You may be a member of the Sherlock Holmes Society of London – but did you know that the Society is itself a member of the Alliance of Literary Societies?

The Alliance of Literary Societies is the umbrella organisation for literary societies and groups in the UK. It was formed in 1973 and currently has around 125 members. The president is Claire Harman.

The ALS provides support and advice on a variety of literary subjects, as well as promoting cooperation between member societies. Each year it has a weekend event hosted by a different member society.

You can learn more about the ALS and the many other societies that belong to the Alliance at the website, where you can also download (free of charge) the 2017 issue of the annual journal, ALSo as well as the previous four issues. This year's theme is "Lost, Found or Faked"; previous journals have focused on "Literary Scandal", "Literary Places", "The Literary Fantastic" and "Humour in Literature".

We're in distinguished company in the Alliance, alongside the likes of the Jerome K Jerome Society, the Robert Louis Stevenson Club, the Oscar Wilde Society, the JM Barrie Literary Society, the Kipling Society, the Dickens Fellowship, the Lewis Carroll Society, the Wilkie Collins Society, the Dracula Society, the John Buchan Society, the PG Wodehouse Society – and the Royal Society of Literature!

You'll find the ALS website at https://allianceofliterarysocieties.wordpress.com/