Dr Laura Eastlake

Thank you so much. I’m glad you enjoyed.

Byron Society PhD bursary - The Byron Society invites applications for a PhD bursary of up to £5,000 per year.

Byron Society PhD Bursary - up to £5,000 for 2026-27. ​
New & existing full-time PhD students enrolled at a UK university & working on any aspect of the life, work &/or influence of Lord Byron can apply. Deadline: May 1st, 2026. More details: www.thebyronsociety.com/phd-bursary #C19th #byron

Varney will most definitely be making an appearance. I’m not sure about a recording but I will ask.

I’m not sure, but I will ask.

He is busy admiring his own fancy bechonkitude in the glass. You may as well admire him too!
#fancychicken #pheasant #nothoughts

Last chance to register if you fancy hearing me chat about how volcanos shaped some of your favourite gothic novels.

I can promise a LOT of volcano art, some early stage adaptations of Frankenstein, a cut scene from Dracula, & of course lots of Lord Byron!. 🌋 #c19th

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...

‘Abolish ICE’, ‘Caleb Chilliams’ Among Winners of Annual Snowplow Naming Contest The other winners of the fourth annual contest were Stephen Coldbert, Pope Frío XIV, The Blizzard of Oz, Svencoolie and Caleb Chilliams, Chicago officials announced.

BREAKING: A push to name one of Chicago’s snowplows “Abolish ICE,” clearly linking the humorous pun to efforts to oppose President Donald Trump’s mass deportation effort, won the city’s annual snowplow naming contest, officials announced. @wttw.bsky.social

infinity of butthole logos

still waiting for intelligent longform cultural criticism with psychomarxist explanation of the "everything is butthole" logorrhea in the AI space

Woo!! 🙌

Application for Scholarship BFS Mentorship Programme 2026 Would you like to apply for a fully-funded place on the BFS Mentorship Programme for 2026? The BFS will fully fund four places on the programme. We have a pool of mentors who can offer advice and supp...

We still have some fully-funded spaces available in this year's mentorship programme. Open to all BFS members. Get your application in here: forms.gle/ZUxehGN44unR...

“Would you like me to remember this response to save you logging in again?” just kidding - SIGN IN AGAIN!

Carving of a gargoyle from York Minster. A gargoyle clutches his head with one hand and a fish with the other. He’s screaming at the sky. A frog is climbing out of his mouth, looking disgruntled by all the screaming.

Caption contest!

📢 RRR Journal is on the hunt for new reviewers!

If you'd like to express interest in writing a review of a monograph, conference, exhibition, theatre production, or film to be considered for next year's issue, please fill out the 'call for reviewers' form at www.rrrjournal.com/contact or email us!

Yes it’s Valentine’s Day. But it’s also the chosen birthday of Frederick Douglass who was born in 1818 on a plantation in Talbot County, Maryland. He escaped from slavery & rose to become the most eloquent and forceful voice for the abolition of slavery & for Black voting rights in the U.S.

Clearly a child of exceptional taste! 🌋🧡

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...

11/10: excellent motivational fancy-chicken.

A pheasant of Bowling ball dimensions waits at a glass door. Nobody shall be permitted to pass without paying the peanut tax.

I guess we’re not going outside today.

Those of you who remember Padraig the Pheasant, please meet his equally tenacious descendant, Phil the Pheasant.

A portly pheasant standing in a cul de sac of plant pots. He could reverse out with ease if he wished. Has he discovered this obvious fact yet? Definitely no.

He’s been stuck like this for ages.
My dude. Just reverse.

Truly, achingly vacant.

🔈 Calling all PhDs & ECRs working on 19thC places and spaces! Send your abstracts in for what is going to be a wonderful event! 👇

Peanuts have arrived. Bon appetit wee man.

Impatient pheasant waiting at the office door.

“Greetings Food-Mammal. I cannot help but notice that you have allowed yourself to become distracted from feeding duties by your day job.”

Entering a lecture theatre. The slide is right yellow, titled ‘Reading Decadence’ and with an image of ramon casas’s panting Decadent Young Woman. 19thC woman in black dress lounging on green sofa and holding a bright yellow book

It’s Decadence day. 💛

Headline: Vampire film Sinners breaks Oscar nominations record.

🙌

Livestream image of the gavle goat collapsed in strong winds.

🚨 The goat has fallen!!!
#Gävlebocken

Ha. Watching this evening - calculators at the ready! Hope you had a nice Christmas and all the best for 2026!

Very Happy Blue Carbuncle Day, to all those who celebrate!

“It was lost, if I remember aright, at the Hotel Cosmopolitan,” I remarked.
“Precisely so," Holmes replied, "on December 22nd, just five days ago."

💎

Go check out Bob for Wired!

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