The demise of the Royal Society of Literature

The tenth anniversary of the slaughter of Charlie Hebdo journalists reminds us that the literary establishment has long been equivocal when it comes to defending free speech. So news this week that the Royal Society of Literature is in ‘meltdown’, after singularly failing to defend its members when under attack, sadly comes as no surprise. Indeed, the departure of the once-great society’s chairman and director, shortly before a forthcoming annual general meeting that was expected to have seen calls for their resignation, should be welcomed by all who support artistic freedom.

Globally, the rift among literature’s great and good became starkly apparent just weeks after the murder of twelve Charlie Hebdo journalists in 2015. PEN America, a literary organisation that defends free speech, honoured the satirical magazine with a freedom of expression award at its annual gala dinner. Immediately, six prominent writers, including Michael Ondaatje and Peter Carey announced their decision to boycott