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The
Jane Austen Society
Jane
Austen (1775 – 1817), novelist, lived her life as part of a large and close knit family located on the lower fringes
of English gentry. Works: Sense and Sensibility, Pride and Prejudice, Mansfield Park, Emma, Northanger Abbey,
Persuasion.
The Jane Austen Society is active in its wider aim of honouring the author
and promoting interest in her life and work. In addition to the Society's day and weekend conferences, a varied
menu of events is offered by Branches and Groups in Bath and Bristol, Cambridge, Hampshire, the Isle of Wight, Kent, London,
the Midlands, Norfolk, the North, Scotland and counties adjoining Surrey - the Southern Circle. More details on their website at http://www.janeaustensoci.freeuk.com/
The
Jane Austen Society Midlands
Jane Austen (1775 – 1817), novelist, lived her life as part of a large and close knit family located on the lower
fringes of English gentry. Works: Sense
and Sensibility, Pride and Prejudice, Mansfield Park, Emma, Northanger Abbey, Persuasion.
The Midlands Society was founded in
1990 with the intention of providing regular meetings where like-minded people could share and promote interest in, and understanding
of, the life and works of Jane Austen. It produces an annual publication Transactions, and members also receive
seasonal newsletters - and there are events. More information at www.janeaustensoci.freeuk.com/pages/branches/midlands_home.htm.
The
Francis Bacon Research Trust Francis Bacon, Baron Verulam,
Viscount St Alban (1561 - 1626), philosopher, lawyer, statesman, poet, essayist. Lord Keeper of the Great Seal (1617
- 1623), Lord High Chancellor (1618 - 1623).
The Trust researches and provides education in the philosophy, life, times and works of Sir
Francis Bacon, and of others associated with him, influenced by him or having a bearing on his work.
The Trust especially
focuses on the wisdom teachings embodied in these works, and on the evidence suggesting that Bacon was the author Shakespeare
and head of a literary studio of poets and writers.
The Trust also presents seminars and other educational
events, publishes books, articles, research papers and a newsletter, and runs a membership scheme. More detail at www.fbrt.org.uk.
The Beddoes Society
Thomas Lovell Beddoes (1803 – 1849), poet and dramatist. Born in Clifton, Somerset, the son of Dr Thomas
Beddoes, a friend of Samuel Taylor Coleridge. Published during his lifetime: The Improvisatore, and The
Bride’s Tragedy.
More details on their website at http://www.phantomwooer.org/
The Adrian Bell Society
Adrian Bell (1901 – 1980), journalist-farmer. The son of a newspaper editor, born in London and later
moved to Suffolk. Publications include Corduroy, Silver Ley, The Cherry Tree, The Countryman’s Notebook.
One of the finest writers on country matters. Wrote 24 books between 1930 and 1976, generally based on the country
and farming. Weekly essays in local paper. These are currently being republished in same paper. Numerous
articles for varied publication. Compiled 4,520 Times crosswords over 50 year period.
The aim of the Society is to encourage an interest in Adrian Bell's life and work. Membership
is worldwide. It produces two journals and holds two meetings each year (April and October). There are also various
outings. Talks about Bell given to clubs and similar. More details from Mr M Flynn (Treasurer and Membership
Secretary), 28 Skelton Road, Diss, Norfolk, IP22 4PW.
The Hilaire Belloc Society
Joseph Hilaire Pierre Rene Belloc (1870 – 1953), writer of light verse, essays, travel books, history,
biography, and fiction. Works include The Bad Child’s
Book of Beasts.
More details from the Hilaire
Belloc Society, 1 Hillview, Elsted, Midhurst GU29 OJX.
The
Arnold Bennett Society
Arnold Bennett, journalist and writer of fiction. Best known for the Clayhanger trilogy, and The Old Wives’ Tale.
The present Society was reformed in 1954 and has members throughout the UK and
overseas. It is based in the city of Stoke on Trent, the ‘five towns’ of Bennett. Their aim is to
promote the study and appreciation of the life, works and times, not only of Arnold Bennett himself, but also of other provincial
writers, with particular relationship to North Staffordshire. More details on the Society from http://www.arnoldbennettsociety.org.uk/
The E F Benson Society
E F Benson (1867 - 1940), prolific writer and best known for his Mapp
and Lucia series and ghost stories. Also wrote biographies and autobiographies, as well as fiction.
Formed in 1984, the Society publishes an annual journal,
The Dodo, a talk, and organises walks in Rye, an annual visit to Rye, and also visits to places of Benson interest.
It gives talks on the Bensons and has organised exhibitions.
More details on the Society from http://www.efbensonsociety.org/
The Betjeman Society
John Betjeman (1906
– 1984), poet, writer and broadcaster. Educated at Magdalen College Oxford, his first book of poems Mount
Zion was published in 1931. Knighted in 1969 and Poet Laureate from 1972 until his death in 1984, he is buried
at St Enodoc, Daymer Bay, North Cornwall.
The Society aims to promote
the study and appreciation of the work and life of Sir John Betjeman by bringing together all those who admire his writings
and share his enthusiasms. There is an annual programme which includes poetry readings, lectures, discussions, visits
to places associated with him, walks, picnics and social events. A regular newsletter is published which gives information
about the Society. Our annual journal, The Betjemanian, contains articles, letters, reviews and photographs.
Meetings are held in London and other centres. There is also a growing number of local branches.
More details on the Society from http://www.johnbetjeman.com/society.html
The Bewick Society
Thomas Bewick (1753 – 1828), wood engraver and ornithologist. Works include Select Fables, A General History of Quadrupeds, and History
of British Birds.
The Society works to promote an interest
in the life and work of Thomas Bewick and related subjects, especially with regard to wood engraving. They produce a
newsletter, Cherryburn Times, twice a year, and there are also visits to special collections (some of which are not
open to the public).
For more detail, visit http://www.bewicksociety.org/
The Blake Society of St James’s
William Blake (1757 – 1827), poet, painter, and engraver.
Founded in 1985, the Blake Society encourages
a greater appreciation of William Blake’s remarkable artistic achievement through regular meetings with eminent speakers.
They publish a journal each year and this is regarded as a major source of Blake studies. For more detail, visit http://www.blakesociety.org.uk/
The Robert Bloomfield Society
Robert Bloomfield (1766 - 1823), poet. best known for The Farmer's Boy.
The Robert Bloomfield Society was founded in 2000 and aims to serve admirers of this remarkable and unjustly neglected
poet through promoting awareness of his life and work. It acts as a focus for anyone who may have a local, family, academic
or general literary interest in the poet. Membership entitles you to participate in the events that the Society organises
and to receive its newsletter. The Society hosts an annual Bloomfield Day, and at least one social event, usually involving
a visit to locations identified with Bloomfield. In past years they have toured Bloomfield's Suffolk, the Bedfordshire
locations where he spent his latter days, and visited the British Library for an introduction to their extensive Robert Bloomfield
holdings. To find out more, visit the website at http://robert-bloomfield.digi-hosting.co.uk/, or by mail to Hugh Underhill, 71 Spenser Road, Bedford, MK40 2BE.
The George Borrow
Society
George Henry Borrow (1803 – 1881), writer of novels and travelogues.
His most important works were: The Zincali,
or The Gypsies of Spain; The Bible of Spain; Lavengro; The Romany Rye; Wild Wales; Romano Lavo-lil: Word-book of the
Romany.
Founded in 1991, the Society works to promote knowledge of the life and works of George Borrow. Meetings are held
each year, usually either close to the date of Borrow's birth (5 July) or in September. The pattern varies but may
include the reading and discussion of papers, visits to sites connected with Borrow, and related social activities.
The Society issues the George Borrow Bulletin twice a year, containing scholarly articles and news of events and
publications relating to Borrow.
For
more detail, visit http://www.clough5.fsnet.co.uk/gb.html
The Boswell Society
The Boswell Society exists
to foster interest and research into all aspects pertaining to the life and works of James Boswell, his family, and his associates.
It meets for lunch followed by a speaker. In Lichfield in March; in London in May; in Edinburgh in August; in Bath in
October; and at Auchinleck, Ayreshire, in November.
To find out more about the Society,
contact David Boswell, Balmuto, The Avenue, Tunsbury, Bath, BA2 OHD, or Derek Walker on 01623 870515.
The Bronte Society
The Bronte Society is open to everyone to join. It is one of the oldest literary societies in the English speaking
world. They are always looking for new members to join and help support their important work in preserving the museum
at Haworth and the library collections. They have now refurbished their exhibition area with secure glass cases and
fibre optic lighting, allowing them to display original manuscripts, first editions and other items from their priceless collection.
Visit the website for details of their upcoming exhibitions. To
learn more about the Bronte family and the Society, visit http://www.bronte.org.uk/
The Rupert Brooke Society
Rupert Chawner Brooke (1887 –
1915), poet, known for his idealistic War Sonnets written during World War I. Died on his way to Gallipoli and buried on
the Greek island of Skyros.
To learn more about Rupert Brooke,
and the Society, visit http://rupertbrooke.com/index.html
The
Browning Society
Robert
Browning (1812 – 1889), poet and playwright.
Elizabeth Barrett Browning (1806 - 1861), poet.
Formed
in 1969, the Browning Society aims to provide a focus for contemporary interest in Robert and Elizabeth Barrett Browning.
There is an annual programme of lectures, and visits, in London and elsewhere, in addition to the publication of the Browning
Society Notes. Activities centre on London and the Home Counties, but members living elsewhere in Britain and overseas
are kept in touch through the journal and regular interchanges of news and information. The Browning Society also supports
the effots of the Friends of Casa Guidi to restore and maintain the Browning home in Florence.
For more information, visit
http://www.browningsociety.org/
The John Buchan Society
John Buchan, 1st Baron Tweedsmuir (1875 – 1940), Scottish
novelist. Works include The Thirty Nine
Steps, and Prester John.
Founded in 1979,
the Society works to promote a wider understanding and appreciation of the life and works of John Buchan. There is an
annual dinner and AGM, alternately in Scotland and in England. To find out more, visit http://www.johnbuchansociety.co.uk/
The Burney Society
Frances Burney
(1752 – 1840), also known as Fanny Burney, novelist, diarist and playwright. Works include Evelina, Cecilia, Camilla, and The
Wanderer. A brilliant woman whose diaries
and journals illuminate many details of 18th or 19th century life. Her novels were part of Jane Austen's inspiration.
The Society
works for the advancement of education into aspects of history and literature relating to Fanny Burney and her connections.
For
details of the Society, contact David and Janet Tregear, 36 Henty Gardens, Chichester PO19 3DL (tel. 01243 533928
or email tregear.david@virgin.net.
The Caldecott Society
Randolph Caldecott (1846 – 1886), artist and illustrator. He greatly influenced the illustration
of children’s books during the 19th century. He also illustrated novels, accounts of foreign travel,
made humorous drawings depicting hunting and fashionable life, drew cartoons, made sketches of the famous Parliament inside
and out, and exhibited sculptures and oils/watercolours in the Royal Academy.
The Society works to promote and encourage, for the public benefit, the study and appreciation of the work and
life of Randolph Caldecott. For more information, visit http://www.randolphcaldecott.org.uk/
The Lewis Carroll Society
The Reverend Charles Lutwidge Dodgson (1832 – 1898),
author, mathematician, logician, Anglican clergyman, and photographer. Most famous writings were Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, Through the Looking Glass, The Hunting of the Snark, and Jabberwocky.
Formed in 1969, the Society aims to encourage research into the life and works of Lewis Carroll.
Its membership is worldwide. The Society organises meetings with speakers, weekends away at Lewis Carroll related locations,
and produces four different periodicals, published 2 - 4 times per year. It holds about 6 meetings per year, some
in London and some 'days away' elsewhere. There is usually a long conference weekend at a Lewis Carroll related
location.
For
more information, visit http://lewiscarrollsociety.org.uk/ or contact Roger E Allen, 29 Soloman Drive, Bideford, Devon, EX39 5XY (tel. 01237 420432; email lundycabbage@aol.com)
The Daresbury
Lewis Carroll Society
Contact:
K N Oultram, Clatterwick Hall, Little Leigh, Northwich, Cheshire CW8 4RJ.
The Chesterton Society
Gilbert Keith Chesterton (1874 – 1936), journalist, philosopher, poet,
biographer, and writer of fantasy and detective fiction. Works include the Father Brown series,
The Man Who Was Thursday, Lepanto, The Rolling
English Road, and The Secret People.
To contact
the Society: The Chesterton Society, 11 Lawrence Leys, Bloxham, Oxon OX15 4NH
The John Clare Society
John Clare (1793
– 1864), commonly known as the Northamptonshire
Peasant Poet. A prolific writer with
a large collection of manuscripts in the Peterborough and Northampton museums. Clare’s poetic descriptions of
local fauna and flora are a great source of reference for natural historians.
Founded in 1981, the Society works to promote a wider and deeper knowledge of Clare and his countryside.
They produce a quarterly newsletter, and an annual journal. The John Clare Festival weekend is held each July in the
village of Helpston, just outside Peterborough – open to everyone. Membership is international – with branches
in the USA and now in Japan.
For more information, visit http://www.johnclare.org.uk/
The William Cobbett Society
William Cobbett (1763 – 1835), political pamphleteer, farmer and prolific
journalist. Born in Farnham, Surrey. A passionate defender of the freedom of the press, and parliamentarian where
he started parliamentary debate later taken over by Harvard. He served as a soldier in New Brunswick speaking out against
corruption in the Army and criticising flogging which later earned him two years in Newgate Prison. His most well known
works are a paper, Porcupine Gazette (1797 - 99), published whilst in Philadelphia, Rural Rides (1810),
Advice to Young Men (1830), and about 50 other works.
The Society aims to bring together those who have an interest in the life and writings of William Cobbett.
For more detail on the Society, visit their website at www.williamcobbett.org.uk .
The Friends of Coleridge
Samuel Taylor Coleridge (1772 – 1834), poet, critic and philosopher. Best known for The Rime of the Ancient Mariner, Kubla Khan and
Biographia Literaria.
Founded in 1986, The Friends of Coleridge aim to foster interest in his life and works and to
support Coleridge Cottage in Nether Stowey, Somerset, through cooperation with the National Trust. They produce the
Coleridge Bulletin twice a year, host an annual study weekend at Kilve in Somerset, and sponsor a biennial international
conference at Cannington, close to the Quantock Hills.
More information from http://www.friendsofcoleridge.com/
The Samuel Taylor Coleridge
Memorial Poetry Prize
For more information visit the website at www.coleridgepoetryaward.com.
The Wilkie Collins Society
William Wilkie Collins (1824 – 1889), novelist,
playwright, and short story writer. Best known works: The Woman in White, The Moonstone, Armadale and No Name.
Formed in 1980, the Society works to promote interest in the life and works of Collins.
The Society issues a newsletter three times a year, and a journal. It also publishes an annual reprint of one of Collins’
short, lesser known works.
For
more detail, visit http://www.wilkie-collins.info/wilkie_collins_society.htm
The Joseph Conrad Society
Joseph Conrad (1857 - 1924), Polish born British novelist.
Works include Heart of Darkness and Nostromo.
The Society is devoted to the study of all aspects of the writings and life of Joseph Conrad. Our aim is to provide
a forum and resource for Conrad scholars throughout the world and those with a strong interest in things "Conradian."
Founded in 1973, The Joseph Conrad Society (UK) has, from small beginnings,
grown into a learned society with an international outreach and perspective. We publish the premier Conrad journal, The
Conradian, appearing twice annually, hold an annual international conference in the early summer, award an annual essay
prize, and promote the study of Conrad by offering, when possible, resources and support to scholars without or with limited
access to university or other sources of funding.
For more detail visit their website at www.josephconradsociety.org
The Cumbrian Literary
Group
Founded in 1946, the Group provides a meeting place for readers and writers, and those with
an interest in literature. There are monthly lectures from April to October. Poetry and prose competitions
annual. A magazine Bookshelf produced once a year. For more information contact The Cumbrian
Literary Group, Joyce Fisher at fisher_07@btinternet.com.
The Walter De
La Mare Society
Walter John de la Mare (1873 – 1956), poet, short story writer, novelist,
anthropologist, and critic, probably best remembered for his works for children, the novel Memoirs of a Midget,
and the poem, The Listeners.
The Society aims to honour his memory by promoting the study and widening
the readership of his works. It also aims to facilitate research, encourage, and, where possible, support, new publications.
The Society plans an annual event, issues an annual magazine, and occasional newsletters.
For detail on the Society,
visit http://www.bluetree.co.uk/wdlmsociety/
The Dickens Fellowship
Charles John Huffam Dickens (1812 –
1870), most prolific writer of the 19th century, most of who's novels were aimed at bringing public awareness of
the social injustices of the day.
The Fellowship aims to stimulate, or rekindle an appreciation of Dickens' pure artistry of words and for his eminently
great genius of story-telling. For more information, visit http://www.dickensfellowship.org/
For the Birmingham
branch, contact Dickens (Birmingham), 41 Claverdon Drive, Great Barr, Birmingham B43 5HR (0121 357 6593).
The Dubliners Literary Circle
Irish/Anglo-Irish: Moore, Yeats, Joyce, Becket, etc.
Special interest in English writers who have contributed to Irish literary history.
The Circle meets fortnightly to read and discuss Irish and Anglo-Irish authors.
Current membership is 24. For more information, contact Desmond O’Malley, 35 Silloge Gardens, Dublin 11 (tel. 087949
7541 or email byrne.desmond@yahoo.com).
The Dorothy Dunnett
Readers Association
Dorothy Dunnett
(1923 – 2001), Scottish historical novelist. Best known for the Lymond Chronicles,
and The House of Niccolo.
The Association produces a quarterly magazine, Whispering Gallery,
and holds an annual gathering in Edinburgh in April. There are also affiliated meetings. For more detail, visit
http://www.ddra.org/home.htm
Friends of the Dymock Poets
Robert Frost, Wilfrid Gibson, Lascelles Abercrombie, John Drinkwater, Rupert Brooke.
Formed in 1993 the Friends exist to foster an interest in the work
of the Dymock Poets, preserve places and things associated with them, keep members informed of literary and other matters
relating to them, help protect the border countryside of Herefordshire and Gloucestershire, and increase knowledge and appreciation
of the landscape between May Hill and the Malvern Hills. They produce a newsletter three times a year, an annual
journal; hold spring day talks and a walk; and hold a weekend of talks/walks in early October.
To find out more, visit http://www.dymockpoets.co.uk.
The George Eliot Fellowship
Mary Ann Evans (1819 – 1880), later to become George Eliot, novelist,
born at Arbury near Nuneaton. She was an intellectual but had a profound insight into the lives of the ordinary individual.
Evangelicalism dominated her earlier life but she abandoned these ideas to become a free thinker in her early twenties.
She translated important religious works, wrote poetry and later became assistant editor of the Westminster Review.
She lived an unconventional life - living openly with George Henry Lewes for whom divorce was impossible, for 24 years, and
who encouraged her at the age of 37 to begin to write fiction. After his death, she had a brief marriage to John Walter
Cross.
The George Eliot Fellowship was founded in 1930 and exists to promote interest
in George Eliot and her works. It is a forum for those who admire her writing, and for those who wish to learn more.
It encourages the collection of material associated with her nationally and locally. It publishes The George Eliot
Review annually with a strong academic element but focuses also on matter of general interest through its newsletters.
To find out more visit www.george-eliot-fellowship.com or email blueyorkshirecat@yahoo.co.uk.
The T S Eliot Society
Thomas Stearns Eliot (1888 - 1965), poet, dramatist and literary critic. Received the Nobel Prize
for Literature in 1948. Among his most famous writings are the poems: The Lovesong of J Alfred Prufrock, The
Waste Land, The Hollow Men, Ash Wednesday and Four Quartets; the plays Murder in the Cathedral and
The Cocktail Party; and the essay Tradition and the Individual Talent.
The
Society works to promote the study and appreciation of T S Eliot in England; promotes events and conferences celebrating Eliot's
works; produces a regular newsletter; and organises an annual Eliot Day at Little Gidding.
For further detail write
to The T S Eliot Society, Ferrar House, Little Gidding, Huntingdon, Cambs PE28 5RJ.
The Elmet Trust
The late Poet Laureate, Ted Hughes, is best known as one of the greatest poets of his
generation although he also wrote for children (The Iron Man), plays, reviews and essays. Hughes won numerous
awards including four for his final collection Birthday
Letters.
The Elmet Trust is a charitable
company whose purpose is to promote and celebrate the life and works of Ted Hughes in his native village of Mytholmroyd, West
Yorkshire. We have an annual festival in October. To learn more about the Trust, visit the website at www.thelementtrust.com.
The Ford Madox Ford Society
Ford Madox Ford (1873 – 1939), novelist, poet, critic and editor.
Best remembered for the Good Soldier and the Parade’s End tetralogy.
The Society was founded in 1997 to promote knowledge of and interest in Ford. They organise an active programme
of events. For more information on the Society, visit http://www.rialto.com/fordmadoxford_society/
The Gaskell Society
Elizabeth Cleghorn Gaskell (1810 – 1865), nee
Stevenson, was raised in Knutsford, Cheshire, before her marriage to a Manchester Unitarian Minister in 1832. The death
of her only son inspired her to write and Dickens invited her to contribute to his magazine. Her home at Plymouth Grove
was visited by many famous people from 1850 to her early death.
Formed in 1985, in Knutsford, the
Society works to promote and encourage the study and appreciation of the work and life of this Victorian author of Cranford,
Mary Barton, North and South, Wives and Daughters, Silvia's Lovers, as well as numerous short stories, and
biography of Charlotte Bronte. To arrange associated visits and encourage republication of her works. Bi-annual
conference.
For more information, visit http://www.gaskellsociety.co.uk/
The Kenneth Grahame Society
Kenneth Grahame (1859
– 1932) is best known as the author of The
Wind in the Willows and The Reluctant Dragon. He also wrote a number of essays and two highly-regarded collections of short stories - The Golden Age and Dream Days - about a family of orphaned children.
The aims of the Society are to encourage scholarly study and discussion
of the works of Kenneth Grahame, actively promote an expanded universe around The Wind in the Willows, and to be
a comprehensive and accurate resource on the life and works of Kenneth Grahame. The Society has an extensive website.
It organises an AGM/weekend in late August/September each year - at locations associated with Kenneth Grahame, and
the Society newsletter, Riverbank News, is sent to all members twice a year. Membership is free and membership
applications from all over the world are welcomed.
There will be a small subsection within the Kenneth Grahame
Society dedicated to the works of Sir Arthur Quiller-Couch from 2008 until an independent literary society dedicated
to him is formed.
To find out more, visit http://www.kennethgrahamesociety.net/ or email badger@kennethgrahamesociety.net.
The
Winston Graham and Poldark Literary Society
Born in 1908,
Winston Graham is best known for his series of Poldark books set in Cornwall.
There
are two forums: www.poldark.activeboard.com and www.wgpls.activeboard.com. The Society has now relaunched itself and is actively looking for members. To learn more please email poltren@gmail.com.
The Robert Graves Society
Robert Graves (1895 - 1985), poet, novelist, mythographer, critic and historian. Probably
best known as the author of I, Claudius, Claudius the God, and as a survivor and poet of the Great War.
The Robert Graves Society was launched in 1995 during the Robert Graves Centenary Conference at St John's
College, Oxford. The object of the Society is to promote interest in, and research on, the life and works of Robert
Graves. The Society's membership of over 200 experts and enthusiasts forms the core of an international research
community which includes literary scholars, historians, classicists, archaeologists, biblical scholars, bibliographers, editors,
writers and translators - besides, of course, general readers. The Society organises an international conference
every two years, and also publishes the leading journal of Graves studies, Gravesiana, annually. To find out
more, please visit their website at www.robertgraves.org.
The Graham Greene Birthplace Trust
Henry Graham Greene (1904 – 1991), novelist, short story writer, playwright,
screenwriter, travel writer, and critic. Greene combined serious literary acclaim with wide popularity. Works
include, Brighton Rock, The Quiet American,
Our Man in Havana, The Man Within, Stamboul Train.
The Trust aims to promote the appreciation and study of the
works of Graham Greene, and is based in Berkhamsted, his birthplace. More detail from http://www.grahamgreenebt.org/
The Fulke Greville Society
Fulke Greville, 1st Baron Brooke, de jure 13th Baron Latimer, and 5th
Baron Willoughby de Broke (1554 – 1628), Elizabethen poet, dramatist and statesman. His poetry consists of closet
tragedies, sonnets, and political/moral subjects. Works include The Life of the Renowned Sir Philip Sidney, Alaham, Mustapha.
For more information on the Society, contact Anthony Astbury,
6 Mellors Court, the Butts, Warwick, CV34 4ST (tel. 01926 492086.
The Rider Haggard Society
Sir Henry Rider Haggard (1856 – 1925), prolific writer of adventure novels. Famous
for King Solomon's Mines and She, but also for non-fiction works on farming, social conditions and historical
aspects of the Boer War. Many of his adventure stories have been filmed and some dramatised. A fascinating man
and a fascinating life. Very influential.
Formed in 1987, the Society meets every 12 - 18 months in different
locations. They research and help studies from all over the world. Recently introduced an annual Short Story Competition
for the general public. A journal is issued four times a year, with many coloured illustrations. Hundreds
of Haggard books are available to purchase. For more information visit http://www.riderhaggardsociety.org.uk/
The Thomas Hardy Society
Thomas Hardy (1840 – 1928), novelist,
short story writer, and poet. The bulk of his work, set mainly in the semi-imaginary county of Wessex, delineates characters
struggling against their passions and circumstances. Works include The Poor Man and the Lady, Far from the Madding Crowd, the Mayor of Casterbridge, The Woodlanders,
and Tess of the d’Urbervilles.
The Society aims
to promote the works of Hardy for both education and enjoyment. It’s for anyone with an interest in Hardy.
It holds various events, including a biennial international conference and a festival. For more information, visit http://www.hardysociety.org/
The James Hilton Society
James Hilton (1900 – 1954), novelist and scriptwriter. Author of Lost Horizon,
Random Harvest and Goodbye Mr Chips. Eight of his novels were made into films.
The aims of the Society are to promote interest in the life and
works of James Hilton. We publish a quarterly newsletter and an annual scholarly journal, and organises conferences
and meetings.
For more information visit http://www.jameshiltonsociety.co.uk/
The Historical Novel Society Founded in 1997, the Society promotes all aspects of historical fiction. They provide
support and opportunities for new writers; information for students, booksellers and librarians; and a community for authors,
readers, agents and publishers. They publish a quarterly magazine, Historical Novels Review, and a twice yearly
magazine Solander. There are also conferences in the UK and the USA.
For more information visit http://www.historicalnovelsociety.org/
The Hopkins Society
Gerard
Manley Hopkins (1844 – 1889), poet. His experimental explorations in prosody (especially sprung rhythm) and his
use of imagery established him as a daring innovator in a period of largely traditional verse. He had close connections
with Wales. Learned Welsh, and read Welsh poetry which influenced his writing of English poetry.
Centred
in North Wales, the Society was founded by an initiative of the Welsh 'Academie' but is an independent society.
Membership is international. Activities, two days a year - guided study and annual lecture (published) - speakers have
included Carol Rumens and Rowan Williams.
To find out more, contact Ambrose Boothby, Publicity Officer, 35 Manor
Park Gloddaeth Avenue, Llandudno LL30 2SE (ambrose_boothby@hotmail.com - 01492 875334).
The Housman Society
Alfred Edward Housman
(1859 – 1936) was a poet of great popularity and widespread influence. He was a Latin scholar of the front rank
and his influence is still felt today.
Founded in 1973, the Society aims to promote knowledge and appreciation
of the lives and works of A E Housman and other members of his family. It produces two newsletters and one journal
per year, and sponsors an annual lecture at Hay on Wye. For more information, visit http://www.housman-society.co.uk/
The Richard Jefferies Society
Richard Jefferies (1848 – 1887), was an
authority on agriculture and rural life. Best known for his nature writing, he was also an essayist, novelist and mystic.
The Richard
Jefferies Society was founded in 1950 and has 300 members around the world. Most activities are based at Coate, Swindon
- Jefferies' birthplace and home, now a museum open to the public on the second Wednesday of the month (10 am to 4 pm)
throughout the year and the first, third and fourth Sundays (2 pm to 5 pm) from May to September inclusive. Admission
is free - park at Coate Water. There are winter meetings, outings, a study day and a Birthday Lecture. Publications
include a yearly Journal, spring and autumn newsletters and an annual report along with leaflets of tours of places beloved
by Jefferies.
More information from the Hon Sec, Jean Saunders, Pear Tree Cottage, Longcot, Oxon SN7 7SS.
Tel. 01793 783040.
Email info@richardjefferiessociety.co.uk.
Website http://richardjefferiessociety.co.uk
Student Forum http://richardjefferies.forumotion.com/
Protect Jefferies Land from development. Please
continue to sign the Save Coate petition: http://www.petitiononline.com/savecoat/petition.html
The
Jerome K Jerome Society
Jerome Klapka Jerome (1859 – 1927), writer and
editor of Today and The
Idler. Best known for the classic of
English humour, Three Men in a Boat (say nothing of the dog), and its sequel, Three Men on the Bummel.
He produced a typically off-beat autobiography, My
Life and Times.
The Society, which is based in the author's birth place, Walsall, was formed in 1984 and
aims to stimulate interest in and public awareness of the life and works of Jerome K Jerome. The magazine, Idle
Thoughts, is produced twice a year. There is a glittering annual dinner in Walsall on or around the author's
birth date, 2 May, and an annual Christmas concert.
To find out more, visit http://www.jeromekjerome.com/
The Johnson Society (Lichfield)
Dr Samuel
Johnson, born in Lichfield Sept 1709 and died in London Dec 1784, lexicographer, author, poet, conversationalist, and Christian.
The Johnson
Society aims to encourage the study of the life, works and times of Samuel Johnson and also to cooperate in preserving the
memorials, associations, manuscripts and letters of Johnson and his contemporaries. It commemorates Johnson's birthday
for a weekend in September every year.
Officers of the Society can be contacted at The Johnson Birthplace Museum, Breadmarket Street, Lichfield,
Staffs WS13 6LG. Or by email at info@thejohnsonsociety.org.uk. Or visit the website at http://www.thejohnsonsociety.org.uk. The annual publication Transactions is published
in January and circulated to members.
The Johnson Society
(London)
The London Society was founded in 1928 and has an international membership. It holds seven meetings each year with
speakers. It also publishes an annual journal The New Rambler and an occasional newsletter The New Idler. For
more detail, visit http://www.thejohnsonsociety.org.uk
The David Jones Society
David Jones (1895 - 1974) attended Camberwell
Art College before joining the Royal Welsh Fusiliers in 1915. He fought at the Battle of the Somme, and, on returning
to England, met Eric Gill and continued to paint. He subsequently started to write, publishing long poems with illustrations.
The Society aims to promote and encourage knowledge about the painter-poet. Annual conferences
are organised, as well as visits to sites of interest where he lived, worked, fought in the Great War, and art galleries containing
his visual art. It also publishes an annual journal.
For more information visit the website at www.davidjonessociety.org.
The
Sheila Kaye Smith Society
Sheila Kaye Smith (1887 – 1956), writer, known for her many novels set in
the borderlands of Sussex and Kent in the English regional tradition. Works include The End of the House of Alard, Joanna Godden, and Susan Spray.
Formed in 1987, the Society works to encourage interest in her writings and their relationship with her life and
with the places associated with her. Meetings in Sussex, in St Leonards.
For more information, contact
The Sheila Kaye Smith Society, Silverden Oast, Church Lane, Northiam, Rye, East Sussex TN31 6NW (tel. –01797 252550).
The Keats-Shelley Association
Formed in
1903, apart from maintaining the Keats Shelley Memorial House, the Association is responsible for the upkeep of the graves
of Keats and Shelley in the non-Catholic Cemetery at Testaccio. In Italy they run a continuous programme of outreach
to schools and other interested groups as well as individual tourists. They publish an annual review of scholarship
and new writing on the Romantics. For more information, visit http://www.keats-shelley.co.uk/
The Kilvert Society
Robert Francis Kilvert (1840 – 1879) , diarist. His Diaries are considered to be classics, and also of historical importance
for the study of remote rural life and Victorian society.
Formed in 1948, the Society aims to keep alive an interest in Francis Kilvert’s diaries
and the countryside he loved. They meet several times a year – based in Hereford. A journal is published
three times a year. Details from The Kilvert Society, 30 Bromley Heath Ave, Downend, Bristol BS16 6JP
The Charles Lamb Society
Charles Lamb (1775 – 1834), essayist and poet. Best known for his
Essays of Elia and for the children’s book Tales from Shakespeare,
which he produced along with his sister, Mary Lamb.
The Charles Lamb Society works to educate the public in the life and work of Lamb and his circle. They also maintain
a collection of Eliana and publish the CLB four times a year. For more information on the Society, contact Nicholas
Powell, Chairman, The Charles Lamb Society, 28 Grove Lane, London SE6 8ST
The Landor Society
Walter
Savage Landor (1775 – 1864), writer and poet. Best known works were the prose Imaginary Conversations, and the poem Rose
Aylmer. He wrote over 300 Latin poems,
political tracts and essays.
Formed in 2000, the aim of the Society is to promote interest in the life
and works of the Warwick born writer, Walter Savage Landor. At present the society is dormant but there are possible
occasional meeetings. Enquiries concerning Walter Savage Landor to Jean Field, Flat 1, Avon Court,
51 Kenilworth Road, Leamington Spa CV32 6JH.
The
Philip Larkin Society
Philip Arthur Larkin (1922 – 1985), poet, novelist
and jazz critic. Born in Coventry, worked as a librarian at the University of Hull until his death.
Founded in 1995, the Society works to promote awareness of the life and work of Philip Larkin and his literary contemporaries;
to bring together all those who admire Larkin's work as poet, novelist, jazz critic and librarian; and to promote
relevant publications on all things regarding Philip Larkin. It holds regular talks on all aspects of Larkin's life
and work; readings; exhibitons; workshops; conferences; and walks and tours to sites of interest associated with Larkin's
life.
The Society's journal is About Larkin; it organises pre-arranged visits to the Larkin
archives held in the Brynmor Jones Library; runs a lively active discussion forum available freely; and the Philip Larkin
Society Shop sells audio and books, including tapes of Larkin reading his own work.
For more information, visit
http://www.philiplarkin.com/
The D H Lawrence Society
David
Herbert Richards Lawrence (1885 – 1930), born in Eastwood, near Nottingham, and died in Vence in the South of France.
In his comparatively short life he travelled widely and established an international reputation as a novelist, poet and short
story writer. He also completed work in many other literary forms - drama, philosophy, history, essays, travel books
and literary criticism. In addition, he was a prolific letter writer and an artist of no mean ability.
The Society was founded in 1974 by a group of enthusiasts in the Eastwood area who wish to encourage knowledge and understanding
of the life and work of D H Lawrence. It aims to bring together people interested in Lawrence and to encourage study
of his work; to provide information and guides for individuals and groups visiting the area; to make links with those interested
in Lawrence in other countries; and to assist in the protection of sites associated with Lawrence and of the countryside in
general.
For information on the Society, contact Mr Leslie Parkes, Treasurer, The D H Lawrence Society,
1 Gorse Close, Newthorpe, Nottingham NG16 2BZ.
The Leamington Literary Society
The Society was founded in 1912 and meets on the second
Tuesday of each month in the Royal Pump Rooms in Leamington Spa. The Society aims to advance education of the public
by the study and appreciation of literature, including poetry and drama. To this end, they engage 10 professional speakers
each year and occasionally host a nationally well known literary figure for an extended audience. For more information about the Society, contact
The Leamington Literary Society, 1 Woodbine Cottages, Woodbine Street, Leamington Spa CV32 5FI - or watkinsmargaret@yahoo.co.uk.
The Wyndham Lewis
Society
Percy Wyndham Lewis (1882
– 1957), Canadian born British painter and author. Co-founded the Vorticist movement in art and edited their journal
BLAST. Novels include Tarr, and The Human Age.
For information on the Society
contact Dr Alan Munton, Library 304, University of Plymouth, Drake Circus, Plymouth, PL4 8AA.
The Katherine Mansfield Society
Katherine Mansfield (1888-1923), modernist short story writer, diarist and letter writer.
An international literary figure who continues to influence fictional techniques. Mansfield is important within European
modernism and is New Zealand's most celebrated writer. Main works: Bliss
and Other Stories; The Garden Party and Other Stories; Journal: Collected Letters; Collected Stories.
This international society was set up in 2008 to promote and encourage the worldwide study and enjoyment
of Katherine Mansfield's writing. Members receive a copy of Katherine Mansfield Studies - the annual journal
of the Society, published annually by Edinburgh University Press; 3 enewsletters a year; regular email news alerts; a comprehensive
website with exclusive member-only resources and daily KM blog; discounted rates for KMS conferences/events.
For further details on the Society, visit their website at http://www.katherinemansfieldsociety.org/
The Marlowe Society
Christopher
Marlowe (1564 – 1593), dramatist, poet, and translator of the Elizabethan era.
The Marlowe Society aims
to present Kit Marlowe in his true light as a great poet and playwright, the innovator of blank verse drama; to encourage
the performance of his plays; to discuss and study Elizabethan and Jacobean literature with particular attention to Marlowe’s
place in it; and to publish historically valid information about him based on research. They produce two newsletters
annually, and hold various events. For more information, visit http://www.marlowe-society.org/
The Martineau Society
The Society was established to foster the collection, preservation, study and publication in the public interest
of material relating to the Martineau family of Norwich in the 19th c. and the principles of freedom of conscience
advocated by Harriet Martineau and her brother, Dr James Martineau.
The main activities of the Society are an annual meeting in July which includes the presentation
of papers, local trails related to the Martineau family, social events and exchanges of information. There is an interest
also in collaborating with other literary societies which have connections to the Martineau family - e.g. the Gaskell and
Carlyle Societies.
More information on the Society can be found at http://www.hmc.ox.ac.uk/MartineauSoc/martineausoc.html
The John Meade Falkner Society
Born in 1858,
the son of a Wiltshire curate, Meade Falkner spent most of his childhood in Dorchester and Weymouth. From Marlborough
College and Hertford College, Oxford, he joined the huge armaments firm of Armstrong in Newcastle, and ended up as Chairman.
He wrote three novels - The Lost Stradivarius, Moonfleet, and The Nebuly Coat; topographical guides; and
poetry, dying at his home in Durham in July 1932.
The Society
was established in 1999 on the anniversary of Meade Falkner's birth - 8 May. Its aim is to promote the appreciation
and study of the life, times and works of an author best known as the writer of Moonfleet. An annual journal,
three newsletters and suport for buildings associated with Meade Falkner are the main activities. The main areas
of interest are Durham, Newcastle, Oxford, Burford, Dorset and Wiltshire.
For more information, visit http://www.johnmeadefalknersociety.co.uk
The
Arthur Morrison Society
Arthur George Morrison (1863 – 1945), author and journalist,
known for his realistic novels about London’s East End and for his detective stories. Best known for A Child
of the Jago. Also collected Japanese prints.
The Society was formed as a result of the 2007 Loughton Festival. More information can
be obtained from their website at http://arthurmorrisonsociety.vpweb.co.uk.
The Melrose Literary Society
Meetings take place at the Ormiston Institute in Melrose. For more detail contact Mr Laing Speirs,
Bowden Knowe, Bowden, Melrose TD6 OST (tel. 01835 823768).
The Neil Munro Society
Neil Munro (1863 – 1930), Scottish novelist, short story writer, journalist,
and poet. Works include historical novels like The New Road and humorous short fiction such as Para Hands.
Formed
in 1996, the Society organises conferences, meetings, and visits related to Munro, his work and contemporaries. For more information, visit http://www.neilmunro.co.uk/
The Nancy Blackett Trust
Nancy Blackett
is one of the boats once owned by Arthur Ransome, author of the Swallows and Amazons books. Rescued and restored,
she is preserved by the Trust, as an important part of literary heritage. The boat is regularly on show at maritime
festivals and sails hundreds of miles each year, crewed by Trust members. For more information, visit http://www.nancyblackett.org/
The Francis William Newman Society
F W Newman (1805 - 1897), youngest brother of Cardinal John Henry Newman,
was (in addition to being one of England's foremost classical scholars and mathematicians) the leading British advocate
for pure Theism. His books, A History of the Hebrew Monarchy, The Soul, and Phases of Faith, introduced
a generation of readers to the idea of a relationship with God independent of external authorities. He was, throughout
his life, an outspoken critic of British imperialism and every form of social oppression.
The FWNS is a non-profit
organisation committed to the dissemination of the works of F. W. Newman and to advancement of critical thought regarding
his life and works. They hope that the wide range of subjects represented in Newman's writings - religious, philosophical,
philanthropic, political, historical, philological, orthographic, mathematical, economical, and dietary - will be reflected
in the diversity of interests that their members bring to the FWNS. Nevertheless, Newman's paramount interest was
in religious studies, particularly within the Judaeo-Christian tradition, and it is Newman's exemplary practice of bringing
all his intellect to bear upon the study of religion that establishes the precedent for this Society and determines its emphasis.
To
find out more about the Society visit their website at http://www.fwnewman.org
The Wilfred Owen Association
Wilfred Edward Salter Owen (1893 – 1918), poet and soldier.
Best known works include Dulce Et Decorum Est, Insensibility, Anthem for Doomed Youth, Futility, and Strange
Meeting.
The
Association promotes the poetry of Wilfred Owen, organises occasional lectures, and publishes the Wilfred Owen Journal.
For
more detail of the Association, visit http://www.1914-18.co.uk/owen/, email swgray@tiscali.co.uk or phone 01323 641520.
The Edith Nesbit Society
Edith Nesbit (1858 – 1924), author
and poet. She wrote or collaborated on over 60 books of fiction for children. Best known for The Story of
the Treasure Seekers and The Wouldbegoods.
To find out about the Society, contact
The Edith Nesbit Society, 26 Strongbow Road, Eltham, SE9 1DT.
The Elsie Jeanette Oxenham Appreciation Society and the Abbey Chronicle
Elsie Jeanette Dunkerley (1880 – 1960), story writer for girls. Best known for her Abbey Series of
38 titles.
Find out about the Society by visiting
http://sites.google.com/site/ejosociety/
The
Anthony Powell Society
Anthony Dymoke Powell (1905 – 2000) is best
known for his twelve-volume novel A Dance to the Music of Time, which many scholars and readers consider to be one
of the greatest works of the 20th century; it may also be the longest English language novel written to date. Powell's
other works include two plays, seven further novels, a biography of the 17th century diarist John Aubrey as well as four volumes
of memoirs and three volumes of journals. A proliferic literary critic and book reviewer, Powell worked for a number
of periodicals, including the Daily Telegraph (for which he reviewed for almost 50 years). Times Literary
Supplement, Punch (where he was Literary Editor in the 1950s) and The Spectator; he published three volumes
(the last, posthumously) of his erudite and incisive literary crtiicism selected from his work as a reviewer and critic.
Founded following Powell's death in 2000,
the Society's aim is to increase widespread interest in the works of Anthony Powell in a way which balances the
needs of all enthusiasts, including academics and professional literarists. In addition to a biennial conference,
the Society organises events for members, publishes a quarterly Newsletter, the academic journal Secret Harmonies,
conference proceedings, and Powell-related monographs. It also maintains the Anthony Powell resources website and
an email discussion list.
For more
information, visit http://www.anthonypowell.org or email secretary@anthonypowell.org.
The Powys Society
The Powys Society promotes the writings of John Cowper
Powys (1872 - 1963), T F Powys (1875 - 1953), and Llewelyn Powys (1884 - 1939), through the reading and discussion of their
works. The Society publishes a journal and three newsletters a year. In addition, it organises an annual
conference and holds other occasional meetings. It has also launched a publications programme. For more information visit http://www.powys-society.org
The Priestley Society
John Boynton Priestley (1894 – 1984),
writer and broadcaster. Writings included An English Journey, Man and Time and Bright Days.
Established in Bradford
in 1997, the Society aims to widen the knowledge, understanding and appreciation of Priestley’s literary and other published
works, promote the study of his life and career, and the social, cultural and political forces which influenced him; and provide
the members of the Society with opportunities to share experiences and knowledge of his works, life and career. For more
information visit http://www.jbpriestley-society.com/
The
Barbara Pym Society
Barbara Mary Crampton Pym (1912 – 1980), born in Oswestry and graduated
from St Hilda's College Oxford. Her comic novels were popular in the 1950s and early 1960s, but she endured a period
'in the wilderness' before being nominated for the Booker Prize in 1978.
Founded in 1994, the
Society is based at St Hilda's College. It holds an annual conference (August/September) and a Spring
meeting, usually in London. There is a biannual newsletter, Green Leaves. For more information
visit http://www.barbara-pym.org/
The
Arthur Ransome Society (TARS)
Arthur Mitchell Ransome (1884 – 1967), author and journalist. Best known
for Swallows and Amazons series of children’s books set mostly in the Lake District and on the Norfolk Broads.
The Society was formed
in 1990 to celebrate and promote the life and works of Arthur Ransome. Its membership is international. It
has a regional structure in the UK, supporting local gatherings and events. There is also a biennial literary weekend. For
more information visit http://www.arthur-ransome.org/
The Herbert
Read of Ryedale Group
Sir Herbert Read,
native of Ryedale in North Yorkshire, distinguished himself as a soldier, pacifist, writer on Art and Literature and poet.
He is buried at St Gregory's Minster at Kirkdale near Kirbymoorside.
The
Herbert Read of Ryedale Group started in and around Kirbymoorside, Helmsley, Pickering and Malton in the summer of 2007.
It aims to keep alive, in his home locality, the memory of this internationally renowned writer, informing visitors to the
countryside which he evokes so well. For more details contact John
Dean, c/o Summit Bookshop, 2 Market Place, Kirbymoorside, York YO62 6BB - email johnopenlearning@yahoo.co.uk
The Romany Society
Romany was the name used by the Rev. George Bramwell Evens (1884 – 1943). A Methodist
minister and the first great broadcasting naturalist, he was loved by a huge radio audience in the early 1930s and 1940s,
and influenced a generation to appreciate nature. His books and 'Out with Romany' radio show made him a household
name to millions.
The Romany Society was reformed in 1996 with Terry Waite as Patron and
Romany's daughter, Romany Watt, as President. They exist to promote and encourage the study and appreciation
of Romany, his life and his works. There are around 300 members in the UK and abroad, and, with the help of Macclesfield Borough
Council, they look after his caravan or 'Vardo' on display in Wilmslow, Cheshire.
For
more information visit http://www.romanysociety.org.uk/
The Ruskin Society
John Ruskin (1819 – 1900), author, poet, artist, art and social critic.
Ruskin’s essays on art and architecture were extremely influential in the Victorian and Edwardian eras.
For information on the
Society, contact Dr C Gamble, 49 Hallam Street, London W1W 6JP - or visit their website at www.theruskinsociety.com.
The Mark Rutherford Society
William
Hale White (1831 – 1913), writer and civil servant. Writings include The Inner Life of the House of Commons,
The Autobiography of Mark Rutherford, Mark Rutherford’s Deliverance, and The
Revolution in Tanner’s Lane.
The Society aims to unite all those who appreciate his work;
encourage publishers to make all the Rutherford novels and other writings available in print, produce a scholarly journal,
and hold conferences. For more information on the Society visit http://www.concentric.net/~Djfrench/mrsociety.htm
The
Seacroft Community Literature Society
For more detail on this Society please
contact Geraldine Beattie at beattieg1@aol.com.
The Siegfried Sassoon Fellowship
Siegfried Loraine Sassoon (1886 – 1967), poet, war hero, critic and
memoirist. He became known as a writer of satirical anti-war verse during World War I.
The Fellowship organises events, produces a biannual journal and ebulletins, and offers
book discounts. For information on the Fellowship visit http://www.sassoonfellowship.org/
The
Shaw Society
George Bernard Shaw was born in Dublin, and moved to England at the age of twenty.
An ardent socialist, Shaw wrote brochures and speeches for the Fabian Society, became a journalist writing music and literary
criticism, and went on to write more than sixty plays. He was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1925 and won
an Oscar in 1938 for the filmed version of his play Pygmalion, later transformed into the musical My Fair Lady.
The Shaw Society was established
in 1941 to discuss and celebrate the life and works of George Bernard Shaw. Meetings are held in Conway Hall, Red Lion
Square, Holborn, WC1, on the last Friday of every month, 6.30 for 7 pm, except July, August and December. £4 on
the door (£2 for members). The Shavian is published three times a year, and a playreading group meets
on the first Friday of the month - details from Malcolm Wroe (020 7485 8902).
Please visit their website at www.shawsociety.org.uk.
The Shropshire Literary Society
The Society exists to bring together all those with an interest in literature
and to increase and further literary knowledge and appreciation by the sharing of literary activities. Tribute will
also be paid to Shropshire’s interesting literary past, present and future. Members are encouraged to be proactive.
There are regular meetings in Church Stretton.
Further information can be obtained from Miss T Thompson,
Greta, Sandford Avenue, Church Stretton, Shropshire SY6 7AB (tel. 01694 722821).
The
Muriel Spark Society
Dame Muriel Spark (1918 – 2006), Scottish
novelist. Works include The Comforters, and The Prime of Miss Jean
Brodie.
Founded in 2001, the Society aims to promote the understanding, appreciation and enjoyment of Spark’s
work, and to provide a forum for all those wishing to extend their awareness of her achievements. They organise events,
and an annual lunch. There is also an annual newsletter.
For more information
visit http://www.murielsparksociety.org/
The Robert Louis Stevenson Club
Robert
Louis (Balfour) Stevenson (1850 – 1894), Scottish novelist, and essayist. Author of Treasure Island, Kidnapped, Jekyll and Hyde.
The
Club was formed in 1920 to foster interest in Stevenson's life and works. The Club does this today by organising
events, outings, talks and other occasions, issuing its lquarterly newsletter and holding an annual lunch. For more information visit http://www.rlsclub.org.uk/ - or email mail@stevenson-house.co.uk.
The Thackeray Society
William Makepeace Thackeray (1811 – 1863), novelist. Works include Vanity Fair,
Catherine, The Luck of Barry Lyndon, Pendennis, The Newcomes and The Adventures of Philip.
For information on the Society contact Robert Proctor, The Reform Club,
Pall Mall, London SW1Y 5EW.
The Tennyson Society
Alfred Lord Tennyson (1809 – 1892), poet. One of his most famous
works was Idylls of the King. He was poet laureate.
The Society promotes the study and
understanding of the life and work of Tennyson. It holds events, lectures, visits, etc. For more information visit
http://www.tennysonsociety.org.uk/tennyson/
The Angela Thirkell Society
Angela Margaret Thirkell (1890 – 1961), novelist. Granddaughter of
Burne-Jones, cousin of Rudyard Kipling and Stanley Baldwin, between 1933 and 1961 she wrote 29 Barsetshire novels, regarded
at the time as popular fiction, but revealing to the modern reader an extraordinary range of references and allusions ranging
from the classics of the ancient world through English literature to topical events of her time, so that they have now
become a valuable source of social history. Wickedly witty, with a range of idiosyncratic characters in the manner of
her beloved Dickens, she wrote with impeccable style about a world which in some ways still resembled that of Jane Austen,
and has ceased to exist today. Books include Three Houses (autobiographies), Wild Strawberries, August
Folly, Pomfret Towers, Northbridge Rectory, The Old Bank House, and The Duke's Daughter.
Based in the UK, with a thriving North American branch and members in Australia, where Mrs Thirkell lived
in the 1920s, various European countries, notably Ireland, where the Society was formed in 1980. Annual outing in the
UK, AGM in September, regional UK meetings to discuss the books.
To find out more contact
penny.aldred@ntlworld.com - or visit their website at www.angelathirkellsociety.com.
The Dylan Thomas Society
Dylan Thomas (1914 – 1953), influential writer of poetry. Best known works Fern
Hill, Do Not Go Gentle, and Death Shall Have No Dominion. A considerable amount of prose and also film
scripts, and his most famous 'play for voices' Under Milkwood.
The Society fosters interest in the work of Dylan Thomas and other Anglo-Welsh writers. Monthly meetings,
lectures, readings, performances, and publications. For more information visit
http://www.dylanthomas.com/.
The contact for the society is Cecily Hughes, The Dylan Thomas Society, 24 chapel Street, Swansea SA3 4NH - email
cecilyhughescal@yahoo.co.uk.
The Edward Thomas Fellowship
Philip Edward Thomas (1878 – 1917), born in Lambeth, educated at St Paul's and
Lincoln College Oxford. Wrote biographies, histories, geographical books, and essays. One book of complete poems,
which has never been out of publication since it was first published in 1920. Married Helen Noble. Died Arras,
Easter Monday 1917.
The Fellowship works to perpetuate
the memory of Edward Thomas and to foster interest in his life and work. It supports the conservation of places and
things known to Edward Thomas and keeps members abreast of relevant literary matters. It also arranges events which
extend fellowship. For information on the Fellowship, please visit their
website at http://www.edward-thomas-fellowship.org.uk .
The Tolkien Society
John Ronald
Reuel Tolkien (1892 – 1973), writer, poet, philologist. Best known as the author of the high fantasy classic works
The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings.
The
Tolkien Society works to encourage and further interest in the life and works of Tolkien. Based in the UK and a
registered society, the Society has an international membership which benefits from regular publications and events. Further details about the Tolkien Society, as well as educational materials for use in schools and colleges,
may be found at the website http://www.tolkiensociety.org/
The Traherne Association
Thomas Traherne was born in Hereford c. 1637, living through the civil war. He
became Rector of Credenhill, 5 miles north west of Hereford in 1657, and wrote extensive works of poetry and prose.
At their heart was love, the fountain of all happiness, peace and security!
The Traherne Association holds an annual Traherne Festival, during the
weekend of Trinity Sunday. It also arranges a Traherne Lecture on the evening of October 10 each year. It publishes
a newsletter four times a year, exploring the relevance of Traherne's thought for today.
For more detail contact Richard Birt at janeacox@btinternet.com, or visit their website at www.thomastraherneassociation.org .
The Trollope Society
Anthony Trollope (1815 – 1882), novelist. Best known for The Chronicles of Barsetshire.
The Society has an international membership and promotes and publishes the works of Trollope.
It produces a quarterly journal, and runs a wide range of events. It also encourages local seminar groups.
For
more information, visit http://www.trollopesociety.org/
The Walmsley Society
Leo
Walmsley (1892 – 1966), best known for his Bramblewick books, immortalising the local fishing community and
Robin Hood’s Bay.
The Society produces regular newsletters
and two journals annually. They also hold meetings. Find out more about the Society by visiting
http://www.walmsleysoc.org
The War Poets Association
The War Poets
Association, a UK registered charity, was launched in Paris in July 2004. It aims to promote interest in the work, life and
historical context of poets whose subject is the experience of war.
The
WPA is interested in war poets of all periods and nationalities, with the primary focus on conflicts since 1914: mainly the
First World War, the Spanish Civil War, the Second World War, and Ireland. It develops its own programme and aims also to
work with societies dedicated to individual war poets to help promote their activities and provide an opportunity for them
to join with us in events of general or shared interest. It also publishes a journal, the War Poetry Review.
To learn more about them, visit their website at www.warpoets.org/, or email them at secretary@warpoets.org.
The Mary Webb Society
Mary Webb (1881 - 1927), Shropshire poet and novelist.
Works include Gone to Earth from which a film was later made, and Precious Bane, later dramatised by the
BBC.
The Society
was established in 1972. Its aims are to honour the memory of Mary Webb, to further the reading and appreciation of
her works and to foster appreciation of the Mary Webb countryside. The Society plans a programme of four events a year.
These include a Birthday Lunch and Summer School which provides lectures, tours and entertainment. Events are held at
various Shropshire locations. For more information visit the Society's website at www.marywebbsociety.co.uk.
The
H G Wells Society
Herbert George Wells (1866 – 1946),
writer. Works include The Time Machine, The War of the Worlds, The Invisible Man, The First Men in the Moon
and The Island of Dr Moreau.
Founded in 1960, the Society has
an international membership and aims to promote a widespread interest in the life, work and thought of Wells. It publishes
an annual journal, The Wellsian, and issues a biannual newsletter. There is also a weekend conference each
year.
To find out more, visit http://www.hgwellsusa.50megs.com/
The Oscar Wilde Society
Oscar Wilde (1854 - 1900) is appreciated around the world as the writer of some of
the wittiest plays in the English language. In addition, he wrote engaging children's stories, a novel which has
given us one of the most enduring archetypes in Dorian Gray, and powerful writings inspired by his time in prison. His
life was as varied and colourful as his writings.
The Oscar Wilde Society, founded
in 1990, is a literary society devoted to the congenial appreciation of Oscar Wilde. It organises lectures, readings
and discussions about Wilde and his works, and visits to places associated with him. The Society's Journal of Oscar
Wilde Studies, The Wildean, is published twice a year and Intentions, the Society's newsletter, is published
six times a year. For more information, visit their website at www.oscarwildesociety.co.uk.
The Friends of Alfred Williams
Alfred Williams (1877 - 1930), poet, author, historian, linguist, naturalist, folk song collector,
philosopher and scholar.
The friends are organising a festival (see
events) and, in the long term want to see a permanent display established in Swindon. For more detail visit their website
at www.alfredwilliams.org.uk.
The Charles Williams Society
Charles Walter Stansby Williams (1886 – 1945), poet, novelist, theologian
and literary critic. Works include Taliessin Through Logres, War in Heaven, and The Figure of Beatrice.
A leading member of 'The Inklings'.
The Society exists to encourage the study and appreciation of Williams' life and writings.
It meets twice a year (once in Oxford and once in London), publishes the Charles Williams Quarterly, organises occasional
residential conferences, and maintains lending and reference libraries. It has an international membership.
For more information visit http://www.charleswilliamssociety.org.uk
The Henry Williamson Society
Henry William Williamson (1895 – 1977), author known for his natural
and social history novels. Work includes Tarka the Otter, and A Chronicle of Ancient Sunlight.
Founded in 1980, the Society seeks to further the appreciation of Williamson. It organises two meetings annually,
and small local meetings. They also publish a journal and newsletter annually. To find out more, visit http://www.henrywilliamson.co.uk/
The P G Wodehouse Society
Sir Pelham Grenville Wodehouse
(1881 – 1975), writer of over 70 humorous novels and 200 short stories. Also wrote lyrics for musical comedies,
working with such composers as Jerome Kern, George Gershwin, Ivor Novello, and Cole Porter.
The Society exists to promote enjoyment
of the work of the greatest humorous writer of the 20th century. The programme of events includes regular social evenings,
cricket matches, dinners and talks. There is a quarterly journal Wooster Sauce. To find out more,
visit http://www.pgwodehousesociety.org.uk/
The Parson Woodforde Society
James Woodforde, clergyman, best known as the author of The Diary of a Country
Parson.
Founded in 1968, the Society aims to extend and develop knowledge of his life and the society in which he
lived, and to provide an opportunity for fellow enthusiasts to meet together.
For
more information, visit their website at http://www.parsonwoodforde.org.uk.
The Virginia Woolf Society of Great Britain
Virginia Adeline Woolf (1882 – 1941), novelist
and essayist. Works include Mrs Dalloway, To the Lighthouse, Orland, and A
Room of One’s Own.
Formed in 1998, the Society aims
to raise the profile of Woolf and promote the reading and discussion of her works.
To find out more, visit
http://www.virginawoolfsociety.co.uk/
The Charlotte M Yonge Fellowship
Charlotte M Yonge (1823 –
1901), writer, Best known for The Heir of Redclyffe.
The Fellowship
produces The Review twice a year, holds meetings and has a loan collection of books and photocopies. To find
out more visit http://www.cmyf.org.uk/
The Francis Brett Young Society
Francis Brett Young (1884 – 1954), regional novelist of Birmingham,
the Black Country and its green borderlands. Also wrote poetry, short stories, drama, non-fiction and music.
The Society exists to advance the education of the public on all matters relating
to Francis Brett Young - through publications (twice yearly journal; occasional books and papers), meetings, outings, exhibitions
and readings.
For information about the Society, visit http://www.fbysociety.co.uk or email michael.hall10@gmail.com.
The Emile Zola Society
Emile Zola (1840-1902) is a towering literary figure of the 19th c. His literary achievement
is his twenty volume novel cycle, Les Rougon-Macquart, combining a novelist's skills with those of a journalist
to examine the social, sexual and moral landscape of Second Empire France. In 1898, he crowned his literary career with
a political act, J'Accuse, his famous open letter to the President of the French Republic, in defence of Alfred
Dreyfus.
Founded in 1991, the Emile Zola Society offers friendly
and well-informed contacts for members who are interested in Emile Zola, his life, works and times. They meet regularly
for talks and discussions (in English), on zola and his contemporaries, on films based on his novels, fin-de-siecle Paris,
Impressionist painters, etc. They organise visits to places of interest, and publish an annual Bulletin including articles,
reviews and details of their activities such as their highly enjoyable annual dinner 'Avec Zola a table'. Following
their International Conference in Aix en Provence they published a selection of papers Visages de la Provence (Emile
Zola Society, 2008) which is available from them. For more information, go to www.institut-francais.org.uk/zola/
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