Michael Regan

Please help me share the CFP for this Literature Compass Special Issue dedicated to the work of Simon J James and covering key Victorian and Edwardian writers like H. G. Wells, George Gissing, Dickens, Wilde, George Du Maurier, and Conan-Doyle on behalf of Hadas Elber-Aviram.

Today I finished volume 2 of Solvej Balle’s On the Calculation of Volume. Others have articulated the merits of this poetic, philosophical, uncanny novel already, so I will simply say that I cannot stop thinking about it (nor do I want to). Balle has cast a spell and I, for one, am enchanted.

So driving through Dublin is fun eh

Close up of the number 11 in white on a black clock face.

Volume 11 of Barthes Studies — an un-themed general issue — will be published on 12 November 2025.

We’re open to submissions for future volumes; contact details are here:
sites.cardiff.ac.uk/barthes/

Time for a new mug, I feel

I know the feeling 🥲

Good evening
Saw Gary do a thing
“Did I ever sing?”

Safe from the lasers at least! Honestly tho, wtf

Finally, I'm able to look more closely at the work of my fellow contributors to Barthes Studies vol. 10, and felt I had to share this piece - 'Interrupting' - by Anfisa Doroshenko. Urgent, complex, stimulating. Do check it out: sites.cardiff.ac.uk/barthes/file...

As a former employee, it’s a strange day! Though not, sadly, an unexpected one - travel stores have been carrying WHS for some time now. Fond memories of trying to locate books with such descriptors as: well, I think it has a red cover.. I think. It was on the breakfast show this morning, you know..

An evening well spent. Good vibes, generous & articulate & thoughtful colleagues - and more exciting writing to look forward to!

Passed an evening with Andrew McMillan, in which we discussed my serving him during my time at WHSmith in Victoria Station, Manchester

A rotten week.

Then, late this morning, I look outside and see a neighbour opening birthday presents - still, gloriously, in their pyjamas.

Like magic, I begin to feel better.

C’est super

Just seen this - amazing! I want one!!

Excellent listening to my friend Michael here (all the best people are called Michael, right?) - looking forward to seeing the (un)finished (not-an-)article! Dangerous bends ahead..

The 2nd floor of UoY library is one of my favourite places in the whole wide world - glad to see their institutional account having the mettle to editorialise about the merits of ditching X

‘Our industry should be appalled’: Brassic creator laments lack of working class people in TV and film Danny Brocklehurst’s much loved comedy drama raised the bar – now he is calling for greater representation across the industry

For the Observer today I interviewed #Brassic creator and writer Danny Brocklehurst about the dearth of working class people in the TV and film industry… and of course, the last season for Vinnie & Co.

www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio...

Medical Caregiving Narratives of the First World War Medical Caregiving Narratives of the First World War

The paperback of my book comes out in Feb, it’s available to preorder in paperback and 30% off with code: PAPER30

edinburghuniversitypress.com/book-medical...

(Sorry, I don’t know where else to publicise it!)

Calls to mind Maggie Nelson’s The Argonauts, which begins: “October, 2007. The Santa Ana winds are shredding the bark off the eucalyptus trees in long white stripes.”

Just now, a shooting star overhead (after a futile search for rumoured northern lights).

A nice way to end New Year’s Day - and encouragement for 2025, perhaps.

btw if you've never read Roger Ebert's review of The Mummy it's so good it changed me as a person

Very much looking forward to this, Jeremy!

updates required!