Neil Astley is the editor of Bloodaxe Books, which he founded in 1978. Bloodaxe has, for 40 years, published poetry from the most inclusive and international range of authors, who have won all the major prizes, including Pulitzers and Nobels. Its numerous anthologies, often edited by Neil, have also been game-changers. They include the Bloodaxe Book of Contemporary Women Poets (ed. Jenny Couzyn) in 1985, through to the Staying Alive trilogy (2002-2011). Astley is himself a poet and novelist. The End of My Tether (2002) was shortlisted for the Whitbread First Novel Award.
Fellows are nominated by peers and elected by our Council of writers – our governing Board. Being elected a Fellow of the RSL is a lifetime honour. This role gives them the opportunity to support other writers, readers and the future of literature. The RSL connects writers in the Fellowship to one another, and to a wider readership.
