Royal Society of Literature

A night to remember British Library 🏆

We’re so grateful for everyone who made the launch of our new Pioneer Prize so special, including our panel of wonderful speakers.

Learn more about our awards and prizes: https://rsliterature.org/join-in/awards-and-prizes/

“To see a world in a grain of sand and heaven in a wild flower, hold infinity in the palm of your hand and eternity in an hour.”

William Blake, #BornOnThisDay in 1757 📚❤️

Hope to see you there —Maureen is the best and I’m delighted to be helping celebrate her on 30 November @britishlibrary.bsky.social @rsliterature.bsky.social

RSL presents: The Pioneer Prize | British Library Join us for the launch of the RSL Pioneer Prize, a new initiative spotlighting and celebrating writers who have been trailblazers in their field.Acknowledg

On Sun 30th Nov we will be celebrating the @rsliterature.bsky.social Pioneer Prize, so generously founded and funded by Bernardine Evaristo. The inaugural winner is Maureen Duffy. Join us @britishlibrary.bsky.social or online to celebrate her work: events.bl.uk/events/rsl-p...

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

Some very special moments from our Bourdain Supper Club collaboration with Honey & Co and Bloomsbury Publishing 🍽️

Don’t miss out on some of our last events of the year - tickets available now: https://rsliterature.org/what-is-on/

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/

Something very exciting has arrived at our office here in Somerset House 👀

Join us for our Pioneer Prize event at the British Library on 30 November to honour Maureen Duffy's impact and legacy: https://rsliterature.org/whats-on/rsl-presents-the-pioneer-prize/

“It is good to have an end to journey toward; but it is the journey that matters, in the end.”

Ursula K. Le Guin, #BornOnThisDay in 1929 📚❤️

We’re delighted to welcome A.L. Kennedy, Louise Kennedy and Derek Owusu to our judging panel for the 2026 Christopher Bland Prize.

The award is now open for entries until 5pm on Friday 5 December 2025: https://rsliterature.org/rsl-christopher-bland-prize/

The Clearing - Royal Society of Literature Saturday 22 November, 19:30-20:30, Push the Boat Out Festival, The Pleasance Theatre, Edinburgh. General admission: £15 + booking fee | Concession: £12 + booking fee Join this year’s four RSL Jerwood Poets – Roseanne Watt, Scott McKendry, clare e. potter and Karen McCarthy Woolf – for a premiere of new collaborations co-conceived with musician, Kathryn […]

Join our four RSL Jerwood Poets – Roseanne Watt, Scott McKendry, clare e. potter and Karen McCarthy Woolf – at this year’s Push the Boat Out Festival for a premiere of new collaborations co-conceived with musician, Kathryn Williams: https://rsliterature.org/whats-on/the-clearing/

“We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars.”

Oscar Wilde, #BornOnThisDay in 1854 📚❤️

We had an amazing time watching a performance of Lifers, a new show presented by Synergy Theatre Project.

Exploring the reality of ageing in prison, Lifers was written by Evan Placey, who received our 2018 Literature Matters Award in support of the project. Now showing at Southwark Playhouse!

The 2026 Christopher Bland Prize is now open for entry 🏆

Closing 5pm on Friday 5 December 2025: https://rsliterature.org/rsl-christopher-bland-prize/

Join us for the launch of the RSL Pioneer Prize, a new initiative which will spotlight and celebrate writers who have been trailblazers in their field.

📅 Sunday 30 November, 2:30pm
📍 The British Library/Online
🎟️ £15 in-person/£5 online, FREE for RSL Members/Fellows

https://ow.ly/uVRX50X3AwC

Last week we had the pleasure of presenting Richard Ovenden with this year’s Benson medal at a very special celebration with Bodleian Libraries.

Richard was joined by RSL chair Ruth Scurr and director Laura Greenfield for the UK premiere of The Librarians Film a new documentary by Kim A. Snyder.

“A little credulity helps one on through life very smoothly.”

Elizabeth Gaskell, #BornOnThisDay in 1810 📚 ❤️

Last night this powerful film had its UK premiere, hosted by @bodleian.ox.ac.uk, with courageous librarians like @librarianjones.com there too. Alongside we awarded @richove.bsky.social the @rsliterature.bsky.social Benson Medal. What a privilege to share the stage with them.

See it if you can.

An incredible evening @bodleian.ox.ac.uk: I was deeply honoured to receive the @rsliterature.bsky.social's Benson Medal from Ruth Scurr, then hosted a screening of 'The Librarians', the powerful doc @thelibrariansfilm.bsky.social featuring courageous librarians @librarianjones.com & Julie Miller!

Thank you for the support Terri! 📚❤️

Thanks for the love Elleke! 📚❤️

RSL Giles St Aubyn Awards for Non-Fiction - Royal Society of Literature RSL Giles St Aubyn Awards for Non-Fiction Three annual awards — of £10,000, £5,000 and £2,500 — are available for authors engaged on their first commissioned works of non-fiction. The RSL Giles St Aub...

Our Giles St Aubyn Awards for Non-Fiction remain open for submission until 5pm on Monday 22 September.

Apply online today for your chance to win a prize of up to £10,000 to support your first commissioned work of non-fiction: rsliterature.org/rsl-giles-st...

Congratulations to the winner of the inaugural RSL Pioneer Prize, Maureen Duffy 🎉

Duffy received news of her award earlier this month when Evaristo visited her at home. Watch the full video here: youtu.be/9ZB_AHdm4ts?...

A very special day today, when my lovely former colleagues @theul.bsky.social have digitised the founding documents of @rsliterature.bsky.social to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the signing of our Royal Charter. My favourite line: "We have become a People of Readers"

What a fine gesture from the President of @rsliterature.bsky.social to fund an important new Prize from her own prize money. Bravo Bernie! observer.co.uk/news/nationa...

91-year-old author Maureen Duffy wins Pioneer prize launched by Bernardine Evaristo The RSL president has set up a new literary award for female writers over 60 using the £100,000 she herself won through the Women’s prize

The incredible Bernardine Evaristo has used her @womensprize.bsky.social Outstanding Contribution Award to create a new @rsliterature.bsky.social Prize. For the next decade, we will be celebrating pioneering women writers, starting with Maureen Duffy www.theguardian.com/books/2025/s...

The RSL today marks the 200th anniversary of its incorporation with a Royal Charter ✒️

In celebration, Cambridge University Library @theul.bsky.social has digitised a selection of archive materials which they are making public today for the first time: cudl.lib.cam.ac.uk/collections/...

RSL Remembers: Fleur Adcock - Royal Society of Literature Wednesday 19 February, 6:30pm, The London Library. Free for RSL Members and Fellows and London Library Members (If you are a London Library Member, please use the Public Tickets button below and enter...

On Wed 19 Feb, 6.30pm, I’m taking part in a very special @rsliterature.bsky.social event at The London Library honouring and remembering Fleur Adcock, a poet who has meant so much to me. Rachel Long will chair & Wendy Cope will also be on the panel.

Tickets here:
rsliterature.org/whats-on/rsl...

Orange and white text against a light orange background. It reads: Lizzie Milton. Neuromyths: Folklore from the Margins. £2860.

Absolutely delighted to have received the 'Literature Matters' award from @rsliterature.bsky.social

Looking forward to creating some neurodivergent myths!

Longlist announced for V.S. Pritchett Short Story Prize 2025 The V.S. Pritchett Short Story Prize is an annual award for unpublished short stories between 2,000 to 4,000 words in length.

Thrilled to be on the Longlist for the V.S. Pritchett Short Story Prize @rsliterature.bsky.social ❤️

This story started out in @smokelong.bsky.social Fitness - thanks to Elisabeth Ingram Wallace❤️

And thanks to @nivenaudrey.bsky.social for feedback on the penultimate draft ❤️