Please note I try, none too successfully, to keep this page up to
date
and only list events that are in the future, unless there is a special
request
Lascelles Abercrombie Index Jane AustenJane Austen Society Midlands Branch
The Jane Austen Society
The A.G.M. is always held on the 3rd Saturday in July in the grounds of Chawton House. The sun is very good about shining, but umbrellas may act as a deterrent. Saturday, 16th February Jane Austen Study Day. Details in pdf format which may be downloaded and include an appliaction form. Austen lectures at Chawton House Thursday 18 January 2007 "Not what they say but how they say it": Language & Character in Jane Austen's Novels Professor Sandie Byrne.Lecture tickets: £15.00
(£10.00 for Friends of Chawton House Library and Students)
6.30pm
7.00pm
8.15pm
Reception with complimentary wine and canapés
Lecture
Literary Supper
Supper tickets £37.50 (including Reception and Lecture)
For more information, please contact:
Corrine Saint on 01420 541010 or email corrine dot saint@chawton dot net
Kent Contact: Mrs Clare Graham Clae@chargraham.freeserve.co.uk
Scottish Branch Contact: Ann Bates, e-mail: Figment1@btinternet.com
Bath & Bristol Contact: Anne Davis, 1 Sydney Buildings, Bath BA2 6BZ. Cambridge Contact: Dr Audrey Stenner, Jessamine House, Buckden,
Huntingdon, Cambs. PE19 9TA, Tel: 01480 810669
JASA (The Jane Austen Society of Australia, (Brisbane)
Details
New members are most welcome!
Phone Joan on 3314 7600 if you would like to join.
The Jane Austen Society of Melbourne Inc
Mercia Chapman is the new Secretary of this society. E-mail:
mchapman1@optusnet.com.au or 742, Canterbury Road, Surrey Hills Vic
3127, Australia.
There is a special offer of the book and a pack of ten cards for £15. Post cards - unusual and well worth looking at! Postcards based on the books, Hampshire and Bath Pat Latkins Jane Austen bookshop U.S.A. Books A game for Christmas Review of game: We did play the game last weekend. Up to 4 people can play but I played with just my 2 daughters.
This is an advantage since no one has to be Charlotte and Mr. Collins! It was fun but we all agreed
that the questions need to be a little harder. Who ever made up the game could come out with a
pack of more difficult questions to add to the game for those who wanted it. Most of the answers
would be pretty obvious to anyone who knows much at all about the book or
movie. But still we had a good time. P. G.
Wells
Bookshop, the Winchester shop which holds a wide selection of
Jane
Austen books. The Jane Austen Memorial Trust Videos: A boxed set of all the BBC Jane Austen productions became available from 3 September 2001, to include the 1972 version of Emma, the 1995 version of Pride and Prejudice and Persuasion, the Mansfield Park of 1983, the 1986 Sense and Sensibility and the 1987 Northanger Abbey. The boxed set sells at £74.99, catalogue number BBC V 72 59, BBC-TV Centre shop 020 8225 8230. Steventon Church Please visit! Godmersham Church
Godmersham was once the home of Jane Austen's brother Edward (Knight)
and much visited by Jane herself.
The site provides a wealth of historical and
architectural detail of the Church and the village. More importantly, through membership of the Friends of Godmersham Church, access is given to a Godmersham discussion forum, a Friends' newsletter (with items on research, restoration and forthcoming Friends' events) and our Guided Tour service. Those intending to visit Godmersham are strongly advised to make use of this service because, for security reasons, we cannot guarantee that you will find the Church open. Only a few weeks ago I arrived at the Church to find two ladies from Georgia, USA waiting outside the locked door in the hope that someone would turn up to let them in. The Guided Tour service also gives access to parts of Godmersham not usually open to visitors.
The Church is a large, ancient and architecturally important
building which is maintained and cared for by our small community
(adult population of Godmersham village only just over 200).
Through the
Friends' Association, we will provide Janeites with a better
insight into life in Godmersham and at the same time, raise much
needed funds to continue our care of the Church. When it is
completed the site will offer the facility of credit card payment
for those wishing to join the Friends.
Reviews of many of
Jane Austen's movies and many pictures etc. Please visit,
could be interesting!
Pride and Prejudice (2005) starring Keira Knightley and Matthew Macfadyen (Spooks) Literary Landscapes (British Library archive Hampshire
County
Council A very comprehensive page of Places of Interest in
Hampshire
that are of interest to readers of Jane Austen's novels.
Information on Jane
Austen
The wonder of the world, the beauty and the
power, The shape of things, their colours, lights and shades,
These I saw. Look ye also while life lasts
The BB
Society
The B.B. Society
The B.B. Society is working towards celebrating BB's Centenary in 2005. A series of booklets are planned on various aspects of BB's life and works. A commemorative postal cover is also planned, postmarked 'Lamport', where BB was born in the local Rectory.
BB Society's Hon. Sec., Bryan Holden, is researching a book on BB's various artworks: etching; scraperboards; pen and ink; oil and watercolour paintings. Anyone with originals of the artist's work, or with a direct story to tell, is invited to contact Bryan Holden on 0121 704 1002, or by fac: 01564 741857, or e-mail: bryan@barbryn.co.uk All correspondence will be answered. 2005
BB's centerary year was celebrated.
Many Centenary Booklets are being produced, including one on BB'S house, a Bibliography, Carp Fishing, Children's Books, Countryside Crafts And Pursuits, Purple Emperor Butterflies, Shooting Times Articles, Trout Fishing, Wildfowling And Wildlife Countryside.! Letters from the Round House About BB Membership Application Form Contact: Bryan Holden, 8 Park Road, Solihull, West Midlands, B9
13SU, tel. no. 0121 704 1002 or e-mail bryan@barbryn.co.uk
Index
The
Adrian Bell Society(photo courtesy of the Eastern Daily Press)
The Centenary book ' Adrian Bell- A Countryman's Notebook: Centenary Collection' commissioned by the Society has sold almost 2000 copies in less than a year. Adrian Bell Membership form and details of
Society Contact: John Ford 01508+480665
contact:Dr Grahame Clough, 1 Hillview Cottage,
Elsted, near Midhurst, West Sussex GU29 0JX (tel: 01730 825575)
E-mail: HilaireBelloc1@Aol.com
Index The
Arnold Bennett Literary Society
The Arnold Bennett Society aims to further the appreciation of his
life and works and also to promote interest in the regional novel
generally.
The focal point of Arnold Bennett's FiveTown Novels was
Bursley.
There is a pamphlet The Bursley Trail which will help you to recapture
the atmosphere of the novels and identify many of the places and
buildings
which feature in such stories as The Old Wives' Tale, Clayhanger
and
The
Card. Further leaflets available from Ceramica, Market Place, Burslem.
A new, permanent, Arnold Bennett exhibition is opening on the afternoon of 25th March at the Potteries Museum in
Hanley.
2008
Fifth Annual Arnold Bennett Conference "The Old Wives' Tale: Novel History"
A Conference organised by the Arnold Bennett Society in association with the City of Stoke-on-Trent Council, , at the Forum Theatre, Potteries Museum & Art Gallery
Call for papers The Arnold Bennett Society's web page Membership Application Form contact: The Secretary: Carol Gorton, 4 Field End Close,
Trentham, Stoke on Trent. ST4 8DA.
Email: C.A.Gorton@btinternet.com Index The E.F.
Benson Society Benson Society Webpage
Brief details of E.F.Benson contact: A.V. Downend, The Old Coach House,High Street, Rye, E. Sussex TN31 7JF Index The Betjeman Society 2008 Tuesday, 11th MarchI know what I like Your choice of favourite readings, at the Dr. Teng Tee Lee Centre, Senate House, London Unversity, 6.00p.m. for 6.30p.m. Thursday, 17th AprilA Time for Dance A rare opportunity to see films of the Australian Ballet Performing Poems to the words and voice of Sir John with music by Jim Parker. At the Dr. Teng Lee Centre, Senate House, London Univerfsity. 6.00p.m. for 6.30p.m. Saturday, 17th MayA Day in Canterbury Book Fair and a lunch at the home of Philippa and Jake Davies followed by a visit to St Augustine's Abbey led by Martin Taylor. Saturday, 21st June 11.oo for 11.30a.m. AGM at the Union Jack Club, Sandell Street, Waterloo, followed by an afternoon event. Saturday, 26th July Tour of London's Historic Railway Staions South of the Thames organised by Don Kennedy. Thursday, 28th August 6.00 for 6.30p.m. St John's, Waterloo Betjeman Birthday Party. Saturday-Sunday 20-21 September A Norfolk weekend arranged by Michael Wilson. Thursday, 23rd October 6.00 for 6.30p.m. The Gallery, Cowcross Street Betjeman's Ancestral Voices The Betjeman Lecture given by Prof. John Stallworthy FBA FRSL (date and location to be confirmed) New CD A selection of Sir John's great poems that are not so famous. On this CD Lance Pierson, a Society member, has recorded nineteen poems that are difficult to find elsewhere, or have not been recorded.
The cost of a CD is £14 and cassettes £ 7u. Postage and packing is 10% ofthe order.
They can be obtained from Lance Pierson lance@lancepierson.org contact:
Colin Wright (Hon Sec. Betjeman Society),
6 St Anne's Road, Shrewsbury SY3 6AU E-mail:
colin@colin-wright.freeserve.co.uk Canterbury
The Branch continues to hold its meetings on the first Saturday of the
month (no meeting in August). They welcome any members who would like
to join them. Coffee at 10.15a.m., start at 10.30a.m., finish at
12.15p.m. Please notify host/hostess only if you cannot attend. Contact Secretary: Mrs Patricia Mann, 3 Greenbank, Kennington,
Ashford, Kent TN24 9NJ. Isle of Man Contact The Secretary/Treasurer, Mrs Joyce Corlett, Erin Arts
Centre, Victoria Square, Port Erin, Isle of Man, IM9 6LD Lincolnshire
Details of meetings will be circulated to Branch members. All Society members
are cordially invited to the meetings. Contact Chairman: Michael Thomas, Cold Harbour Cottage, Aby
with Greenfield, Alford, Lincs LN13 0ED Oxford Contact: David Pattison, 41 Lakeside, Oxford, OX21 8JQ. Sherborne Contact Clive Jackman, Spring House, Long Burton, Sherborne, Dorset
DT9 5PB The Shires
Contact: Baz Morris, Victoria House, 13 Leicester Road, Narborough, Leics. LE19 2HL. Wantage contact: Roy Denison, 24 Penny Piece, Goring-on-Thames, Reading, RG8 9BY
New Books Membership Subscription Form John Betjeman web
site Index The Bewick
Society 2008 Wednesday, 30 January 2008Thomas Bewick and ScotlandLecture at the Literary and Philosophical Society, The Hancock Museum, Newcastle given by Peter Quinn. Friday, 29 February 2008The Extraordinary Tale of an $8.8 Million Dollar Book - John James Audubon's Birds of America Venue: Lecture Theatre in the University of Newcastle to be announced, Newcastle upon Tyne. at 6.00p.m. Friday, 19th FebruaryThe Extraordinary Tale of an $8.8 million dollar book - John James Audubon's Birds of America A joint meeting with the Natural History Society of Northubria. Professor Michael Thomas will give the lecture. Venue: Lecture theatre in the University of Newcastle. 7p.m. Free tickets for the Bewick Society are now available. Please send a s.a.e. to the Natural History Society Office. Wednesday 16 April 6p.m. The Art of Thomas Bewick Talk byh committee member and aretist Peter Osborne. Venue: The Literary and Philosophical Society of Newcastle, 23 Westgate Road, Newcastle. Sunday, 10 May Time to be decided, mid morning. A Walk from Cherryburn. Anne Maule will lead us on the walk. Contact Stewart Thirkell at Cherryburn on 01661 84327 or cherryburn@nationaltrust.org.uk Other events 2008 Friday 16 May, Friday June 13London Meeting: Visit to the Victoria and Albert Museum
The Society is currently negotiating a visit to the V&A to see their collections of Bewick material which includes an annotated copy of British Birds and workshop record books. There will be preselected material available for the society to see in the Prints and Drawings Education Room. As this event relies on pre booking, we would very much appreciate communications from the members on whether they would like to come and which date would be more suitable. Contact: June Holmes, The Hancock Museum, Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 4PT, or e-mail nhsn@ncl.ac.uk (FAO June Holmes) 10th August Bewick Birthday Celebrations at Cherryburn. 25 September Bewick AGM at the Literary and Philosophical Society. 13 November Jenny Uglow will talk on Gardening in Bewick's Day. Press Room Volunteers Required A wonderful chance to work in the press room and learn some new techniques, no previous experience is necessary and traiing wil be given. Volunteers can work as many or as few Saturday or Sunday afternooon as they wish on a rota basis. Contact Stewart Thirkell cherryburn@nationaltrust.org.uk Thomas Bewick Greetings Cards Attractive cards cost £10 for a set of 17 different birds. The cards are blank for your own personal message. Please tel. 020 7771 1409 for further information. Trail Guide: Thomas Bewick in Newcastle: A guide to places in and around the city associated with the artist.
This leaflet, produced with a grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund Awards for All scheme, has been officially launched and distributed to all the local libraries and Tourist Offices. Tel: 0191 277 8000 or via tourist.info@newcastle.gov.uk to acquire one.
Other Events at Cherryburn organised by the National Trust
Cherryburn is open from the mid March until the end of October. Visit for further details.
Cherryburn Folk in the Farmyard
Every Sunday afternoon there is traditional music, song or dance from 2pm-5pm.
Venue: Cherryburn, Station Road, Mickley Square, near Stocksfield, Northumberland NE43 7DD. Telephone 01661 843276., e-mail: cherryburn@nationaltrust.org.uk
Admission: Admission charges apply. National Trust and Bewick Society members free on production of a valid membership card. Other Bewick events and exhibitions not organized by the Society
Every Sunday printing demonstrations using traditional methods with original hand presses from 1-4p.m. Normal Admission.
Venue: Cherryburn, Station Road, Mickley Square, near Stocksfield, Northumberland NE43 7DD, Tel: 01661 843276. The Bewick Society's web page Museum website, Discovering Bewick. Thomas Bewick On this site.
Found on web: Thomas Bewick statue of Thomas
Bewick Graham Carlisle's Bewick page Contact: The Membership secretary, Mrs June Holmes, c/o The
Hancock Museum, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE2 4PT.
Index The Blake Society of St James's The Society's website The complete works of William Blake Contact:Dr. Keri Davies,
Address: c/o St. James's Church, 197 Piccadilly, London W1J 9LL Phone: 020 8366 1634, email: secretary@blakesociety.org.uk
Index
The Robert Bloomfield Society
The Robert Bloomfield Society has been founded in order to promote a wider and a deeper knowledge of tis remarkable, and unjustly neglected poet. It is hoped that the society will attract members from both the U.K. and the U.S.A. and ultimately from wider afield. Contact: A. Underhill 71 Spenser Road, Bedford, MK40 2BE.
Index
The Friends of Jorge Luis Borges Worldwide Society
Jorge Luis Borges (1899 - 1986) was an Argentine writer who is considered to be one of
the foremost writers of the 20th century. Best-known in the English speaking world for his short
stories and fictive essays, Borges was also a poet, critic, and man of letters. (copied from Wikipedia page)
The Friends of Jorge Luis Borges website Wikipedia on Jorge Luis Borges Contact: Dr Miguel-Angel Meizoso-Gonzalez, e-mail: coordination@FriendsofBorges.net Index The
The George Borrow Society
The George Borrow Society was established in 1991.
It publishes two substantial Bulletins a year and organises one or two events annually.
The annual subscription rate is £15.00 for individual or corporate membership, £10.00 for students.
Enquiries should be addressed to Mike Skillman at georgeborrow@blueyonder.co.uk .
The
Society's website is at The Society's website
The website includes information
about the Society and its Bulletin. A thematic index to the Bulletin is currently in process of
development, covering a wide range of topics relevant to Borrow and Victorian studies in general.
contact: Andrew Dakyns,
1 Holywell Close, Eastbourne, East Sussex, BN20 7RX
Tel/Fax: 01323 737209
Membership Secretary: Mr Michael Skillman, 60 Upper Marsh Road,
Warminster, Wilts. BA12 9PN.
Index
The Brontë Society 2008 Emily Exhibition at the Brontë Parsonage
‘No Coward Soul’ is the new and special exhibition at the Brontë Parsonage Museum celebrating the life and work of Emily Jane Brontë.
For the very first time members of the public are invited to come and view our entire collection of objects and artefacts associated with the world famous Brontë sister and author of ‘Wuthering Heights’.
The exhibition guides our visitors through the most significant aspects of Emily’s life; her childhood, her love for animals, her writing, and how she felt about spending time away from her home here at the Parsonage. We have chosen to display some very special and rare objects belonging to Emily to accompany the information about her life.
We hope that visitors to this unique Emily exhibition will gain a deeper insight into the life and soul behind the legend.
The Brontë Parsonage Museum is open seven days a week
Please contact the museum on 01535 642323 for information on opening times and entry charges or Ann Dinsdale - Collections Manager on 01535 640198, for information on the ‘No Coward Soul’ exhibition 2008.
Brontë Website Page on Anne Brontë, connections for her sisters The address of the Museum: The Brontë Parsonage Museum,
Haworth, Keighley, BD22 8DR, tel: 01535 642323
contact: Mrs Angela Crow, PO Box 82, Thornton Road, Bradford, BD13 3YA
The Angrians
The Angrians is the Junior section of the Brontë
Society for young people up to and including the age of fourteen
years.
The aim is to foster and encourage interest in the Brontë story
and
the Brontës' writing and to share this interest with others
through
pen friends, competitions, poetry and story writing.
Write to The Brontë Society (The Angrians) Subscription Department
Brontë Parsonage Museum
Haworth, Keighley
West Yorkshire BD22 8DR, England
for a membership form. It will cost you £5 to
join.
IndexThe Browning
Society Contact: Vicky
Greenaway, Hon. Secretary, email: v.l.greenaway@btinternet.com
Index The
Rupert Brooke Society Membership Application form The Rupert Brooke Society was formed in the summer
of 1999. Their headquarters is at The Orchard, Grantchester. This was
because
in order to supplement their income, the owners named Stevenson took
in
lodgers and in 1909 a young graduate of King's College took up
residence.
His name was Rupert Brooke. If you want to travel to The Orchard in
the
most traditional way, you can hire a punt (and a Chauffeur, if
required)
from Scudamores Boatyard (01223 359750). Alternatively, punts can be
hired
in Grantchester in summertime, from Granta Punt Hire, situated in the
cottage next to the Church (01223 843285). The Orchard is open all day, all year.
E.M.Forster, Ludwig Wittgenstein, Bertrand Russell,
August John, Maynard Keynes and Virginia Woolf were also members of
the
Grantchester Group.
Rupert Brooke Society page Rupert Brooke A Dymock Poet
Contact:The Rupert Brooke Society,
The Orchard,
45-47 Mill Way,
Grantchester,
Cambridge CB3 9ND
Index
The John
Buchan Society
On 3 March 1979, one of the speakers on the programme for a John Buchan Day, organised by the Extra-Mural Department of Edinburgh University, was Eileen Stewart. It was thanks to her enthusiasm and formidable energy, backed up by many other Buchan devotees, that the day also saw the inaugural meeting of the John Buchan Society. The Rt Hon The second Lord Tweedsmuir, John Buchan's eldest son, presided over the proceedings when the first Council was elected.
The First Annual Dinner was held on 1 March 1980, when the second son of John Buchan, the Hon William Buchan, (the present third Lord Tweedsmuir) was the principal guest and speaker. The first A.G.M. was also held in Edinburgh on 15 May 1980. Since then the Society has grown to nearly 500 members, many residing in the USA and Canada and other parts of the world. The Society's main objective is 'to promote a wider understanding and appreciation of the life and works of John Buchan'. It does this through holding its AGM and Annual Dinner, now on the same weekend, alternately in Scotland and England: recent venues have been Peebles, Glasgow, London, Warwick, Chipping Norton and Ramsgate.
Three weekend seminars have also been held since 1990, all based in Oxford. Although the Society has no building as its headquarters it is committed to supporting The John Buchan Centre at Broughton, near Peebles in the Scottish Borders. 2006
The 27th Annual Dinner and AGM were held at the Salutation Hotel in Perth, Scotland on
Saturday, 1 April. Nearly 90 members and guests heard an excellent talk by guest speaker, Janet
Morgan (Lady Balfour of Burleigh) on "Feeling Like Richard Hannay". Members of the Robert Louis
Stevenson Club, including their Secretary Dr. Alan Marchbank, heard their Chairman, Ian Nimmo,
give a toast to the two Societies.
Lady Stewartby, one of John Buchan's grand-daughters, was elected Chairman of the Society,
succeeding Alasdair Hutton OBE, TD, who stepped down after serving six years in office. Saturday October 7th. The 2006 Cheltenham Festival saw the John Buchan Society hosting a talk by Elizabeth Buchan on why and how she became an author. Also on display were copies of John Buchan's works in first edition. Thanks must go to St. Andrew's United Reformed Church for providing such excellent facilities.
2007 Saturday, 24th March The Annual Dinner will be held at Brasenose College, Oxford - John Buchan's own
college. The Speaker will be Professor Hew Strachan, Chichele Professor of Military History at Oxford, who will be talking about John Buchan and the Great War.
New John Buchan
Society website includes a complete Buchan bibliography and much more. Contact: the Membership Secretary:
Mrs Diana Durden, 'Barnack', Goring Road, Steyning, West Sussex BN44 3GF
Tel.: + 44(0)1903 813603 email: diana@durden.clara.co.uk
Index
The Daresbury Lewis Carroll Society contact: K.N. Oultram, Clatterwick Hall, Little Leigh,
Northwich, Cheshire CW8 4RJ Tel: 01606 891303
Index
The Chaucer Heritage Trust Downloadable recordings The main purpose of the recordings is to help students improve their pronunciation of Chaucer's Middle English. British Library archive, funded by Lottery. Enjoy! Contact: Mr R.M. Starkie, Horbury Villa, 85 Ladbroke, London
W11 3PJ TEL: 0207 727 9445
Index The
Chesterton Society The Chesterton Society Membership Application Form G.K. Chesterton Gilbert
Keith Chesterton contact: R. Hughes, 11 Lawrence Leys, Bloxham, Banbury
OX15 4NU
IndexThe
John Clare Society 14/15 July 2007 The John Clare Society is holding its annual Festival in Helpston (near Peterborough) on the weekend of 14/15 July 2007. Programme details on the website (www.johnclare.org.uk) or from Linda Curry at l.j.curry@bham.ac.uk.
- Books. The Wood is Sweet - poems of John Clare selected and introduced by David Powell and
illustrated by Carry Akroyd - published by the John Clare Society. £7 plus £1.50 postage and
packing, cheques made payable to the John Clare Society. Orders to Linda Curry, 59 Bryony
Road, Selly Oak, Birmingham B29 4BY. Also available on Amazon.
The John Clare Society is offering a complementary John Clare perpetual calendar to anyone who
joins us for the first time and who belongs to a fellow literary society from the A.L.S. Details on how
to join can be obtained from the Membership Secretary (Tel. 0121 475 1805 - Email:
linda.curry@virgin.net or by visiting our website at http://www.johnclare.org.uk. John Clare’s cottage in Helpston has been secured But there will be a massive fundraising campaign very soon to repay the loan. Collection of Flower Poems, edited by
Simon Kövesi.
New book by Peter Moyse Love Poems John
Clare Society's website contact: Ms Linda Curry, 59 Bryony Road, Birmingham B15 2TT
- tel. 0121 475 1805 - email: linda.curry1@virgin.net
Index
The William
Cobbett Society
Mid-Summer The Society has an annual expedition by
coach retracing, with commentaries and readings from Cobbett's works,
routes
taken by Cobbett on his rural rides. Please contact Ms Biddell for
further
details of this annual event.
The new William Cobbett Society website William Cobbett Membership Form William Cobbett contact: Barbara Biddell 01798 342008
Index
The Friends of Coleridge
The Friends of Coleridge aim to foster interest in the life and works of the poet Samuel
Taylor Coleridge and his circle, and to support Coleridge Cottage in Nether Stowey,
Somerset, through co-operation with the National Trust.
We pursue our aims by publishing the Coleridge Bulletin, sent out to members twice a
year; by hosting an annual Study Weekend at Kilve in Somerset and by sponsoring a
biennial International Conference at Cannington, close to the Quantock Hills, which
inspired some of Coleridge's greatest poetry. Ian McKellen reads Coleridge’s Ancient Mariner Friends of Coleridge Society's website Contact: Paul Cheshire, 74 Wells Road, Bath, BA2 3AR Index