RCW Authors in RSL 40 Under 40
We are incredibly proud to announce that eleven of our writers have been named in the Royal Society of Literature's inaugural '40 Under 40' Scheme:
Laura Bates
Hannah Berry
Sarah Perry
Amy Sackville
Deborah Smith
The RSL said it was “delighted by the diversity of writers elected and the diversity of literary forms their writing represents." The new intake contains 73% female writers with 30% of the new fellows from BAME backgrounds, according to the society’s data.
The list “truly honours the diversity of writers working in Britain today, and redresses the imbalances of yesteryear" according to RSL vice-chair Bernardine Evaristo. Meanwhile fellow panel member Sarah Waters said the scheme made RSL "so much more reflective of the fantastic diversity of writers to be found in the UK today".
The initiative was launched last summer to honour the achievements of Britain’s younger writers and introduce a new generation to the Society’s existing Fellowship of more than 500. Previously the average age of fellows was 70 with only three under the age of 40 and none under 30.
For more information, please see here.
(Agent for Sarah Perry and Amy Sackville: Jenny Hewson; Agent for Deborah Smith: Emma Paterson; Agent for Laura Bates: Georgia Garrett; Agent for Lucy Caldwell, Edmund Gordon, Helen Mort, Ross Raisin, Adam Thirlwell, : Peter Straus; Agent for Gwendoline Riley and Inua Elams: Zoe Waldie; Agent for Hannah Berry: Sam Copeland)
Related Articles

'Jonty Gentoo' by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler is No.1 Children's Bestseller

Pari Thomson and G.M. Linton shortlisted for Waterstones Children's Book Prize 2024

Shortlists revealed for Polari Prizes with Julia Armfield, Seán Hewitt & Tom Crewe

Femi Fadugba and Hannah Gold shortlisted for Waterstones Children's Book Prize 2022

Francesca Gibbons & Jenny Pearson Shortlisted for Waterstones Children's Book Prize 2021
