John Ralston Saul elected president of International PEN

Author John Ralston Saul has just been elected president of PEN International, the first Canadian to have the post in the 88-year history of the organization, according to an online posting in the Globe and Mail. The organization was founded in 1921 to promote literature and has become an important defender of freedom of speech. It now is in 102 countries around the world. Saul, who was once the president of PEN Canada and succeeds Czech writer Jiri Grusa, who held the post for six years, said in a press release:

“International PEN is the world’s most important and oldest freedom of speech and literary organisation," he said in a press release. "Almost 1,000 writers who are in prison or are in danger around the world look to us for help. We have to invent new ways of turning back the rise of authoritarian controls.

"Threats to freedom of speech are expanding in new directions, especially with the rise of populism in the post-9/11 world. In addition, hundreds of minority and indigenous languages and cultures are in danger of extinction. This is the ultimate denial of freedom of speech.”

Saul is married to former governor general Adrienne Clarkson.