@lesleydowner.bsky.social I'll be interested to hear your views on Episode 4 "Japan".

@lesleydowner.bsky.social Of course I now realise you are actually in Episode 4 of "Civilisations: Rise and Fall"! Thank you, it's always good to see you on TV. (You can still comment on the rest of the programme! 😊)

The Shortest History of Japan - HLSI Members: Free, Online or Victoria Hall Non-Members: £10, Online or Victoria Hall Please book, for online link only, by 1pm on the day of the event Court ladies, women warriors and courtesans: powerful...

Lesley Downer, author of The Shortest History of Japan, will be talking about her book on Tuesday 9 December at the Highgate Literary & Scientific Institution. @lesleydowner.bsky.social
In person and online tickets available here: hlsi.org.uk/whats-on/the...

Maybe Don’t Talk to the New York Times About Zohran Mamdani It’s remarkable, the people you’ll hear from. Teach for even a little while at an expensive institution—the term they tend to prefer is “elite”—and odds are that eventually someone who was a studen…

This is a scorching article on the absolute state of The New York Times, and much of the rest of the media.
Not just the billionaire media, note, but also the billionaire-*compliant* media, which both-sides every issue with purchased junktank talking points.
lithub.com/maybe-dont-t...

Didn’t do it again though, did he?

Search Books | Waterstones Discover our full range of books, gifts, toys, stationery and audiobooks at Waterstones.com. Click & Collect within 2 hours or buy online with Free UK Delivery on Orders Over £25.

We are thrilled that Lesley Downer's The Shortest History of Japan has been selected as one of Waterstone's non-fiction paperbacks of the year. @waterstones.bsky.social @lesleydowner.bsky.social www.waterstones.com/campaign/pap...

Just mentioning ...
Arthur I Miller is raising funds for the rerun of SYNCHRONICITY on #Crowdfunder! A gripping piece of science theatre that delves into psychology, physics and alchemy ...
Even a tenner would help. Help the play come on in October!

www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/synchronic...

The Impact of Women on Japanese History Japanese history is not all shoguns and samurai: women played a prominent role. In the early centuries Chinese envoys called the part of Japan they knew ‘Queen Country’ because there were so many fema...

Today Prince Hisahito was recognised as heir to the imperial throne. By the post war constitution only males can be emperor. But in the past there were empresses ... Curious? Come to my talk Monday at @DaiwaFoundation! #Japan #history @oldstpublishing

dajf.org.uk/event/the-im...

On the Narrow Road to the Deep North: Journey into a lost Japan by Lesley Chan Downer Along with many other people, I've always been fascinated by Japanese culture; it still remains a country which can seem mysterious to many,

My review of On the Narrow Road to the Deep North: Journey into a Lost Japan by @lesleydowner.bsky.social‬, published by Eland Books, is on my website to read now:

tomasstanger.com/on-the-narro...

#Booksky #writingcommunity #bookreviews #travel #TravelBlogShare

Letter of the day (in the Times)

Spotted - at Haneda Airport, #Tokyo. Happy that it's reached its natural home! Thanks to eagle-eyed @drchrisharding! #Japan #history @ConnollyKieron @oldstpublishing @TheJapanSociety @DaiwaFoundation @JapanSocietyNW

Packing your bags for the trip of a lifetime - to #Japan? Don't forget to pack The Shortest History of Japan. Will (hopefully) make everything you see make sense!

www.amazon.co.uk/Shortest-His...

Well thank you, Tom! I'm so happy you enjoyed - and appreciated - my book.

Spotted - in Book Culture near Columbia, New York! Thanks, Margaret!

Women and Power in Japanese History An Interview with Novelist and Historian Lesley Downer

Thrilled to feature on @drchrisharding's brilliant substack - on all things #Japan, history and much besides. If you're interested in #women, power or #Japanesehistory - or all three - do listen in!
@ConnollyKieron

Women and Power in Japanese History open.substack.com/pub/illumina...

Just in time for summer holiday reading or a trip to #Japan! The #ShortestHistoryofJapan, out in paperback June 3. Everything you need to know in one small package, from the world's first potters to shaman queens, geisha & manga.

www.amazon.co.uk/Shortest-His...

@kieronconnolly.bsky.social

To brighten up your day - my @history_girls piece on #Japan's #JazzAge. All about Japanese #flappers and #feminists! @Japan_Australia @GBSasakawa @japansociety

the-history-girls.blogspot.com

Thank you Tina!

An overview of the history of JAPAN - TripFiction The Shortest History of Japan by Lesley Downer, an overview of the history of JAPAN. What a charming way to absorb a panoramic and short history of the

The Shortest History of Japan by @lesleydowner.bsky.social

www.tripfiction.com/an-overview-...

"..written with authority and style..."

‘the weak body of a useless woman’ - the story of Matsuo Takeko, an Edo period peasant woman who was a poetess and led a very adventurous and independent life.

Thank you! That’s very kind! I wonder which novel you have still to read - and was there one that you preferred? Thank you for your kind post!

6 clubs on the Island are running #BookClubs during #AlderneyLitFest. Interested in Japan? Then join @lesleydowner.bsky.social for coffee, cake, and a discussion of her book on Friday, 28 March on the lovely Channel Island of #Alderney.
www.alderneyliterarytrust.com/lesley-downer

Happy New Year of the Snake, everybody! Crossing fingers this will be a good year ...

Anna Sawai on Shōgun: ‘Our show taught women it was OK to stand up and say no’ Sawai’s astonishing performance as the fierce Lady Mariko won her an Emmy – and inspired women worldwide. She talks J-pop, kimonos and epic sword-fights

Anna Sawai of #Shogun gets top billing. #Japan #history

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

Japan Sumo Association to hold tourney in London next year in rare overseas event The announcement means the world's top professional sumo wrestlers will be competing in London for the first time since 1991.

Big news! #Sumo in London next year ... First time since 1991.
"The most important part is to bring #Japanese tradition and Japanese culture to the British public," says Nobuyoshi Hakkaku (Hokutoumi, who won 1991 tourney).

www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2024/...

My review of the sweeping #SilkRoads exhibition
@britishmuseum. Ends Feb 23rd. Worth catching.

@lesleydowner.bsky.social reviews the Silk Roads exhibition at the British Museum, which aims to recreate the "irresistibly romantic" allure of the ancient trading route's history.
Read what she thought of it in Historia at historiamag.com/review-silk-roads-exhibition@lesleydowner.bsky.social

Please link me! (I know it needs updating).
historicalwriters.org/writer/lesle...

Syncronicity - A play by Arthur I. Miller In 1931 the brash and brilliant physicist Wolfgang Pauli approached the world-renowned analyst Carl Jung for help. Pauli’s neurosis had wreaked such havoc…

Synchronicity, anyone? FULL HOUSE last night - and lots of people every night! When the brilliant but tormented physicist #Pauli went to #Jung for help ... One week to go. Snap up your ticket now! @WhiteBearTheatr #physics #alchemy #psychoanalysis
vimeo.com/1032311247

The 50th Anniversary of Lucy’s Discovery | AMNH Discover what the famed “Lucy” fossil taught us about human evolution and how technology has unlocked new ways to analyze fossils today.

#Happy Birthday to Lucy - well, a sort of birthday. She was actually born 3.2 million years ago - but her bones were discovered 50 years ago this month.
www.amnh.org/explore/vide...