Biography

The Royal Society of Literature was founded in 1820 and received its charter from King George IV in 1825. As defined by that document, the objects of the Society were 'For the advancement of literature, by the publication of inedited remains of ancient literature, and of such works, as may be of great intrinsic value, but not of that popular character which usually claims the attention of publishers:- by the promotion of discoveries in literature:- by endeavours to fix the standard, as far as is practicable, and to preserve the purity of the English language, by the critical improvement of English lexicography:- by the reading, at public meetings, of interesting papers on history, philosophy, poetry, philology, and the arts, and the publication of such of those papers, as shall be approved of:- by assigning honorary rewards to works of great literary merit, and to important discoveries in literature:- and by establishing a correspondence with learned men in foreign countries, for the purpose of Literary inquiry and information'. Over the course of its existence the activities of the Society have evolved, and the present-day body, in addition to pursuing some of the objects set out in the 1820s, also campaigns on matters including the teaching of English in schools, the preservation of public libraries, and authors' rights. The Society is administered by a Council of the Fellows. Admission to the Fellowship of the Society is by election, and the Fellows include many literary authors of distinction. Membership of the Society is open to all, on payment of a subscription.

Found in 1 Collection or Record: