Photograph of a table set up for the Hermann Kesten Awards ceremony 2018, which took place on 15 November 2018 at the Kammerspiele auditorium of the Staatstheater in Darmstadt. Whilst living in exile in France, the German writer Hermann Kesten became active in the Emergency Rescue Committee for German-speaking writers, and this prize (originally called the Hermann Kesten medal) was established by the German Centre in his name in 1985. It is awarded in recognition of outstanding efforts made in the support of persecuted writers, according to the principles set out in PEN International’s Charter.