On 5th October 1921 a group of writers gathered at the Florence Restaurant in London.
Some were big names in the literary world, such as John Galsworthy, Viola Hunt, May Sinclair and Rebecca West, others were lesser known but extremely well-connected.
They were gathered at the behest of Amy Dawson Scott, a playwright and well-known figure in the London literary scene.
The aim of the meeting was to bring together writers working in London for regular dinners and meetings to discuss their work and build their professional networks.
Image of the menu from the first PEN meeting appears courtesy of the Harry Ransom Center, University of Texas
It was also – in the wake of the devastation in Europe after World War One – to help to promote friendship and understanding between writers of different nations, through their shared interest in literature.
It was to be resolutely unpolitical – politics only led to war – and must promote literary art and freedom as the pinnacle of civilised life.
The choice of restaurant was very much a testament to their love of continental culture, as shown by the picture of Florence on the front of the menu (below).
The 42 guests enjoyed the finest French cuisine – Turbot Mornay, Beef Bordelaise and a Bombe Pralinée.
This modest start grew throughout the following decades, spreading from Prague and Berlin to New York, Buenos Aires and Bombay and becoming what we now know as PEN International. See the spread of PEN Centres throughout the world on our interactive map.
Writers and Free Expression 