History
The British Esperanto Association was founded in October 1904 during a period of interest in Esperanto after the turn of the 20th century in the United Kingdom, where Esperanto had until then been slow to develop compared to other European countries. [6] [7] [4] Its rules were finalised by 8 June 1905, and it was incorporated as a limited company on 1 May 1907. [8] Britain previously had only small local groups of Esperantists, including a Keighley society founded in 1902, [6] [7] and early publicity in the press by W.T. Stead, who hosted the inaugural meeting of the London Esperanto Club in 1903. [4] BEA coordinated local clubs, examinations, and the distribution of textbooks, while establishing a formal governance structure with an elected Council and a paid secretary. [4]
BEA launched the magazine The British Esperantist in 1905, incorporating the earlier periodical The Esperantist in 1906. [4] Early British Esperantists were inspired both by the idealism of Esperanto's founder, L. L. Zamenhof, and by the promise of practical benefits, such as international communication and commercial opportunities. [4] Support from prominent figures, including Stead, Felix Moscheles, and Ebenezer Howard helped give the movement visibility and credibility in both cultural and peace-oriented circles.
During the interwar period, BEA undertook promotional, educational, and parliamentary activities. It ran correspondence courses, expanded its publishing programme, and engaged in lobbying efforts advocating for the inclusion of Esperanto in postwar international institutions such as the League of Nations. [3] It hosted the World Congress of Esperanto in Edinburgh (1926), Oxford (1930), and London (1938), and membership surpassed 2,000 for the first time in 1931. [4] BEA also sought to popularise Esperanto through advertising, public lectures, and dual-language publications with English text such as International Language (1924–1931).
During the Second World War, BEA maintained activities under wartime conditions, emphasizing preparation for postwar peace and international understanding. Membership increased, reaching a peak of 3,039 in 1945, largely driven by interest in postwar reconstruction and international cooperation. [4] The association engaged in parliamentary advocacy, notably petitioning the government regarding the future role of Esperanto in education and international affairs. In the post-war era, membership declined steadily, and by 1952 it had fallen below 2,000. The BEA focused on internal activities and educational initiatives, including correspondence courses and its youth section. Efforts to modernize the organisation continued through the 1960s and 1970s, including broader parliamentary engagement, the foundation of a fund to encourage international travel for young people, and the production of English-language publications such as Esperanto Contact. [4]
A separate charitable body, the Esperanto Association of Britain, was constituted in the late 1970s. According to The British Esperantist, EAB’s first constitution was adopted in March 1976, and the organisation was registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales on 10 February 1977. [9] [10] Its predecessor body, BEA, remains registered as a dormant company, having transferred its stock and cash to EAB in 1995 and its property in 1999. [11] The company’s directors are ordinarily drawn from EAB’s management committee. [8]
Following the transition of assets from BEA, including the sale of BEA’s long-time headquarters on Holland Park Avenue in London, EAB operated a base on the campus of Wedgwood Memorial College in Barlaston, where it hosted residential courses, ran a national book service and maintained the Montagu C. Butler Library. [12] [13] After the closure of Wedgwood College in 2012, the association decentralised its activities, expanded its online provision, and in 2024 discontinued the use of a physical office, adopting a forwarding address for administrative purposes. [14]
In 2012, EAB celebrated the 125th anniversary of the creation of Esperanto by Zamenhof in 1887. [15]
Publications
In January 1905 the British Esperanto Association launched its official organ, The British Esperantist, as a monthly publication. It was later retitled La Brita Esperantisto (briefly LBE from 2010 to 2014). Its frequency has varied over time: initially a monthly, it became bimonthly during World War II, quarterly in 1991, and since then a semi-annual magazine with Spring and Autumn issues. [16]
Other regular publications include Update, a newsletter mainly in English covering activities related to the Esperanto movement in Britain. [17]
The association is also active as a book publisher. In addition to its periodicals, it publishes original works, translations, and reprints of significant titles in Esperanto. During the early 2020s its output included 15 books in 2022 and 14 in 2023, followed by 10 titles in 2024. [18] Its 2024 publishing programme comprised three strands: works connected with the “Bauldton” anniversary project honouring the centenary of Marjorie Boulton and William Auld; the completion of EAB’s six-volume edition of Tove Jansson’s Moomin books in Esperanto; and several standalone titles.
EAB has received multiple awards for its publishing activity in the Literary Arts Competitions of the World Esperanto Association. In 2024 it won the “Children's book of the year” prize for its edition of Doktoro Esperanto kaj la lingvo de Espero, written by Mara Rockliff and illustrated by Zosia Dzierżawska. [19] This followed earlier wins for La krubalo, EAB's translation of The Gruffalo , in 2020, [20] and for La domo ĉe Pu-Angulo, its translation of A. A. Milne’s The House at Pooh Corner , in 2022. [21]
In recognition of EAB’s wider publishing programme, its Director Tim Owen received the World Esperanto Association’s “Diploma for Outstanding Artistic Activity” in 2024. [22]
