More About The Society

When did you last visit a famous home and have it for your exclusive enjoyment?

Our evenings offer you this and much more…..personally hosted evenings promise a good social and cultural ambience; a warm welcome on arrival at our drinks’ reception; the theatrical presentation or musical recital preceded by an opportunity to wander round the house and gardens at your leisure or take a privately guided tour, and when you leave – a feeling you have come to know these literary characters in spirit as well as in the historical sense.

An informal drinks reception in The Granary at Jane Austen's House Chawton Hants

Curator Stephanie Pickford tells members the story behind Dr Johnson's Dictionary

In the beautifully appointed library of Charles Dickens's former home in the heart of London, a professional actor brings the author to life in a specially written one-man play. In the elegant drawing room of Jane Austen’s former home in Chawton, Hants. professional musicians in period costume play 18th century music on Jane's square piano; the very music Jane herself might have played or listened to.

Whether you are seated in Kipling’s original study, or Dr Johnson’s garret where he compiled the first English dictionary, these are the sort of atmospheric scenes we try to create when bringing our literary greats to life. We aim to give you a memorable experience of England’s literary heritage that will remain with you long after you return home.

Our events, at the very least encourage our audiences to visit their local bookshops or libraries to rediscover their favourite authors. "I went home full of hunger to read Dickens again" said one of our members following a Dinner with Dickens evening. "It was one of the best cultural events I’ve attended since coming to London".

Our unique events scheduled exclusively for members will include:

Privately presented live theatrical performances by acclaimed actors.
Recitals by professional musicians playing period instruments in period costume
Talks by the authors' living descendents with first hand family knowledge
specially devised literary talks by well known authors or readings by experts in their field.
Informal literary evenings at nominal cost.
Literary weekends such as Jane Austen's Bath or Howarth home of the Brontës
Events focused on the eateries and pubs the authors frequented in the company of their artist & writer friends. We will be dining at Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese (off Fleet Street) a favourite of Dickens, Johnson , Thackeray, W.B.Yates and Wilkie Collins.