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Our History

Our Royal Charter is the foundation for our charitable purpose. From the Fund’s beginnings in 1790 to the present day, the RLF has counted many distinguished names among its beneficiaries and individuals involved in the charity.

Our History

Our Royal Charter is the foundation for our charitable purpose. From the Fund’s beginnings over two hundred years ago to the present day, the RLF has counted many distinguished names among its beneficiaries and individuals involved in the charity.

The foundation of a literary fund

For over two centuries, our mission has centred around a singular purpose: to assist writers in financial need. Through donations, legacies, and the support of fellow writers, we persist in our endeavour to serve the literary community.

Estates

Leaving your literary estate to the RLF is a unique and enduring way to ensure your words continue to help future generations of writers.

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Estates

Most of our income has come from authors who bequeathed some or all of their literary estate for the benefit of future generations of writers. We have been a beneficiary and custodian of the estates of, amongst others, Colin MacInnes, Somerset Maugham, A.A. Milne and Arthur Ransome.

If you would like to know more about an estate we manage or how your estate could make a lasting impact for writers, get in touch with us.

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Our Archive

The Royal Literary Fund archive contains tens of thousands of documents dating from the Fund’s foundation in 1790 through until the present day.

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Commissioned Reports

Read the reports we have commissioned about the literary world, the issues that affect writers’ lives today, and the places of education we work with.

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