For a Society that has been around for nearly 170 years, introducing ourselves like a novice may in some sense seem comical. And surely for the readers of our successful series of publications it is. However for those who are new to the Society, let us start by telling something about who we are and what we do. The Hakluyt Society was founded in 1846 and has been active as a publisher ever since. During this period, we have published more than 340 primary accounts of travel and exploration. A complete list can be found here. The Society is named after Richard Hakluyt (1552-1616), collector and editor of narratives of voyages and travels relating to English interests overseas, best known for his The Principal Navigations, Voyages and Discoveries of the English Nation. A new edition of this monumental work is currently being prepared.
Welcome to the Hakluyt Society blog! We post here, from time to time, articles from our authors and series editors, announcements of Hakluyt Society events and, of course, notices and reviews of our new volumes. To be alerted to new posts, simply subscribe using the mail input to the right.
Richard who? Introducing the Hakluyt Society
In addition to its primary role as a publisher of scholarly texts, the Hakluyt Society contributes in several other ways to the advancement of knowledge of geographical exploration and cultural encounter. The Society publishes a free online journal, organises and participates in symposia and conferences, and awards an annual Hakluyt Society Essay Prize. The Hakluyt Society also maintains a Facebook page providing Society news, new volume announcements and highlights from previous Society volumes.
The Hakluyt Society blog contains news and information relating to the Society’s interests, especially announcements and reviews of new Hakluyt Society volumes as they are published. This blog also provides an opportunity for guest bloggers to share stories and information related to their research related the Society’s activities. This could take the form of a short piece about a person or event connected with one of the books published by the Society, for instance in relation to an anniversary or exhibition. Readers who are interested in contributing are warmly invited to get in touch.
Spread the word and watch this space!