6:30 p.m.

PEN American Center and The New School Graduate Writing Program present “Bringing Down the Great Firewall of China: Silenced Writers Speak on the Eve of the Olympics.” On Thursday evening, August 7, the night before the Olympic Games open in Beijing, PEN members will give voice to the more than 40 writers and journalists currently in prison in China. Featured readers include Edward Albee, Russell Banks, Philip Gourevitch, Jessica Hagedorn, Hari Kunzru, Rick Moody, and Francine Prose.

Tishman Auditorium, Alvin Johnson/J. M. Kaplan Hall, 66 West 12th Street

Admission:
Free; no tickets or reservations required; seating is first-come first-served