The Esperanto Association of Britain (EAB; ) is a registered educational charity whose objective is to advance education in and about the international language Esperanto and to preserve and promote the culture and heritage of Esperanto for the educational benefit of the general public. Its predecessor organisation, the British Esperanto Association (BEA, established in 1904; ), was one of the most active national Esperanto organisations during the 20th century.

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. Its rules were finalised by 8 June 1905, and it was incorporated as a limited company on 1 May 1907. Britain previously had only small local groups of Esperantists, including a Keighley society founded in 1902, and early publicity in the press by W.T. Stead, who hosted the inaugural meeting of the London Esperanto Club in 1903. 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. 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. The company’s directors are ordinarily drawn from EAB’s management committee. 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.

In 2012, EAB celebrated the 125th anniversary of the creation of Esperanto by Zamenhof in 1887.

Publications

<!-- Deleted image removed: thumb|right|240px|The British Esperantist. (January 1905, Vol.1, No. 1) -->

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.

Other regular publications include Update, a newsletter mainly in English covering activities related to the Esperanto movement in Britain.

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. 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. This followed earlier wins for La krubalo, EAB's translation of The Gruffalo, in 2020, and for La domo ĉe Pu-Angulo, its translation of A. A. Milne’s The House at Pooh Corner, in 2022.

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.

Offices

In earlier years, the offices of EAB were located at 17 Hart Street, London WC1, then 140 Holland Park Avenue, London W11.. In 2001 (after several months in temporary accommodation) the office relocated to a converted outbuilding at the Wedgwood Memorial College, Barlaston, Staffordshire,. In 2024, with most of its activities having moved online, the association moved out of its physical office and is now contactable through a forwarding address 483 Green Lanes, London, N13 4BS..

See also

  • Junularo Esperantista Brita Young British Esperantists

References

  • Esperanto Association of Britain website
  • Junularo Esperantista Brita (JEB) Website