Hello Gentle Reader,
For some time now the Royal Society of Literature has been embroiled internal conflict and controversy. The accusations leveraged against the Royal Society of Literature by its own members, emeritus presidents, and colleagues, have been nothing short of damning. While the iconoclastic leadership of the now outgoing Chair of Council, Daljit Nagra and Director, Molly Rosenberg, are alleged to have fueled a ‘cultural civil war,’ within the society, which has raised concerns about the competing interests of diversity and inclusivity, and the administrations facilitating in restricting, muting, and censoring freedom of speech, in addition to lacking a robust defense and champion of it. The current president of the society, Bernardine Evaristo, has so far made no inclination of her own resignation, or even its being considered at this time.
The entire fiasco has reportedly been simmering for a few years now, but came to a head last February, when the Royal Society of Literature referred itself to the Charity Commission when the publication of its annual magazine “Review,” was postponed and the editor, Maggie Fergusson, dismissed without ceremony. Writers and fellows which includes Ian McEwan, the late Fleur Adcock, Kazuo Ishiguro, and Margaret Atwood expressed concerns over the societies lacking endorsement of freedom of speech, when it was understood that the publication was being withheld due to an article providing commentary on Israel’s actions in the Middle East; while Allan Hollinghurst and Ian McEwan wrote to the society demanding that it refer to itself to the Charity Commission over the accusations of censorship which contravene the fundamental literary values.
Further charges leveraged against the Royal Society of Literature is its loosening criteria for members to be elected, with many current members, past presidents, former chairs and directors, expressing concern over what could be considered a push and expedited drive to full fill diversity quotas and mission statements, at the expense of literary merit, all the while in the process undermines the core principles of the Royal Society of Literature which was founded in 1820 on the grounds to: “reward literary merit and excite literary talent.” In 2020, however, after the catalyst events which led to the monumental racial protests and subsequent social protests around the Western world, Molly Rosenberg sought to introduce efforts to increase writings from ethnic, racial, social and economic backgrounds which were previously without ‘representation,’ within the society. By 2022 with the announcement of the appointment of Bernardine Evaristo as the incoming president of the society, this mandate took precedence, as Evaristo introduced her presidency on well meaning, but perhaps doomed to failed principles as per their ideological backage:
“Literature is not a luxury, but essential to our civilisation. I am so proud, therefore, to be the figurehead of such an august and robust literature organisation that is so actively and urgently committed to being inclusive of the widest range of outstanding writers from every demographic and geographical location in Britain, and to reaching marginalised communities through literature projects, including introducing young people in schools to some of Britain's leading writers who visit, teach and discuss their work with them.”
Since then, there has been significant concerns raised about how literature is no longer considered the essential concern of the society, as more members were inducted on grounds of tokenism. As former president Marina Warner remarked that a fellowship “used to mark an acclaimed career.” In other words, to be elected as a member of the Royal Society of Literature was considered an honour to acknowledge a writer’s career. Not a participation ribbon. Furthermore, the institution only nominated fellows internally, it completely neglected and avoided the populist angle. Yet the brainchild of Rosenberg and further amplified by Evaristo, fellowships are now open for the public to recommend writers for fellowship, which will then assessed and whittled down by an internal panel. Novelist Amanda Craig said it best, while the Royal Society of Literature may have been at one point “a bit too plate, stale and male,” the expedited efforts have besmirched the societies reputation as Craig continues “no longer the kind of distinction that it was.” While Don Paterson is right to point out, under the current system all a writer or poet needs to do is publish a “a single poetry pamphlet,” or the bare minimum to be considered. Regardless, Bernardine Evaristo in hubris and in good intentions persists, defending the current practices for nomination and induction: “Even today, only 4% of the fellowship is under 40, while more than 55% of it is over 65 – and more than 34% is over 75. Sidelined? Clearly not.”
Further accusations of facilitating populist oriented censorship in the method of social media weaponization and cancellation included a lacking support for the controversial writer Kate Clanchy and her memoir “Some Kids I Taught and What They Taught Me.” While the memoir would go on to receive the Orwell Prize, issues were raised regarding the use of uncouth and or offensive language to describe some of the children, which ultimately led her and her publisher to part ways. Philip Pullman ever a spirited classical liberal resigned from the Society of Authors, for his adamant defense. The Royal Society of Literature was criticized for its tone-deaf response or lack thereof, for what could only be called a modernized version of witch hunt and kangaroo court proceedings, which resulted the intensity of public to demand censorship when it offends their sensibilities. Ironically, at the time of these proceedings Clanchy was a fellow of the society. She subsequently resigned her fellowship when in 2023 when her most prominent public social justice prosecutor Sunny Singh was elected to the same institution.
It wasn’t just Kate Clanchy that the society failed. After the attempted assassination of Salman Rushdie in 2022, the Royal Society of Literature was not only slow to acknowledge the attack but proved to be apprehensive to condemn and offer consolation and support to Salman Rushdie to avoid taking sides on the event or alienating anyone. Evaristo maintained that the Royal Literature Society needed to remain “impartial.” Thankfully Rushdie (a fellow) took to social media to ask if the “Royal Society of Literature is ‘impartial’ about attempted murder?” Only then did Evaristo become more adamant as president that the society continued to support Salman Rushdie as it did before during the initial fatwa and continued to.
There are further administrative issues within the society itself. Allegations of secrecy and weaponization of management to silence any dissidence from the board or trustees. While the public may not be completely aware of what is going on within the societies innerworkings, it has become clear that the organization was imbalanced with an internal culture of unchecked prerogative and executive centralization, which ultimately saw the decay of governance and the alienation of members from society staff and its board. Outgoing Chair of Council, Daljit Nagra is set to table the findings of the governance audit at the next annual general meeting on January 15, which comes at the same time as is effective resignation, while Molly Rosenberg is expected to hang on to her role into the end of March.
Regardless, it appears that the Royal Society of Literature has its work cut out for it. Years of iconoclastic administration and an ideological fervor has ransacked and bankrupt the society and its credibility. With a change in administrative leadership perhaps the society will reel in its well meaning but overly ambitious efforts to incorporate a more ‘inclusive,’ outreach program when it cheapens and diminishes the society, when acclaimed and hard-won careers are abandoned in favour of ill-suited metrics that have no interest in literary merit. Hopefully, the Royal Society of Literature will be able to turn the page and realign its principles and priorities once again in favour of literature and acknowledging great and worthy writers.
Take Care
And As Always
Stay Well Read
M. Mary
For Further Reading
The New Statesman: "Inside the Royal Society of Literature’s civil war"
The Spectator: "The demise of the Royal Society of Literature"
The Spectator: "Royal Society of Literature in meltdown over diversity drive"
The Guardian: "Royal Society of Literature rocked by departures of director and chair"
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