Dr Bob Nicholson

It's official! I've been 'doctored'. So many folks to thank - for now, fab supervisors @digivictorian.bsky.social, @bethgaskell.bsky.social, @drbeard79.bsky.social, @miaout.bsky.social, great examiners @jimmussell.bsky.social, @sarahfoxhistory.bsky.social and many friends/colleagues @rs4vp.org.

Poster with a painting of Vesuvius in eruption. Text: A Byron Society Lecture. Volcanic Gothic: From Lord Byron to Lord of the Rings Start Date & Time: 26/02/2026 5:30 pm. Location: Online. Speakers Dr Laura Eastlake.

I'm super excited to be chatting to The Byron Society about how volcanoes have shaped the Gothic and why Lord Byron was the ultimate 'Volcanic Gothic' celebrity. Featuring cameos from Jo March, Dracula & the Dark Lord Sauron!

📆 26/02/2026 5:30 pm. Online.
🎟️ www.thebyronsociety.com/events/volca...

Calendar of IHR Research Training January to April 2026. All the details are in the web link in the body of the post.

More Research Training from the IHR . The term 2 calendar is now live.
www.history.ac.uk/study-traini...

Pitch my Project: an opportunity for early career historians to present their work at the Chalke History Festival 2026 - RHS Have you ever wanted to share your research with a wide audience? Would you like to gain experience in public speaking, and be supported to develop imaginative ways to communicate your research to the...

Applications are now invited for a new RHS programme for 2026, co-hosted with @ihr.bsky.social and @chalkefestival.bsky.social

'Pitch my Project' is for early career historians to present their research at the Chalke History Festival in June bit.ly/44kfUMM. Closing date: 6 February. #Skystorians

Some example academic book proposal forms in case they help A pivotal moment in my academic career, or at least one I remember clearly, was when a very senior professor in the US sent me his book proposal for an acade...

Here are 8 successful *proposals* for academic books/monographs. I am hoping that these help someone who is starting out trying to write one and wants to see what worked for me. They are provided as examples, rather than exemplars. A lot of it was just finding my own way eve.gd/2026/01/16/s...

📣3 days to go until the deadline - we can't wait to see you for our 50th anniversary in Lancaster!

SCIENTISTS QUARREL OVER MARTIAN WOMEN One Says Ladies Have Two Thumbs and X-Ray Eyes ANOTHER SAYS BIG EARS --The Commercial Appeal, 22 Oct 1928

We used to do real science

Birkbeck, University of London, is seeking a Lecturer in Medieval Studies to join our dynamic team within the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences in Autumn 2026. As Lecturer in Medieval Studies you will contribute to the teaching of Medieval English literature and Medieval history across the Faculty, within our School of Creative Arts, Culture and Communication, and School of Historical Studies - this includes our BA English and BA History programmes, as well as postgraduate taught programmes in the two subject areas. This post is offered on a permanent contract at Birkbeck, full time 35 hours per week, with a salary of £44,247 rising to £60,858 per year. Teaching hours will vary from 6pm - 9pm, Monday to Friday. To be successful, you will bring research expertise in the literature, history and culture of the Late Medieval period (c.1300-1500), and demonstrate a capacity to contribute to interdisciplinary research and teaching, participate actively in curriculum development, supervise doctoral students, and help shape the intellectual life of our vibrant academic community. We would also welcome applicants who would be able to contribute to collaborative teaching programmes or research in the Faculty, in areas such as identity, race/ethnicity, or gender - experience of collaboration with cultural institutions, whether through research or teaching, is also welcome. Core responsibilities will initially include programme/module administration, teaching, supervision, assessment, student support and pastoral care. You will also be equipped to supervise doctoral students. With a PhD in any area of Medieval Studies, you will contribute the Faculty’s and Schools’ research impact and culture, and to the intellectual and cultural life of the institution and the various communities and partners with whom we work and serve.

Birkbeck is hiring a Lecturer in Medieval Studies (c.1300-1500), full-time and open-ended.

They will be formally based in English but expected to be able to contribute about 0.5FTE to History, including teaching and supervision.

Closing date Feb 23rd: cis7.bbk.ac.uk/vacancy/lect...

People of the UK! 🇬🇧 There’s still time to vote for an inspiring history teacher — the entry criteria is on the HRP website. I’m proud to be on the judging panel and look forward to celebrating great history teachers www.hrp.org.uk/schools/insp...

The BBC You’re Dead To Me artwork is a humorous play on the Bayeux Tapestry. It shows King Harold with arrow in his eye, and William the Conqueror, born holding up a banner saying ‘New Series’

This image is Greg’s lazily-cobbled together montage of a marble bust of Emperor Nero flanked by photos of Professor Mary Beard and Patton Oswalt Beneath them, purple text shouts “NEW SERIES!”

If you missed it, series 11 of YOU’RE DEAD TO ME launched on Saturday with an episode about Roman Emperor Nero.

Our guests are the superstar double-act of Professor Mary Beard & Patton Oswalt

You can listen now in the UK on BBC SOUNDS, or it’ll be out on January 30th on all global podcast apps

🚨NEW SERIES ALERT‼️

You’re Dead To Me is back for series 11, and to launch us off I’m joined by the brilliant classicist @wmarybeard.bsky.social and the hilarious comedian @pattonoswalt.bsky.social
to discuss the controversial life & reputation of Roman Emperor Nero

www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...

Thanks! I should add that this was a bit of a spur-of-the-moment theory, so I’m afraid I don’t have any 19thC evidence of people making that comparison.

Eraserhead film poster recreated as a Victorian playbill

Work in progress.
I'm slightly obsessed with turn-of-the-(19th)century theatre/pantomime/circus playbills at the moment, so I'm re-creating posters and ads for more recent productions (and products) in that style.

#graphics #movies #davidlynch #victorian

Thanks folks, the consensus seems to be diarrhoea! A bit less exciting than I hoped; suspect this might not make the final edit of the book...

(yes I am having a very exciting New Years Eve thank you very much)

Can anyone help me decipher a bit of handwriting from 1852? I'm trying to figure out the cause of death in this record.

This Is Just To Say

I have eaten
Tiny
Tim, who did
NOT die,

and who
you were probably
saving
for breakfast

Forgive me
he was delicious
so sweet
and so cold

Prove you’re not a Whig.

The latest issue of @historyextra.bsky.social is out! I’m part of a new monthly feature called ‘Ask the Experts’ — each issue, a group of expert historians all answer the same question. This month, we’re asking who is the most ‘overrated’ figure in history? Who do you think I picked?

Hah! Sorry about that — nothing personal, I assure you!

Well now I’ve got to reprint all my business cards

I can’t stop laughing at this video feed. We interrupt these interviews with ACTUAL WORLD FAMOUS celebrities to bring you a strange man talking about Victorian leg fetishes

YouTube video by WIRED Historian Answers Victorian England Questions | Tech Support | WIRED

I made a video for @wired.com answering questions from the internet about Victorian history! youtu.be/10iYlK7bsJw?...

Pitch my Project: an opportunity for early career historians to present their work at the Chalke History Festival 2026 - RHS Have you ever wanted to share your research with a wide audience? Would you like to gain experience in public speaking, and be supported to develop imaginative ways to communicate your research to the...

This week we launch a new programme for early career researchers with @ihr.bsky.social & @chalkefestival.bsky.social

'Pitch my Project' is an opportunity for early career historians to present their research at the 2026 Chalke History Festival bit.ly/44kfUMM Applications now invited #Skystorians

TODAY!

THIS WEEK! Join us!!

19C literary folk - who was Mrs Lawrence? it's all good humour up until this point. she made quite an, erm, impression.

all academic applications should have consolation prizes.

doesn’t have to be much, like a mug that says “i applied for leverhulme 2020”
or a t-shirt “UKRI reject 2023”

Welcome! You are invited to join a webinar: EHU Nineteen Flash Talks from Postgraduate Researchers. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining the webinar. Join us for a Christmassy treat for the latest research from EHU Nineteen's postgraduate researchers!

For our next seminar, the wonderful @digivictorian.bsky.social is hosting our just as wondrous PhD researchers, Liam Pope, Laura Grande Mateu, Emily Hayes, & Emma Butler, for our #19thCFlashTalks.

Join us for a pre-Christmas treat on Wednesday 10th December from 6 pm. Free, online, all welcome!

This is a wonderful thread. Scholarship, creativity, a portrait of a generation.