Fraser McGowan

On Sun 8 March BBC Radio 4 will broadcast The Alpenpost: A Girl's Guide to Fighting Hitler and Stalin - a documentary based on my research!

It traces how I uncovered the lost archive of an anti-Nazi resistance organiser in a wind-rattled villa on the Galician coast.

www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...

I'm delighted to announce that the paperback of Upon A White Horse: Journeys In Ancient Britain and Ireland will be published on April 23 by @headlinebooks.bsky.social. Just in time, I hope, for better weather that will allow people to visit some of the beautiful old places I write about.

I trust you'll be doing the right thing and backing Scotland to recapture the Calcutta Cup this afternoon? 🫣🤭

Intelligence history is American history! Honored to be a finalist for such a prestigious prize and on America’s 250th, too!
@cphatsmu.bsky.social
@socintelhist.bsky.social

Just got my copy of @dvanp.bsky.social's new book, "The DGSE: A Concise History of France's Foreign Intelligence Service," from Georgetown UP. I was involved on the editorial side of this book and it's a huge contribution. Available for pre-order today! press.georgetown.edu/Book/The-DGSE

“If ye wish her grateful’ pray’r
Gie her a haggis!”

Happy #BurnsNight from UofG! 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

Professor Pauline MacKay, Director of our Centre for Robert Burns Studies, reads from 'To a Haggis'.

#TeamUofG #ScotlandIsNow @glasgowburns.bsky.social

I can't think of another profession, craft or post where even the leading practitioners, craftspeople or employees have to repeatedly apply for additonal money in order to carry out the basic tasks associated with the work. In that regard, academe stands (almost) completely alone. Could do better.

I can't think of another profession, craft or post where even the leading practitioners, craftspeople or employees have to repeatedly apply for additonal money in order to carry out the basic tasks associated with the work. In that regard, academe stands (almost) completely alone. Could do better.

Bluesky's great! A bit like early Twitter.

As we wait for news on whether Maduro is alive, I wonder whether @edinburghup.bsky.social would consider a second, updated edition of my book.

The Best Books I Read in 2025 Reading in a post-literate society

neilscott.substack.com/p/the-best-b...

I finally caught up with Succession. Kind of dispiriting but very well made indeed.

a cartoon of a boy reading a book in front of a stack of books . ALT: a cartoon of a boy reading a book in front of a stack of books .

THREAD: As each year ends, I look back at the books I’ve read, re-read, or listened to across 12 months.

Now, I share them in categories (by author, alphabetically, within each).

Deep thanks to every author on this list for making my year better!

1/19

I interacted with her, so it's not quite the same, but I once met Queen Camilla, as Duchess of Cornwall, when I was hiking in Aberdeenshire. I pretended not to know who she was for some reason, most likely because she just wanted to chat about the weather and scenery. Security guy 300 yards behind.

Quite a few classics released in 1990: the Hunt for Red October, Bonfire of the Vanities, Prisoners of the Sun, the Long Walk Home, White Palace, Postcards from the Edge. Not to mention Ghost, Pretty Woman and, of course, Home Alone (not sure how tolerable that would be in January!)

Cultural Highlights 2025 The most memorable exhibitions and events I saw in the past year

My whimsical list of 2025 cultural highlights. neilscott.substack.com/p/cultural-h...

I'd make the case for The Spy Who Loved Me being the best Bond film by the traditional criteria (a delusional villain, an incompetent henchman with a distinctive modus operandi, an unreliable British car with dubious modifications, quirky gadgets, Cold War politics in the foreground, etc). Love it.

This is a really good idea – thank you for sharing. 🙏

Great to get a sense of what others in the field are reading and what they've enjoyed.

🎄 It’s that time of the year when the buzz of work quiets down and we get the time to rest before ringing in the new year — and pick up a book or two.

🥳 If you find yourself in need of last-minute holiday gift ideas, look no further than our KCSI-approved book guide!

Thank you, Jack. You've made some of the best episodes of the podcast this year and they've prompted me to reconsider Amis. Particularly enjoyed the episodes with Geoff Dyer, Ian McGuire and John McAuliffe, and Vincenzo Barney. Looking forward to many more episodes in 2026. Merry Christmas! 🎄🥂

I read it as an undergraduate, for a module on Joyce, and I'd start by resigning yourself to the fact that it can't be read quickly. It took me the best part of the summer and the whole of the first semester to finish it. Best enjoyed with long pauses between each page. It's worth it in the end. 📚

Unless you are prepared, on behalf of Northumberland, to declare war on County Durham, you needn't bother applying next time.

Yeah, but what have you actually done to deserve the FIFA Peace Prize, Patrick? Have you threatened to bomb Venezuela recently or publicly defended the Saudi crown prince over the murder of a journalist? No, didn't think so. Better luck next year. 🙄

Which is the first, may I ask?

Ah, glad you enjoyed it. November is an excellent time of year for a holiday.

Can't say I am relishing Christmas this year, but looking forward to watching some top notch movies. Maybe even The Ladykillers again! 😅

Well worth it if you had an enjoyable holiday. I've had a pretty hectic month, but not in a good way. 😵😅

Is it just me or is November the weirdest month? Everyone (including me!) is either insanely busy and/or stressed, their attention span is totally fragmented, or they've already mentally checked out for the year? I've only managed to read about ten pages and see two films this month!

😍

A crowd at Hampden park with a Scotland flag in the foreground

Some game that was 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

It's been some night! 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿