Zadie Smith among authors letting public bid to name new characters for charity auction
Renowned authors including Zadie Smith and Margaret Atwood are auctioning the right to name characters in their upcoming novels to raise funds for the charity Freedom from Torture. The initiative is part of a literary festival celebrating storytelling and human rights.
Why it matters
This event highlights the intersection of high-profile literary culture and humanitarian advocacy, leveraging celebrity status for charitable impact.
Zadie Smith, seen here in 2023, is one of several high-profile writers involved in the literary festival. Zadie Smith, seen here in 2023, is one of several high-profile writers involved in the literary festival. Human rights Zadie Smith among authors letting public bid to name new characters for charity auction Other prizes at Freedom from Torture event include rare Mary Wollstonecraft book illustrated by William Blake
Prefer the Guardian on Google Margaret Atwood, Zadie Smith and Ian McEwan are among a number of literary stars auctioning off the chance for readers to name characters in their next novels to raise money for survivors of torture.
The auction is part of Freedom from Torture’s 10th anniversary literary festival, which brings together leading authors and survivors for a celebration of storytelling, featuring a poetry competition and live readings at the London Library on 11 November.
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