Margaret Atwood, Zadie Smith, and Ian McEwan are among several authors participating in an auction that allows readers to name characters in their upcoming novels. This initiative aims to raise funds for survivors of torture and is part of Freedom from Torture's 10th anniversary literary festival.
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The festival will take place on November 11 at the London Library, featuring leading authors and torture survivors, alongside a poetry competition and live readings. More than 75 writers, poets, artists, and illustrators are involved, with prizes also including original artwork by Quentin Blake, a rare illustrated book of Mary Wollstonecraft stories, and a book club visit with author Louise Doughty.
Additionally, a bookmark raffle will showcase over 30 designs by authors, each accompanying a signed copy of the inspiring book. Contributors include David Nicholls, Mark Haddon, and Nikesh Shukla. The poetry competition will focus on the experiences of torture survivors, judged by Booker Prize-winner Alan Hollinghurst and poet Rachael Allen.
The event highlights increasing concerns about asylum policies in Britain and Europe, with the charity warning that legal protections are under threat, potentially endangering torture survivors.
Tracy Chevalier, bestselling author and frequent participant in character-naming auctions, expressed her initial hesitation regarding the naming process, as she finds character names deeply meaningful. Chevalier has participated in multiple auctions, forming friendships with winning bidders, such as Laura Devine, who inspired a character in her novel Burning Bright.
Chevalier emphasized the festival's importance in allowing survivors to share their stories authentically. "The story of your life is inside of you and for a lot of people it’s not great," she stated. "They've had really terrible experiences and that pressure builds." She stressed the therapeutic power of writing for survivors.
Samuel Morton, Freedom from Torture's special events and philanthropy manager, echoed concerns over the government’s proposals to ease the appeals process for asylum seekers. He noted that poor-quality asylum decisions could result in survivors being returned to their torturers, highlighting the need to uphold strong legal protections.