Andrew Frayn
LightNews LightNews
banner
afrayn.bsky.social
Andrew Frayn
@afrayn.bsky.social
2.2K followers 840 following 490 posts
Academic. Work on First World War literature (Assoc Ed., FWW Studies); modernist studies (former BAMS Chair); non-canonical literature; rural modernity; late style. Grumbles my own.
Posts Replies Media Videos
afrayn.bsky.social
Wilson Pickett, to the media, promoting a Soul Clan concert in summer 1981: "I think you all realize we all have our own personalities and our way of expressing ourselves. Me? I'm mad as shit."

(Tony Fletcher, In the Midnight Hour, p. 217)
November 10, 2025 at 10:17 PM
afrayn.bsky.social
Last shout for this event tomorrow - hope to see you there!
fwwsoc.bsky.social International Society for First World War Studies @fwwsoc.bsky.social · Sep 5
We are delighted to share the details for this year's Dennis Showalter Memorial Lecture 'Poetry under fire: what poems did during the First World War' to be delivered by @juliarsct.bsky.social on 11th Nov 2025

You can book to attend in person or online:

www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/remembranc... 🗃️
Poetry under fire: what poems did during the First World War 5.30pm, Tuesday 11 November 2025 Craiglockhart Campus, Edinburgh Napier University What did the First World War do to poetry? What did poetry do during the First World War? In this lecture, Dr Julia Ribeiro Thomaz will explore a brand new corpus of war poets to interrogate not what is a good or bad war poem nor what war poems say about the war, but rather the social and cultural functions accomplished by poetry in 1914-1918: inventing itself, creating social links, anchoring the war in relation to a poetic past and multiple imagined futures, mediating the experience of war, and producing knowledge about the conflict. She will explore how the expansion of our definition of war poetry allows us to ask new questions about the First World War, as well as future possibilities to continue broadening our understanding of what war poetry was and, above all, what it did and continues doing for those writing and reading it. Dr Julia Ribeiro Thomaz is a postdoctoral researcher at Université de Lille. She completed her doctorate, on French poetry of the First World War, at Université Paris Nanterre. Julia has already published widely in academic journals, and is a Fellow of the International Society for First World War Studies. This lecture continues the annual series of Remembrance lectures at Edinburgh Napier University, marking the historical significance of Craiglockhart as a War Hospital during the First World War, famously the meeting place of Wilfred Owen and Siegfried Sassoon. We also remember our late colleague Catherine Walker, who was for many years curator of the War Poets Collection. Funding comes from the Centre for Arts, Media and Culture and the Centre for Military Research, Education & Public Engagement. This year the event is also the Dennis Showalter Memorial Lecture, selected by the International Society for First World War Studies. Named after Dennis Showalter, the leading historian of Germany during the war and a longtime friend and supporter of the Society it is delivered each year by a leading early career researcher in First World War Studies. The event is held in the Rivers Suite at Edinburgh Napier University’s Craiglockhart Campus (Google map | travel info). There will be a wine reception from 5.30pm; the lecture will start around 6pm. The event will also be streamed online via Zoom. If you have any queries about the event, please contact Dr Andrew Frayn (a.frayn@napier.ac.uk). This event is both in person and online. If you wish to attend online, please buy an 'online Ticket'. Zoom information will be found in the email confirmations.
November 10, 2025 at 12:35 PM
afrayn.bsky.social
I've written about Richard Aldington and the First World War, on and off, since my MA thesis (2002). I don't think it's too much to say that the war affected his physical and mental health, and his relationships, for the rest of his life.
ottoenglish.bsky.social Otto English @ottoenglish.bsky.social · 2d
Richard Aldington's Epilogue to Death of a Hero.

Always worth revisiting on Remembrance Sunday.
Eleven years after the fall of Troy, We, the old men - some of us nearly forty Met and talked on the sunny rampart Over our wine, while the lizards scuttled In dusty grass, and the crickets chirred. Some bared their wounds; Some spoke of the thirst, dry in the throat, And the heart-beat, in the din of battle; Some spoke of intolerable sufferings. The brightness gone from their eyes And the grey already thick in their hair. And I sat a little apart from the garrulous talk and old memories, And I heard a boy of twenty Say petulantly to a girl, seizing her arm: "Oh, come away, why do you stand there Listening open-mouthed to the talk of old men? Haven't you heard enough of Troy and Achilles? Why should they bore us for ever With an old quarrel and the names of dead men We never knew, and dull forgotten battles?" And he drew her away, And she looked back and laughed As he spoke more contempt of us, Being now out of hearing, And I thought of the graves by desolate Troy And the beauty of many young men now dust, And the long agony, and how useless it all was. And the talk still clashed about me Like the meeting of blade and blade. And as they two moved further away He put an arm about her, and kissed her; And afterwards I heard their gay distant laughter. And I looked at the hollow cheeks And the weary eyes and the grey- streaked heads of the old men -nearly forty- about me; And I too walked away In an agony of helpless grief and pity. (Richard Aldington, 1929)
November 9, 2025 at 11:12 AM
afrayn.bsky.social
I'm sure I'm preaching to the Bluesky choir, but on Remembrance Sunday it's worth remembering that the important thing is the remembrance, not the ritual.
November 9, 2025 at 10:52 AM
afrayn.bsky.social
Merry Christmas from Burntisland High Street.
A stone faced building with large windows, with a Christmas tree in the second top left, and a Christmas star in the far top right.
November 8, 2025 at 2:02 PM
afrayn.bsky.social
There's 60 booked for this in person, and more than that again online - we'd still like to see even more of you by either means!
fwwsoc.bsky.social International Society for First World War Studies @fwwsoc.bsky.social · Sep 5
We are delighted to share the details for this year's Dennis Showalter Memorial Lecture 'Poetry under fire: what poems did during the First World War' to be delivered by @juliarsct.bsky.social on 11th Nov 2025

You can book to attend in person or online:

www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/remembranc... 🗃️
Poetry under fire: what poems did during the First World War 5.30pm, Tuesday 11 November 2025 Craiglockhart Campus, Edinburgh Napier University What did the First World War do to poetry? What did poetry do during the First World War? In this lecture, Dr Julia Ribeiro Thomaz will explore a brand new corpus of war poets to interrogate not what is a good or bad war poem nor what war poems say about the war, but rather the social and cultural functions accomplished by poetry in 1914-1918: inventing itself, creating social links, anchoring the war in relation to a poetic past and multiple imagined futures, mediating the experience of war, and producing knowledge about the conflict. She will explore how the expansion of our definition of war poetry allows us to ask new questions about the First World War, as well as future possibilities to continue broadening our understanding of what war poetry was and, above all, what it did and continues doing for those writing and reading it. Dr Julia Ribeiro Thomaz is a postdoctoral researcher at Université de Lille. She completed her doctorate, on French poetry of the First World War, at Université Paris Nanterre. Julia has already published widely in academic journals, and is a Fellow of the International Society for First World War Studies. This lecture continues the annual series of Remembrance lectures at Edinburgh Napier University, marking the historical significance of Craiglockhart as a War Hospital during the First World War, famously the meeting place of Wilfred Owen and Siegfried Sassoon. We also remember our late colleague Catherine Walker, who was for many years curator of the War Poets Collection. Funding comes from the Centre for Arts, Media and Culture and the Centre for Military Research, Education & Public Engagement. This year the event is also the Dennis Showalter Memorial Lecture, selected by the International Society for First World War Studies. Named after Dennis Showalter, the leading historian of Germany during the war and a longtime friend and supporter of the Society it is delivered each year by a leading early career researcher in First World War Studies. The event is held in the Rivers Suite at Edinburgh Napier University’s Craiglockhart Campus (Google map | travel info). There will be a wine reception from 5.30pm; the lecture will start around 6pm. The event will also be streamed online via Zoom. If you have any queries about the event, please contact Dr Andrew Frayn (a.frayn@napier.ac.uk). This event is both in person and online. If you wish to attend online, please buy an 'online Ticket'. Zoom information will be found in the email confirmations.
November 7, 2025 at 3:09 PM
afrayn.bsky.social
After a very long day yesterday, me today in my 9am seminar (not paper)
johnattridge.bsky.social John Attridge @johnattridge.bsky.social · Oct 9
Many scholars have connected this text with other things. But the connection I am going to make in this paper will shock you
November 4, 2025 at 7:20 AM
Reposted by Andrew Frayn
juliarsct.bsky.social
Just finished my first full rehearsal for this and I am buzzing! There are still some tickets left for both online and in-person attendance, just use the link below.
And if you're joining us in Edinburgh, let me know and we can organise a FWW meet-up ahead of the lecture? I'd love to meet more ECRs!
fwwsoc.bsky.social International Society for First World War Studies @fwwsoc.bsky.social · Sep 5
We are delighted to share the details for this year's Dennis Showalter Memorial Lecture 'Poetry under fire: what poems did during the First World War' to be delivered by @juliarsct.bsky.social on 11th Nov 2025

You can book to attend in person or online:

www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/remembranc... 🗃️
Poetry under fire: what poems did during the First World War 5.30pm, Tuesday 11 November 2025 Craiglockhart Campus, Edinburgh Napier University What did the First World War do to poetry? What did poetry do during the First World War? In this lecture, Dr Julia Ribeiro Thomaz will explore a brand new corpus of war poets to interrogate not what is a good or bad war poem nor what war poems say about the war, but rather the social and cultural functions accomplished by poetry in 1914-1918: inventing itself, creating social links, anchoring the war in relation to a poetic past and multiple imagined futures, mediating the experience of war, and producing knowledge about the conflict. She will explore how the expansion of our definition of war poetry allows us to ask new questions about the First World War, as well as future possibilities to continue broadening our understanding of what war poetry was and, above all, what it did and continues doing for those writing and reading it. Dr Julia Ribeiro Thomaz is a postdoctoral researcher at Université de Lille. She completed her doctorate, on French poetry of the First World War, at Université Paris Nanterre. Julia has already published widely in academic journals, and is a Fellow of the International Society for First World War Studies. This lecture continues the annual series of Remembrance lectures at Edinburgh Napier University, marking the historical significance of Craiglockhart as a War Hospital during the First World War, famously the meeting place of Wilfred Owen and Siegfried Sassoon. We also remember our late colleague Catherine Walker, who was for many years curator of the War Poets Collection. Funding comes from the Centre for Arts, Media and Culture and the Centre for Military Research, Education & Public Engagement. This year the event is also the Dennis Showalter Memorial Lecture, selected by the International Society for First World War Studies. Named after Dennis Showalter, the leading historian of Germany during the war and a longtime friend and supporter of the Society it is delivered each year by a leading early career researcher in First World War Studies. The event is held in the Rivers Suite at Edinburgh Napier University’s Craiglockhart Campus (Google map | travel info). There will be a wine reception from 5.30pm; the lecture will start around 6pm. The event will also be streamed online via Zoom. If you have any queries about the event, please contact Dr Andrew Frayn (a.frayn@napier.ac.uk). This event is both in person and online. If you wish to attend online, please buy an 'online Ticket'. Zoom information will be found in the email confirmations.
November 3, 2025 at 3:14 PM
Reposted by Andrew Frayn
eicathomefinn.bsky.social
'In February, Sheffield Hallam University, home to the Helena Kennedy Centre for International Justice (HKC), a leading research institution focused on human rights, ordered one of its best-known professors, Laura Murphy, to cease research on supply chains and forced labour in China.' 1/3
UK university halted human rights research after pressure from China
Exclusive: Leading professor at Sheffield Hallam was told to cease research on supply chains and forced labour in China after demands from authorities
www.theguardian.com
November 3, 2025 at 7:44 AM
Reposted by Andrew Frayn
elisabeth-piller.bsky.social
I m advertising a PhD position as part of our ERC project BLOCKADE. The PhD cand. should focus on myth/narratives of the hunger blockade in Germany, Austria in the era of the World Wars. 4 years of funding, wonderful team, amazing city (evidence attached)! Pls share! www.hsozkult.de/opportunity/...
October 30, 2025 at 8:15 PM
afrayn.bsky.social
Not a vintage time to be a member of staff at Edinburgh universities, plural
karengregory.bsky.social Karen Gregory @karengregory.bsky.social · 13d
The university is threatening cuts on a massive scale with little to no justification. Truly surreal moment in HE.
October 29, 2025 at 8:16 AM
afrayn.bsky.social
"I haven't fully worked this out, but here goes"
evansmithhist.bsky.social Evan @evansmithhist.bsky.social · 15d
Historians love to put ‘Towards a’ in the title of a paper
October 27, 2025 at 12:57 AM
Reposted by Andrew Frayn
hagenilda.bsky.social
Remember guys, @pcsunion.bsky.social staff at the BL are on strike for the next two weeks. Please don't cross the picket line to go to reading rooms, attend exhibitions or anything else. They've endured so much on low pay since the cyberattack in 2023 and the least we can do is have their backs now.
britishlibrary.bsky.social British Library @britishlibrary.bsky.social · 18d
Secret Maps opens today! 🤫 🗺️

From medieval manuscripts to Cold War espionage, our new exhibition explores how maps have hidden as much as they revealed for over 600 years.

Book now: bit.ly/BLSecretMaps
October 26, 2025 at 9:49 AM
afrayn.bsky.social
Sometimes, when you're travelling and your laptop battery dies, then the plug socket doesn't work, and then your pen runs out, you've just gotta accept defeat in the attempt to work.
October 23, 2025 at 2:22 PM
afrayn.bsky.social
Absolutely savage burn by David Byrne on modernists and avant-gardists:

"Now I'm not sure how I feel about the avant garde / Now I like the idea, their politics too / But I'm not really sure if that means that it's good"

youtu.be/Z97dtHprbAo?...
David Byrne - "The Avant Garde" (Official Lyric Video)
YouTube video by David Byrne
youtu.be
October 22, 2025 at 10:02 PM
afrayn.bsky.social
Quick reminder that this is 3 weeks today! Please sign up if you haven't already - in-person and online.
fwwsoc.bsky.social International Society for First World War Studies @fwwsoc.bsky.social · Sep 5
We are delighted to share the details for this year's Dennis Showalter Memorial Lecture 'Poetry under fire: what poems did during the First World War' to be delivered by @juliarsct.bsky.social on 11th Nov 2025

You can book to attend in person or online:

www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/remembranc... 🗃️
Poetry under fire: what poems did during the First World War 5.30pm, Tuesday 11 November 2025 Craiglockhart Campus, Edinburgh Napier University What did the First World War do to poetry? What did poetry do during the First World War? In this lecture, Dr Julia Ribeiro Thomaz will explore a brand new corpus of war poets to interrogate not what is a good or bad war poem nor what war poems say about the war, but rather the social and cultural functions accomplished by poetry in 1914-1918: inventing itself, creating social links, anchoring the war in relation to a poetic past and multiple imagined futures, mediating the experience of war, and producing knowledge about the conflict. She will explore how the expansion of our definition of war poetry allows us to ask new questions about the First World War, as well as future possibilities to continue broadening our understanding of what war poetry was and, above all, what it did and continues doing for those writing and reading it. Dr Julia Ribeiro Thomaz is a postdoctoral researcher at Université de Lille. She completed her doctorate, on French poetry of the First World War, at Université Paris Nanterre. Julia has already published widely in academic journals, and is a Fellow of the International Society for First World War Studies. This lecture continues the annual series of Remembrance lectures at Edinburgh Napier University, marking the historical significance of Craiglockhart as a War Hospital during the First World War, famously the meeting place of Wilfred Owen and Siegfried Sassoon. We also remember our late colleague Catherine Walker, who was for many years curator of the War Poets Collection. Funding comes from the Centre for Arts, Media and Culture and the Centre for Military Research, Education & Public Engagement. This year the event is also the Dennis Showalter Memorial Lecture, selected by the International Society for First World War Studies. Named after Dennis Showalter, the leading historian of Germany during the war and a longtime friend and supporter of the Society it is delivered each year by a leading early career researcher in First World War Studies. The event is held in the Rivers Suite at Edinburgh Napier University’s Craiglockhart Campus (Google map | travel info). There will be a wine reception from 5.30pm; the lecture will start around 6pm. The event will also be streamed online via Zoom. If you have any queries about the event, please contact Dr Andrew Frayn (a.frayn@napier.ac.uk). This event is both in person and online. If you wish to attend online, please buy an 'online Ticket'. Zoom information will be found in the email confirmations.
October 21, 2025 at 4:02 PM
afrayn.bsky.social
Some retailers posted pre-orders early, so I've already been enjoying this. Matt does a great job of linking the very personal and local with larger historical trends in engaging style. It deserves and is accessible to a readership beyond the academy. Congratulations!
tricksterprince.bsky.social Matt Houlbrook @tricksterprince.bsky.social · 22d
There's just a day to go until @manchesterup.bsky.social publish my latest book Songs of Seven Dials: An intimate history of 1920s and 1930s London.

I thought I should explain a bit about where the book came from.

1/15
A banner advert for Matt Houlbrook’s new book Songs of Seven Dials: An intimate history of 1920s and 1930s London
October 21, 2025 at 9:15 AM
afrayn.bsky.social
Alright, who's this...
fesshole.bsky.social fesshole 🧻 @fesshole.bsky.social · 23d
A nine year old kid just corrected my grammar. Of course, her grammar policing quietly pissed me off, but she was also correct. I'm a 49 year old university professor with a degree in English.
October 18, 2025 at 5:57 PM
Reposted by Andrew Frayn
sarahgailey.bsky.social
books should have an anti-acknowledgements section where the author talks shit about all the people who fucked them over while they were trying to write the thing. not bc I personally want to write one but bc I love gossip
rachelfeder.bsky.social Rachel Feder @rachelfeder.bsky.social · 29d
Tell me your most unhinged literary opinion, as a little treat
October 14, 2025 at 12:15 AM
Reposted by Andrew Frayn
qmucu.bsky.social
*FIFTEEN THOUSAND JOBS LOST*.
If this were in a sector in which the PM could go and do a photoshoot looking like One Of The People, we’d have had a government intervention by now.
October 11, 2025 at 8:17 AM
Reposted by Andrew Frayn
shiningangelx.bsky.social
"we cant uninvent ai" no we cant but we couldnt uninvent nfts either and nobody gives a fuck about them anymore
October 9, 2025 at 9:00 PM
afrayn.bsky.social
Just back from the last show of Edwyn Collins's last tour, in Edinburgh, his birthplace. An incredibly moving show, packed with favourites and hits. And the beginning of the encore, where he played 'Low Expectations' and 'Home Again' was absolutely emotionally devastating.
A seated Edwyn Collins, singing next to his son, standing, in front of his band. The backdrop says "Edwyn", in the style of the Elvis Comeback Show backdrop.
October 9, 2025 at 10:09 PM
Reposted by Andrew Frayn
keithwdickinson.bsky.social
Today is a day when arts degrees are worthless, but the product of those degrees is so valuable it would kill an entire industry if they were made to pay for it.
October 8, 2025 at 10:29 AM
afrayn.bsky.social
The best things happen where social media enhances your real life - so, meeting some great people in person, but also thinking about writing pithily has been good for me whatever audience I'm writing for/speaking to.
conradhackett.bsky.social Conrad Hackett @conradhackett.bsky.social · Oct 8
Has anything great happened in your life because of social media?
October 9, 2025 at 8:56 AM
Reposted by Andrew Frayn
marcmorris.bsky.social
October 8, 2025 at 8:06 AM