All these guys who think they can take an idea and run with it but who trip over their own bootlaces while they’re fumbling for the ball.

I love that there’s no need to name either artist here.

A quote from Harold Bloom against a dark teal background. The text reads: 'When you have a poem by heart you possess it more truly and more strangely than you do your dwelling place. Because the poem possesses you.' – Harold Bloom, Possessed by Memory.' northseapoets.com. The North Sea Poets logo is in the bottom right corner.

– Harold Bloom, Possessed by Memory

#NorthSeaPoets #CommonplaceBook #PoetrySky

Finished re-reading this. If you have Uni (or other) access to JStor or the Journal itself I urge you to read it. Probably the best demythologising of the oral tradition blues theory I've ever read. I'll quote a couple more salient bits. I crave your indulgence.

We’re rewatching this now! I remember rolling my eyes when I heard the premise, but JLM is astonishing and LL is a great Watson, different in lots of interesting ways. It’s a very clever & inventive reinvention. Aidan Quinn does wonders with a non-descript role too.

Some lunchtime reading!

Alexander Lee - Young Guns Alexander Lee: Young Guns - The Firearm Revolution: From Renaissance Italy to the European Empires by Catherine Fletcher

Guns didn’t change war, they changed society. @catherinefletcher.info's The Firearm Revolution is out now. Read Alexander Lee’s review in the latest issue of @litreview.bsky.social:

The writer's bookshelf: Elizabeth Goldring Eight questions about writers, books, and reading…

New on the Writer’s Bookshelf this morning: eight questions about writers, books, and reading with the brilliant Elizabeth Goldring.
mathewlyons.substack.com/p/the-writer...

"The two opposing forces on his psyche had to feel absolutely equal, and absolutely irreconcilable"
Over at Historia @historia_hwa.bsky.social I’ve been talking about tsetting The Bruegel Boy in a world where faith is as fundamental to human passion and action as romantic love buff.ly/8fvyaFm

Katherine was a terrific guest.

There are some more wonderful interviews coming up on the Writer’s Bookshelf, including Elizabeth Goldring, Melissa Harrison, Anton Howes, Victoria MacKenzie and Jeremy Wikeley.

Opinion | Don’t Use A.I. to Do This

Is funny.

For those who read and review books on
@netgalley.bsky.social, 'My Name is MacKenzie Bly' (out in Hardback/Kindle/Audio at the end of August) is now available. netgalley.co.uk/catalog/book...

It's time for some crowdsourced #earlymodern #palaeography. Please tell me what you think this says, bearing in mind that it's almost certainly the name of someone French, c. mid-17th century. Apologies for not amazing image quality.

John Martyn - Couldn't love you more (1978) YouTube video by TheGuitarManEIRE

Must be time for some John Martyn by now
youtu.be/ra_uv0uIY-g

Out today!

The Firearm Revolution 29 April 2026, 2pm

Coming up I have an event on Wednesday 29 April at the Royal Armouries in Leeds (both in-person and online), book here to get your free ticket or link.

Richard's fundraiser for Marie Curie Help Richard Smyth raise money to support Marie Curie

Just did a really long run so I am once again sharing my Leeds Half Marathon fundraising page in the hope that we can muster £2000 for @mariecurieuk.bsky.social by race day on May 10. Please share. Don't make me tag my 2 (two) famous followers. Leave me my dignity. www.justgiving.com/page/richard...

Lovely to see another fan of Carole Rawcliffe’s Leprosy in Medieval England, my copy obviously well annotated and thumbed, but also just because it's so GOOD (it's fun!). Looking forward to your book too @katherineharvey.bsky.social.

Some lunchtime reading!

New ‘Tyndale Trail’ launched to mark 500 years of English New Testament A new long-distance walking route tracing the life of Bible translator William Tyndale has been launched in south-west England, as part of commemorations marking 500 years since his groundbreaking Eng...

New ‘Tyndale Trail’ launched to mark 500 years of English New Testament
christiantoday.com/news/new-tyn...

The writer's bookshelf: Katherine Harvey Eight questions about writers, books, and reading…

New on the Writer’s Bookshelf this morning: eight questions about writers, books, and reading with the great @katherineharvey.bsky.social.

Spring has sprung, so something for the weekend?! Try #HardStreets @profilebooks.bsky.social Lambeth Walk. 12 stops around Charlie Chaplin’s London from The Old Vic to Cinema Museum via St Mary-at-Lambeth (Garden Museum) & Kennington Park w/ 3 fab cafes on route 🫖 & 🍰
www.google.com/maps/d/viewe...

We really enjoyed hearing Rob talk about his novel Unsung : Unsaid.

Very much so!

There are some brilliant guests lined up over the next few weeks, including Katherine Harvey, Elizabeth Goldring, Melissa Harrison and Jeremy Wikeley.

I have a review of Peter Jones's superb Self-Help from the Middle Ages in the latest issue of the Spectator. spectator.com/article/self...

That seems fair! It's a very rich era, but it also seems a bit of a cul de sac.

I will never look at James Joyce in the same way again. From @andrewjamesneilson.bsky.social's delightful edition of the Writer's Bookshelf. mathewlyons.substack.com/p/the-writer...

The writer's bookshelf: Andrew Neilson Eight questions about writers, books, and reading…

New on the writer’s bookshelf this morning: eight questions about writers, books, and reading with the brilliant Andrew Neilson.

Thoroughly enjoying Katherine Harvey’s wonderful new book exploring medieval attitudes to illness, health and well-being. It’s full of insights and surprises. I hope it will make many people look at the period differently - and with much less condescension!