Opening books, meeting minds, creating community.
See what’s on offer here, and read what participants say about us below . . .

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“London Literary Salon sounds grand – believe me it is anything but . . . It is however a magical, brilliant safe space of encouragement, wisdom, laughter and serious study with no homework apart from reading.”
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“I always leave the meetings with a much broader understanding of what we are reading than when I arrived.”
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“I cannot begin to tell you how much I am learning from your Ulysses sessions . . . Thank you so much for what is proving to be a revolutionary experience for me.”
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“I would recommend courses led by Toby to anyone who wants to look at a text in detail
in a study group.”
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“I feel that the Jacob’s Room salon is changing me. I am learning to embrace ambiguity rather than rushing to impose my own pattern on what I’m reading. The community carried me in the text. “
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“My Writer’s Journey Workshop is led by Alison Cable who creates such a safe, fun, non-judgmental space that even I can’t turn into a struggle.”
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“We all came to the group with different backgrounds and interests but Mark has skilfully guided us through a stimulating programme of Greek literature.”
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“Everyone feels they get heard and therefore that each of us has a contribution to make”
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“In all of the courses I have attended I have felt a bond within the group, and this contributes significantly to the quality of the discussions.”
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“I found our four sessions enormously enriching
. . . all the participants
offered such wonderfully diverse readings and interpretations.”
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“Lovely, intimate groups with
in-depth discussions, lots of learning, and friendships are made for life there.”
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“I’ve read things I’d never dared read before. I’ve made new friends and met really interesting people.”
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“Thanks so much for such a delightful six weeks . . . It has been a treat for me here on the West Texas prairie to delve into the English Renaissance with such an interesting group from many different places.”
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“What a joy it was to be part of the Renaissance and history group! I don’t know what I’m going to do without it, but I know I’ll keep reading . . .”
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“It was a wonderful trip, interesting and good fun . . . I think the landscape, especially around the islands is so seductive that you can see how these wonderful texts were written.”
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“I have loved the Hamlet Soliloquies with Jane Wymark. She is enthusiastic about the Bard and eager to share her knowledge of him and as eager to learn more about him – always an example of
a real scholar.”
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“Just finished reading The Ambassadors – couldn’t put it down . . . plunging back into hours of reading, the way I grew up doing and always used to do.”
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“A great experience. Alison strips away the pressure and self-criticism often associated with writing and enables participants to write first and foremost for themselves.”

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What we do

We offer opportunities to read great literature – fiction, poetry, drama, ancient classics, philosophy and more – as part of small, friendly and committed groups led by skilled guides. In 2022 we ran the free LitSalon Challenge and in 2024 launched free ‘LitSalon Shorts’.

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Sign up for our free newsletter

Be the first to hear about upcoming Salon Studies – including online and in-person studies, travel studies, art gallery and museum visits to ‘read’ great paintings, and creative writing for wellbeing sessions – as well as other news, events, innovations and literary adventures.

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What’s coming up?
You can see our study calendar here and view Salon Studies by category below. Click here for booking details.

Literature

Poetry

Drama

Classics & Philosophy

Creative Writing

More about us

Photo: Marcel Strauss on Unsplash

Who we are

Every Salon is led by a skilled facilitator who weaves participants’ ideas with questions the writing raises about
what it is to be human.

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Photo: Laura Kapfer on Unsplash

How we work

We advocate slow and attentive reading.
Being part of a committed group illuminates and enhances the shared experience. 

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Photo: Sebastien Gabriel on Unsplash

How it all began

Salon Director Toby Brothers explains
how the seed for the Salon was sown
in Paris before being transplanted to London.

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Photo: Amador Loureiro on Unsplash

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The London Literary Salon

Opening books, meeting minds and
creating community since 2004

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