Each of the fifteen essays explores the crucial place of the writer, past and present. Their work articulates 'brave new words' at the heart of battles against limitations on fundamental rights of citizenship, the closure of national borders, fake news, and an increasing reluctance to engage with critical democratic debate. The fifteen contributors are: Jay Bernard; Bernardine Evaristo; Kevin Eze; Romesh Gunesekera; Eva Hoffman; James Kelman; Tabish Khair; Kei Miller; Blake Morrison; Hsiao-Hung Pai; Olumide Popoola; Shivanee Ramlochan; Bina Shah; Raja Shehadeh; Marina Warner.