The word ’networking’ had not been invented in the nineteenth century but the practice was prevalent and any writer who was anyone belonged to some literary club or other. Founded by Sir Walter Besant in 1891, The Authors’ Club was intended as the sister organisation to the Society of Authors: a place where writers could meet and talk. The Daily Graphic described the club’s first formal meeting in 1892 as being attended by ‘a grand gathering of well-known writers’ and early members included George Meredith, Jerome K Jerome, EM Forster, Compton Mackenzie, Thornton Wilder and Somerset Maugham amongst others.

Back then a member had to be published between hard covers but according to the current chairman, Dinah Wiener, these days the Authors’ Club welcomes publishers, agents, journalists, academics and anyone involved with literature – as well as writers. Current members include authors such as Deborah Moggach and Godfrey Howard.