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The Woodstock Literature Society was founded in 2009 with the aim of presenting high quality talks on literature to local book lovers, offering time to socialise after the talk with refreshment (a glass of wine at evening talks/tea and cake at afternoon talks). Since then, its reputation and membership have grown and we are pleased to welcome members and visitors from Oxfordshire and beyond.
Topics range from classic and contemporary authors, to drama, poetry, and foreign authors in translation. Our speakers include academic specialists, published authors, and literary journalists. Full details can be seen under Programmes. Please note that changes to the programme can also be found on the programme page.
Please see Membership for payment details.
For general enquiries about The Woodstock Literature Society contact: enquiries@woodstocklitsoc.co.uk
Our next talk will be on
Saturday 21st February at 3:00pm in the St Hugh's Centre
Professor Emma Smith will give a talk entitled:
Going up-market: The Theatre in the Jacobean Period.
Who went to the theatre in the age of Shakespeare? This talk discusses writers, audiences and their theatres: Shakespeare alongside other contemporary writers such as Ben Jonson, John Webster, and Thomas Middleton; and also the Globe theatre alongside private playhouses such as Blackfriars. Changes in the social and cultural place of drama in the early seventeenth century began a process of gentrification that continues to shape the theatre today, and this talk will discuss the ways in which Shakespeare did, and did not, embrace these changes.
Professor Emma Smith is professor of Shakespeare Studies in the University of Oxford and a Fellow of Hertford College.
The view the full programme please go to Programme 2026
OPEN BOOK GROUP 2026
There was a good turnout at the discussion of The Island of Missing Trees by Elif Shafak, which received favourable reviews.
By coincidence, ‘Service in Cyprus’ is The Soldiers of Oxfordshire Museum’s first exhibition of the year, running from 31st January to 29th March (S.O.F.O. is located in the grounds of The Oxfordshire Museum, Park Street, Woodstock).
SAVE THE DATE
The Open Book Group will meet again in Woodstock Town Hall at 11:30 on Wednesday 18th March
(The book for discussion will be confirmed as soon as possible)
Anne Handsley's review of Professor Laura Swift's talk on Saturday 17th January is now available to read in Reviews & Gallery
OPEN BOOK GROUP
The informal meetings were launched in August 2022 with a discussion of Edith Wharton’s The Age of Innocence. The discussions have proved increasingly popular. A full list of books discussed can be seen on A Good Read.
The group meets two or three times a year in the Town Hall on Wednesday mornings. Anyone, whether a member or not, can drop in to discuss the chosen book (All book group books are available with a generous discount of 15% at the Woodstock Bookshop). There is no booking required and a nominal fee of £3 per person will be requested to cover the room hire.
Attendees are invited to submit suggestions for future discussion, a shortlist is drawn-up and a poll taken to decide the next book.
A selection of images used in publicity posters for previous talks
Whether you are a reader, a writer, or a poet, Woodstock Literature Society welcomes your input and suggestions for future talks.
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