Who wants to hear about the polymath Clemence Dane and how her essays for Good Housekeeping in the 20s & 30s helped newly enfranchised women meet the responsibilities of citizenship? I spoke about Dane and interwar women's periodical culture for the TLS Podcast:
www.the-tls.com/regular-feat...
Looking forward to talking at the Cambridge Intelligence Seminar in a fortnight. www.cfg.cam.ac.uk/events/dr-pe...
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.
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.
I finally caught up with Succession. Kind of dispiriting but very well made indeed.
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!)
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! 🎄🥂
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. 🙄
😍
A crowd at Hampden park with a Scotland flag in the foreground
Some game that was 🏴
It's been some night! 🏴
On the way back from the US a few years ago, I got trapped in the middle seat of a middle row, between an octogenarian who was terrified of flying and a lady who had only just managed to get her tiny baby to fall asleep in her arms. Of course, the second the plane took off, I needed to pee.
I wrote about a relic of George Orwell that has been a lucky charm during the writing of my books.
smallfinds.substack.com/p/small-find...
The Intelligence Intellectuals
It’s arrived! Thanks Georgetown UP and those who helped make The Intelligence Intellectuals: Social Scientists and the Making of the CIA: @markstout.bsky.social, Don Jacobs, Robert_Patman, @joemaiolo.bsky.social, @ldfreedman.bsky.social, Chris Kinsey, @stephenwalt.bsky.social, Beinecke, and more!
I received my copy today of "The Intelligence Intellectuals: Social Scientists and the Making of the CIA," the new book by @petercgrace.bsky.social. I read it in the editorial process and it's fun and groundbreaking. Strongly recommend for those interested in the history of the CIA or intel analysis
These are fascinating. Thanks for sharing!
