Contributor(s): Gabriella Ambrosio, Vered Cohen–Barzilay, Marina Nemat | Literature has a unique capacity to touch the hearts and minds and engage readers in a way that is distinctly different from political or academic texts. Can it play a role in exposing human rights violations? Should literature be ‘engaged’, and should authors take political or social stand? Gabriella Ambrosio’s first novel, Before we Say Goodbye, was inspired by the true story of a suicide bombing and is widely used as an educational tool. Vered Cohen–Barzilay is founder of Novel Rights, which encourages the literary community to take action. Marina Nemat’s memoir, Prisoner of Tehran, tells of growing up in Iran, being imprisoned for speaking out against the Iranian government and escaping a death sentence. Susan Marks joined the LSE in 2010 as Professor of International Law. This event forms part of LSE's 5th Space for Thought Literary Festival, taking place from Tuesday 26 February - Saturday 2 March 2013, with the theme 'Branching Out'.