Wokingham Literary Society

 

THE KENYON POETRY PRIZE COMPETITION - CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS

 

The Wokingham Literary Society exists to encourage the appreciation of literature. In 2005 it celebrated its 50th anniversary and currently the society has more than sixty members. An annually-elected committee arranges a varied programme of events.

The core of the programme is a series of fortnightly evening meetings, which run from September to April each year, when talks are given by members on literary topics of general interest. Sometimes these concentrate on a single author or poet; at other times a particular theme may be selected.

These talks usually lead to lively discussions and often introduce members to new books worth reading. It is a great strength of the Society that a sufficient number of attractive topics are offered by members at the AGM for the committee to compile a varied and stimulating programme of meetings.

Occasionally the Society is privileged to have a guest speaker expert in some specialist area.

There is also a programme of play readings, theatre visits, poetry groups, a book group, an annual outing, and an annual dinner.

During the summer months informal "I have been reading" sessions are held at members' houses where we discuss the books we have read recently. There is also an informal evening gathering where members and their families come together for good food, drink and conversation.

The 2011-2012 series of talks will take place in the Baptist Church Main Hall in Milton Road, Wokingham. The room is immediately beside the church to the left-hand side. Meetings begin promptly at 7.30pm and finish at 9.30pm with a coffee break in the middle (tea and coffee are free). Parking is available in Milton Road and Rectory Road.

The annual subscription for 2011-2012 is £10.00. Non members are welcome with the first meeting attended free, thereafter £1 per meeting to cover incidental costs.

The only qualification for membership is an interest in literature in its widest sense. You do not need to live in Wokingham; a number of our members come from outside the town. New members are always welcome and any of the officers of the society will be glad to answer questions.

For more information or encouragement, contact:
Tony King (Chairman) - 0118 978 5185
Margaret Wall (Secretary) - 0118 934 1564

Our programme for 2011-2012 is shown below.

 

Sep 15th 2011 Carol Ann Duffy: The World's Wife: Examining the word play
September 29th A Brief History of War and Battle Poetry
October 6th Jane Austen's Countryside and the Country Life
October 20th Evocations of Childhood in poetry and prose
November 3rd Rudyard Kipling: His life and poetry
November 17th Members' evening: Howard's End to Pooh Corner: Houses in Literature
December 1st The Cradle of Liberty: Some New England writers
December 15th A Box of Christmas Delights
January 19th Inspired by the Olive Tree: The memoir and travel writing of Carol Drinkwater
February 2nd The Finzi Book Room: The life and poetry library of an English composer
February 16th CS Lewis: the inside is larger than the outside
March 1st Members' evening: Reading between the Lines: Railways in Literature
March 15th Illustrated Children's Books from the 19th Century to the present day
March 29th John Betjeman: Poet, conservationist and eccentric
April 19th Annual General Meeting

 

 

History of Wokingham Literary Society

Past Programmes

More about Wokingham
Wokingham Times - getWokingham
Welcome to Wokingham
History of Wokingham

Updated 13 September, 2011