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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, 24 October at 3:00pm
in the St Hugh's Centre, Hensington Road
when Jane Thynne will present her talk entitled
Tales from Trent Park: How Life Becomes Fiction
The novelist Jane Thynne sees Trent Park as an ideal backdrop for a detective novel, and the long-secret war project as a perfect metaphor for historical fiction. Her illustrated talk will discuss real life sources, and the boundaries between history and fiction.
If you enjoyed our January Open Book Group discussion of the Elif Shafak novel The Island of Missing Trees you may enjoy the interview by John Wilson with the author on the BBC Radio 4's This Cultural Life, broadcast released on 24th September and now available on BBC Sounds.
Suggested by Tony McHugh
Julia Johnson's review of Professor Lee's talk on Tuesday, 22 September is now available on the Reviews & Gallery page.
SAVE THE DATE FOR A SPECIAL EXTRA EVENT
Saturday 5th December at 3:00pm
at St Hugh’s Centre, Hensington Road.
A talk by Dame Hermione Lee
We are delighted to be able to offer members an additional talk. This will be given by the distinguished biographer Dame Hermione Lee whose book on Anita Brookner will be newly published.
We could not resist this exciting opportunity, even though it will be outside our published programme for ’26.
WLS Members will not be charged any extra for this talk.
Visitors may wish to consider an annual subscription (£30) which would cover the Summer Party and the remaining five talks of '26. If coming to all five talks plus the Summer Party as visitors the fees would total £65, so making the annual subscription well worth considering.
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.
Church Kneeler
St Mary Magdalene Church, Woodstock
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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