satiric Rebel English Academy captures Pakistan in the throes of a manic crisis, both personal and political.

Join us as bestselling and critically acclaimed author Amitava Kumar (My Beloved Life) leads Aboulela, Hanif, and Haratischwili in a discussion about capturing pivotal moments in a nation’s history and exploring questions of witness, survival, and whose lives are valued.

The 2026 PEN World Voices Festival is a celebration of world literature and free expression. The 2026 edition will be the 21st World Voices Festival. Over four days, more than140 writers from over 40 countries will be featured in 40+ engaging talks, panels, readings, and activations in New York City and greater Los Angeles

Visit for more information about the entire festival, as well as PEN America.

The Goethe Institut is ADA compliant.

ASL interpretation is available for this event by request only. Please reach out to our Box Office team at [email protected] by April 15th to request.

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Host or Publisher PEN America