Christopher Smith

testimonies of a great poet and teacher.

Very sorry to report that Douglas Dunn has passed away. He was the finest Scottish poet of the post-war period. Dougie was also someone we knew and loved as a dear friend, mentor and teacher, and he will be deeply missed.

Love Poem I live in you, you live in me; We are two gardens haunted by each other. Sometimes I cannot find you there, There is only the swing creaking, that you have just left, Or your favourite book beside the sundial. Douglas Dunn RIP

This collection is a true collaboration. My partner's illustrations. Brian Lewis's impeccable design and production scrupulosity. The happenstance of North Sheffield, filtered through Japanese forms. And I promise, no order is more carefully packaged than orders from @longbarrowpress.bsky.social

#TombTuesday Lancelot Andrewes, serving under Elizabeth I + James I as Bishop of Chichester, Ely and Winchester, was key in translation of King James Bible. Died 1626 in Winchester Palace; buried nearby @southwarkcathedral.bsky.social where that 400th anniversary is being marked this weekend. ALT

We’re delighted to announce Dr Paul Bate as the British Library’s new Chief Executive Joining us from the UK Space Agency, Paul brings experience supporting world-class research communities. We look forward to welcoming his expertise at the Library. Read the full announcement here link.bl.uk/fc6

We're thrilled to announce the 2026 #WolfsonHistoryPrize shortlist, showcasing six exceptional books that explore how societies navigate periods of seismic change. Congratulations to all the authors! 👏📚 bit.ly/4yCLe5T

Rain, Steam and Speed, The Great Western Railway, 1844, by JMW Turner, sublime English Romantic artist, inspired French Impressionists. An early GWR broad gauge locomotive crosses Maidenhead Bridge, built in 1838 by Isambard Kingdom Brunel, visionary engineer; died #OTD 1859. National Gallery London

Meet our Carcanet poets, who will be reading at our poetry showcase on Tuesday 29th September, 6:30pm. Follow this link to buy tickets and learn more: www.tickettailor.com/events/carca...

The Making of the Humanties XII Program is Out! This year’s theme could hardly be more fitting for the birthplace of Copernicus: The Structure of Humanistic Revolutions Come and join us in Toruń! 📅 7–9 October 2026 📍 Nicolaus Copernicus University, Toruń, Poland 👉 mohxii.umk.pl/pages/Confer...

Described by Darwin as ‘the greatest scientific explorer', Alexander von Humboldt, Prussian naturalist, pioneer of biogeography, ‘father of ecology’ born #OTD 1769. In his portrait (by Stieler 1843), he holds manuscript of his magnum opus ‘Kosmos’ (pub. 1845-1862). Schloss Charlottenhof, Potsdam

The last event of @southbankcentre.bsky.social 's brilliant Creative Intelligence festival, supported by @ukri.org and AHRC. A triumphant affirmation of the persisting relevance of this great centre and the role of #arts and #humanities #research in tackling vital contemporary issues in new ways

I knew far too little about U Thant, UN Secretary General 1961 to 1971 before I read his grandson Thant Myint-U's illuminating account. This poignant quote is from the speech the Secretary gave at the 25th anniversary of the United Nations in autumn 1970 (Words in alt text)

I chose seven poems from new books I’m enjoying for your Sunday and week ahead, featuring Rae Armantrout, Patricia Lockwood, Pierre Reverdy and more

'it was using creativity, the creative goal, that was driving all of these amazing technology advancements. we are due a new coming together of science and arts.' Demis Hassabis last week on why #arts and #humanities research is part of #science #research www.thersa.org/rsa-journal/...

A superb evening at Charing Cross Theatre for a double header - Brecht / Weill and Cocteau / Poulenc. Katherine McIndoe sublime in both and Elspeth Wilkes especially brilliant in the latter. A very short run but worth catching if you can

Why read history? History explains how we got here and challenges what we think we know. And in the case of a #WolfsonHistoryPrize book, it's also a brilliant read. Ahead of next week's shortlist announcement, our judges reflect on the value of reading history.

These three short collections are rich with observation, worlds glimpsed and often condensed into haiku, sharp as the glint of sunlight or the pattern of raindrops on water. A wonderful calming but thought provoking collection, beautifully produced by @longbarrowpress.bsky.social

How do societies imagine a better future? How do the arts and humanities help make that future possible? Join the conversation! Register 👉️ luma.com/0qco7ph2 @christophersmith.bsky.social @henriettalmoore.bsky.social @annavignoles.bsky.social @uclnews.bsky.social @ukri.org @expeditions.bsky.social

From river to pond, the heron steps and pauses over a mined world. 'Have You Always Been Here?' Matthew Clegg Three new pamphlets 7 September Longbarrow Press Pre-order here: longbarrowpress.com/featured-poem/

Holiday reading: the astonishing Peter Larkin @shearsmanbooks.bsky.social

Reading by Touch: Scotland’s early tactile reading systems Scotland played a key role in the early history of reading by touch, opening new possibilities for blind readers in the #C19. Taylor Hare explores embossed pages, knotted strings & radical alphabets #BookHistory www.nls.uk/collections/...

Cover reveal - or, rather, three cover reveals - ahead of the publication of 'Have You Always Been Here?', a series of three new pamphlets by Matthew Clegg. You can pre-order 'Have You Always Been Here?' - and read a poem from the first pamphlet - here: longbarrowpress.com/featured-poem/

The Historical Association is delighted to announce that the Medlicott Medal 2026 for History will be awarded to Professor Anne Curry. The Medlicott Medal is awarded for outstanding contributions to the field of history. www.history.org.uk/aboutus/cate...

My @royalstatsoc.bsky.social William Guy Lecture 26/27: "Can you trust the numbers? Statistics, misinformation and the information ecosystem" www.youtube.com/watch?v=7NFE...

Yeahhhhh! So excited that the “The Traveller” is longlisted for the Baillie Gifford Prize. It’s such an honour to be chosen and be amongst such illustrious writers. Thank you! I hope that George Forster is somewhere out there seeing this. #TheTraveller

RIP Wendell Berry. I've thought about this poem. 'Our Real Work', a lot since starting on Confluence with @julietgutch It reminds me of Paul Valéry : “Une difficulté est une lumière. Une difficulté insurmontable est un soleil." : “A difficulty is a light. An insurmountable difficulty is a sun”.

RIP Wendell Berry 💜

Vice-Chancellors and Presidents of 46 leading universities in Africa and Europe redouble efforts to address humanity’s common challenges in health, digital transformation, environmental degradation, technological shifts, cultural tensions & geopolitical strife. www.the-guild.eu/news-and-blo...

Puzzles, Patience and Clues: Carlo Ginzburg and Adriano Prosperi progressivegeographies.com/2026/08/30/p...

Our forum “How to Save Science” is now online. Led by Zeynep Pamuk, with responses from @alondra.bsky.social @sbagen.bsky.social @jeremymberg.bsky.social @madeleineebaker.bsky.social @jamesowenweatherall.com @cbo.bsky.social @nataliebaviles.bsky.social @heatherdouglas.bsky.social + more

After this great news please do follow @roseplayhouse.bsky.social and www.roseplayhouse.org.uk for news of events and further progress on this remarkable site, saved for us dramatically (!) in 1989 but still needing our care - and become a Friend with me and many others!

Rose Playhouse, built in 1587, was a key early venue for Shakespeare and other playwrights, rediscovered in 1989, now protected and open for guided tours in September-October.

For nothing this wide universe I call, Save thou, my rose, in it thou art my all.

So stupidly excited to have my & Kate Mazade's new book Chromatic Architecture featured in the weekend Financial Times in an article about Colour in architecture today <swoon> www.ft.com/content/90e1...

Three new reprints that are ready to ship! 🧡 Ahmet Hamdi Tanpınar’s A Mind at Peace, translated from Turkish by Erdag Göknar Nichita Stănescu’s Wheel With A Single Spoke, translated from Romanian by Sean Cotter Roger Mello’s João By A Thread, translated from Portuguese by Daniel Hahn

Welcome treats from @archipelagobooks.bsky.social — a title coming out next month, and a field guide to forthcoming releases!

NEW on Wonkhe: Higher education finances are all over the papers – but the potential effect on local key worker pipelines is not. For Steve Briggs, it’s incumbent on the sector to get this message across buff.ly/DyMmzJP

“That Penguin has filled this gaping hole in their vital catalogue of classics is a wonderful thing. This is an important novel, a handsome edition and a taut and vivid new translation”, writes Oliver Soden

ICYMI I wrote about this fascinating collaborative work. In response to a broken world: Intelligence Is the Art of Remaining Faithful under Shifting Circumstances by Alexander Kluge and Anselm Kiefer, translated y Alexander Booth @wordkunst.bsky.social roughghosts.com/2026/08/15/i...

Summer Break for @profserious.bsky.social Your usual articles will resume next week. Just to keep you amused, here are 5 (somewhat unusual) books from my recent reading that you might enjoy on the beach ... kick back, relax profserious.substack.com/p/profseriou...

”Yet it creates, transcending these, Far other worlds, and other seas, Annihilating all that’s made, To a green thought in a green shade.” The Garden (1681) by Andrew Marvell, English metaphysical poet died #OTD 1678. @trincolllibcam.bsky.social Stourhead Garden Wiltshire @nationaltrust.org.uk

Fiona Devine and Jo Fox on how collaboration can support the vitality of modern languages @hepi-news.bsky.social www.hepi.ac.uk/2026/08/13/t...

New translation of a major part of a vitally important text for the late Sasanian and Early Islamic period, and for the history of the Church of the East. www.hup.harvard.edu/books/978088...

A Serious Strategy ... choosing to compete in AI. A good UK AI strategy is about comparative advantage. It is not about trying to outspend the US or out-scale China. @profserious.bsky.social considers profserious.substack.com/p/a-serious-...

On History, Carlo Ginzburg, Ian McEwan and the art of reading. anatomiesofpower.wordpress.com/2026/08/06/c...

On History, Carlo Ginzburg, Ian McEwan and the art of reading. anatomiesofpower.wordpress.com/2026/08/06/c...

”…that which we are, we are; One equal temper of heroic hearts, Made weak by time and fate, but strong in will To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.” Ulysses, composed 1833, by Alfred, Lord Tennyson, Poet Laureate, born #OTD 1809. Trinity College Cambridge Chapel @trincolllibcam.bsky.social

'A principal aim of Research England funding right now is stability. With research performing organisations under financial pressure it is vital that it is possible to plan ahead, and the latest set of funding allocations offer that sliver of reliability that has been hoped for.' 1/2