THE YOUNG PEN CLUB
[To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.]
SIR,—As President of the P.E.N. Club I have pleasure in stating that there has come into being a society called the young P.E.N., affiliated to the London P.E.N. Club. It will consist of young writers and literary aspirants, never more than twenty-nine years old, not as yet eligible for the P.E.N. Club itself, and many of whom will not so far have had any work. published.
It will exist to foster creative talent, bring young writers together, and give them a chance to meet with young literary folk of other countries ; for I do not doubt that the example of this idea, which originated with Mr. Hermon Ould, the P.E.N. Club's secretary, will be followed in many of the countries where the forty-two centres of the P.E.N. Club exist. The Young P.E.N., whose honorary secretary is Mr. A. G. Berrisford, will use the office of the London P.E.N. Club at 107 Great Russell Street for the next year at least. They will meet once a month for social intercourse and intellectual co-operation, including the discussion of literature, The subscription will be 5s. a year for foundation members, up to the number of fifty, elected before the end of October this year, and 10s. 6d. for ordinary members. Candidates must be proposed and seconded by members who know them personally and have seen something that they have written. The first meeting will be held on October 4th.
Though I am naturally prejudiced in its favour, it is my belief that the P.E.N. Club, founded by Mrs. Dawson-Scott in 1922 to promote amity between writers all over the world, with its forty-two centres, is increasing annually not only in numbers but in influence, and that this new development will in time strengthen it enormously, besides helping young writers to make a start in literature.—I am, Sir, &c.,
JOHN GALSWORTHY. The P.E.N. Club, 107 Great Russell Street, London, W.C. 1.
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