We had an amazing time at the #ALCSAwards. Thanks to ALCS for supporting all these wonderful prizes, and congratulations to Hannah Webb, who won the @rsliterature.bsky.social VS Pritchett Short Story Prize, and to all the winners and nominees
Our Power of Reading Impact Report 2025 is now live! Discover how evidence-informed, book-based teaching boosts attainment, narrows gaps and helps children see themselves as readers and writers. Read more: https://clpe.org.uk/research/power-reading-impact-report-2025
Elif Shafak on stage with a gold background and a pink banner saying The National Humanities lecture
What a joy to see our @rsliterature.bsky.social President Elif Shafak deliver the National Humanities Lecture at the School of Advanced Study @sas-news.bsky.social. A beautiful reflection on and defence of the long form of literature, and many other things too.
If you are in the UK The Librarians is avaliable on the iplayer, under the Storyville banner. Well worth a watch.
The lectures are now on the YouTube channel for @theul.bsky.social (lecture one youtu.be/TGj-cvzYQuU?... and lecture two youtu.be/SRvkR0_Kb8Q?...). They are fascinating.
Joan Winterkorn was awarded the @rsliterature.bsky.social Benson Medal in 2006 and worked closely with the RSL on many writers archives, and the RSL's own archive. Her career has been completely unique.
Last month I heard the wonderful Joan Winterkorn lecture on Collecting and Preserving Archives. She included lots of the fascinating, telling, glorious details you only get from archives - and a bigger story about how she changed the UK's treatment of archives, especially those of living writers.
What a brilliant idea: Give all newborn babies library cards automatically
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Also - Green Knowe, not a mysterious house in the country but an actual real house not very far away! www.greenknowe.co.uk
You were brilliant!
Huge congratulations to Elif Shafak, newly elected President of the Royal Society of Literature. A powerful advocate for free expression and the unifying force of storytelling. We celebrate this well-deserved recognition!. www.theguardian.com/books/2025/d...
Elif Shafak named new president of the Royal Society of Literature
Look at our incredible news! I am so excited to work with Elif
Come to our free webinar on this⬇️-9th Dec, 16.45-5.30 ⬇️
Great culture can save lives. Literally.
Amazing letter in today’s @thetimes.com about Tom Stoppard
Our panel @valmcdermid.bsky.social, @suchmayer.bsky.social, @lawrencewarner.bsky.social, Elaine Hobby and Bee Rowlatt did their best to do justice to Maureen Duffy's activism, for writers and the LGBTQ+ community, poetry, prose, plays, novels (many genres!) and her scholarship. What a career.
Seven people on stage, one handing an award to another. In the background it says RSL Pioneer Prize: Maureen Duffy
We had such a fantastic @rsliterature.bsky.social celebration of Maureen Duffy at the @britishlibrary.bsky.social on Sunday. Here is the wonderful founder of the Pioneer Prize, Bernardine Evaristo, handing it to Maureen Duffy's agent, Nemonie Craven Roderick, with our wonderful panel alongside
We’re holding an event to mark this year’s RSL Pioneer Prize and you’re invited! Swipe to see the line-up 👉
Tickets are available now: https://events.bl.uk/events/rsl-presents-the-pioneer-prize
What a joy to hear the readings from the shortlist and to see the winner announced: 'And the Walls Became the World All Around’ by Johanna Ekström and Sigrid Rausing, translated from Swedish by Sigrid Rausing and published by @grantabooks.bsky.social. I can't wait to read it.
This is an amazing opportunity. Please consider applying for the Community Panel - they are the heart of the project
Fantastic to see @ukparliament.parliament.uk launching an inquiry into children's reading for pleasure, in advance of the National Year of Reading. Submissions by 9th January, details here committees.parliament.uk/call-for-evi... There are such important questions in the terms of reference.
The @rsliterature.bsky.social and Royal Commonwealth Society project 'Write Around the World', which helps prepare young people for the competition, has now reached an amazing 16,000 students in 30 countries.
Yesterday was the award ceremony for the Queen's Commonwealth Essay Competition at St James's Palace. The four winners, all between 14 and 17, were outrageously impressive - you can read their winning pieces here www.royalcwsociety.org/post/meet-th...
We’ve got great news for writers across the UK and RoI – the 2026 RSL Ondaatje Prize is now taking submissions! 🥳
Applications are open until 5pm on 12 December 2025. Apply now: https://rsliterature.org/rsl-ondaatje-prize/
Keep it short and find what you enjoy: how to start reading for fun
Before you expire!
Looking forward to meeting you in person
So glad you are coming!
Looking forward to meeting you!
Come and be part of queer feminist literary history & future, and see Maureen Duffy get her 💐💐💐💐💐
