We publish a much-acclaimed annual magazine, RSL, which features a wide variety of articles about writing and writers, and the full texts of some of our lectures.

You can buy copies both of the current issue and of previous issues direct from us for £5 plus £1 p&p. Please send a cheque payable to “The Royal Society of Literature” to us at The Royal Society of Literature, Somerset House, Strand, London WC2R 1LA.

A brief history of the Royal Society of Literature, by Isabel Quigly, is available from the RSL office, £10 including p&p.

RSL 2008 — the latest issue — is available from 1 February and includes:

• Extracts from newly discovered letters by W.H. Auden, introduced by Edward Mendelson
• Vikram Seth’s reflections on living in George Herbert’s rectory
• Michael Frayn interviewed by A.C. Grayling
• Michael Morpurgo on how to encourage children to read

Among the highlights of previous issues are:

RSL 2007 includes:

• Fay Weldon on the tyranny of the bestseller
• Colin Thubron in conversation with Tash Aw
• Selina Hastings’s tribute to Sybille Bedford
• The best independent bookshops across the country, chosen by Fellows and Members

RSL 2006, with a cover design by Raymond Briggs and Posy Simmonds, includes:

• JK Rowling and Philip Pullman’s choice of the best books for children.
• PD James in conversation with Ruth Rendell on crime fiction.
• AN Wilson on the absurdity of the twentieth century.
• Nadine Gordimer on Anthony Sampson.

RSL 2005 includes:

• Tom Stoppard interviewing himself.
• Derek Walcott in conversation with Ben Okri
• Jonathan Bate on writers and madness.
• Hilary Spurling on MM Kaye’s friendship with Paul Scott.

RSL 2004 includes:

• Andrew Motion on the need to preserve Britain’s manuscripts.
• Anita Desai in conversation with Maggie Gee.
• The Archbishop of Canterbury on poetry and faith.
• Peter Parker on fact and fiction in Christopher Isherwood’s autobiographical writing.

RSL 2003 includes:

• Harold Pinter in conversation with Ronald Harwood.
• Ben Okri on Britain’s neglect of writers.
• Grey Gowrie on Robert Lowell.
• John Mortimer, Clarie Tomalin and others on the legacy of Roy Jenkins.

2008 cover

2006 cover with illustrations by Raymond Briggs and Posy Symmonds

PD James and Ruth Rendell ©

Derek Walcott and Ben Okri ©