Protest Novels: Repression, Dissent, and Resistance

This is a free event, but registration is required.

What can novels tell us about the confrontation between freedom and autocracy? What does heroism look like in our daily lives—at home and in the streets—and how are acts of resistance remembered? Join us for a conversation with three authors whose books examine clashes, from China to Hong Kong to Russia, and their aftermath, searching for answers to riddles of our politicized times: Ha Jin’s Looking for Tank Man, Gigi L. Leung’s Everyday Movement (tr. Jennifer Feeley), and Svetlana Satchkova’s The Undead: A Novel of Modern Russia.

Moderated by Gloria J. Browne-Marshall, author of A Protest History of the United States, this discussion will surface the costs and necessities of dissent.

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.

This an outdoor public space. For detailed information on accessibility in this space, or to make a request, please contact [email protected]

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