Alan Allport
@alanallport.bsky.social
Professor, historian, husband, dad, scouser, gobby. Author of Demobbed (2009), Browned Off & Bloody-Minded (2015), Britain at Bay (2020), Advance Britannia (2025). “Awesome but a bit boring” (RMP). Personal account.
Pinned
Alan Allport
@alanallport.bsky.social
· Jan 6
Why the British Were Afraid of Winning World War II
www.nytimes.com
#AdvanceBritannia is released in North America today. The NYT review says (ahem): “Elegant and unsparing … Allport is a fluid writer, a conjurer with the rare ability to sustain a gripping narrative without resorting to Vaseline-lensed sentimentality.”
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/06/b...
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/06/b...
Reposted by Alan Allport
Make fun all you want, but InfantryDort is right. This is why Sparta is one of the oldest cities in the world, having been continually occupied for 5,000 years. In contrast, Athens is primarily known for losing a battle with style. /s
February 16, 2026 at 4:16 PM
Make fun all you want, but InfantryDort is right. This is why Sparta is one of the oldest cities in the world, having been continually occupied for 5,000 years. In contrast, Athens is primarily known for losing a battle with style. /s
RIP Robert Duvall aka Colonel Radl. “A wink from a pretty girl at a party results rarely in climax, Karl. But a man is a fool not to push a suggestion as far as it will go.”
February 16, 2026 at 9:02 PM
RIP Robert Duvall aka Colonel Radl. “A wink from a pretty girl at a party results rarely in climax, Karl. But a man is a fool not to push a suggestion as far as it will go.”
My most recent book was budgeted at 180k and eventually reached 230k. I still had to cut a ton of stuff.
The first final draft of my book was 180,000 words.
If you now read it and think "that reads a little concisely; you could have said more about that", or, "why didn't you include that topic/event?", the answer is, I probably did, and had to cut it out.
If you now read it and think "that reads a little concisely; you could have said more about that", or, "why didn't you include that topic/event?", the answer is, I probably did, and had to cut it out.
My first draft of the book is comically over the word limit, so I'm digging into the process of making some massive cuts. I'm going to need to drop several chapters altogether and significantly trim many more.
This is going to be less of a "kill your darlings" situation and more of a mass murder.
This is going to be less of a "kill your darlings" situation and more of a mass murder.
February 16, 2026 at 8:42 PM
My most recent book was budgeted at 180k and eventually reached 230k. I still had to cut a ton of stuff.
That album is fucking wild. The final track is about a girl committing suicide after becoming pregnant via an affair with her brother. She wrote half these songs when she was 13.
Kate Bush is one of my favourite artists and maybe every year or two I revisit her discography and always find something new.
For example, after being part-way through her biography, I realise that (if you can believe it) this song is not about flying a kite, but actually being completely baked.
For example, after being part-way through her biography, I realise that (if you can believe it) this song is not about flying a kite, but actually being completely baked.
Kite
open.spotify.com
February 16, 2026 at 7:52 PM
That album is fucking wild. The final track is about a girl committing suicide after becoming pregnant via an affair with her brother. She wrote half these songs when she was 13.
Reposted by Alan Allport
my favorite Robert Duvall role is where he appears as a priest on a swing for 2 seconds for no apparent reason in Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1978)
February 16, 2026 at 6:23 PM
my favorite Robert Duvall role is where he appears as a priest on a swing for 2 seconds for no apparent reason in Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1978)
On the island of Golem Grad in North Macedonia, nonstop attention from male tortoises seemed to be driving females to early deaths. On multiple occasions, scientists saw them throw themselves off the cliffs. nyti.ms/4rf0ToM
February 16, 2026 at 5:28 PM
Reposted by Alan Allport
Terrific little book. Allport explains that Britain’s leaders knew the consequences of another world war – it wasn’t a matter of winning or losing, but the almost certain knowledge that even a victory would be the end of the British Empire. putteringinthestudy.com/2026/02/15/b... #HistBookChat
February 15, 2026 at 8:34 PM
Terrific little book. Allport explains that Britain’s leaders knew the consequences of another world war – it wasn’t a matter of winning or losing, but the almost certain knowledge that even a victory would be the end of the British Empire. putteringinthestudy.com/2026/02/15/b... #HistBookChat
Reposted by Alan Allport
douglas adams was our most accurate futurist
We are at an airport restaurant. A robot just drove up to us with our food, said, "Hi! Here I am!" and then drove away with our food.
February 15, 2026 at 10:10 PM
douglas adams was our most accurate futurist
Reposted by Alan Allport
the loss of the World Service would be a tragedy and huge lost of soft power for Britain
And another bites the dust?
The BBC World Service will run out of funding in just seven weeks. Its funding arrangement with the Foreign Office finishes at the end of March. There is no plan for what happens next.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
The BBC World Service will run out of funding in just seven weeks. Its funding arrangement with the Foreign Office finishes at the end of March. There is no plan for what happens next.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
The Guardian view on the BBC World Service: this is London calling | Editorial
Editorial: With just seven weeks before its funding runs out, the UK’s greatest cultural asset and most trusted international news organisation must be supported
www.theguardian.com
February 15, 2026 at 8:02 PM
the loss of the World Service would be a tragedy and huge lost of soft power for Britain
Reposted by Alan Allport
Pete Hegseth (Princeton/ Harvard) and Brett Kavanaugh (Yale/ Yale) exemplify a standard type of elite-educated Likes Beer guy.
February 15, 2026 at 7:55 PM
Pete Hegseth (Princeton/ Harvard) and Brett Kavanaugh (Yale/ Yale) exemplify a standard type of elite-educated Likes Beer guy.
Reposted by Alan Allport
Something extremely funny could happen tomorrow
🚨 PICTURED: Liz Truss meets with Donald Trump at his golf course in Palm Beach
February 15, 2026 at 4:22 PM
Something extremely funny could happen tomorrow
From an expository sense this scene is important because up to this point in the movie Victor has been, frankly, a bit of a bore, and it’s hard to understand what Ilsa ever saw in him.
But as he’s leading the crowd in song the camera cuts to her adoring face with her “that’s so hot” look.
But as he’s leading the crowd in song the camera cuts to her adoring face with her “that’s so hot” look.
Do I ever *stop thinking about it*? Yes, but never for that long.
seveninchesofyourtime.com/cinemas-grea...
seveninchesofyourtime.com/cinemas-grea...
Cinema’s greatest scene: ‘Casablanca’ and ‘La Marseillaise’
Casablanca is widely remembered as one of the greatest films of all time, coming in at #2 on the AFI’s top 100 list and similarly regarded by many other critics. You can quibble with its exac…
seveninchesofyourtime.com
February 15, 2026 at 2:41 PM
From an expository sense this scene is important because up to this point in the movie Victor has been, frankly, a bit of a bore, and it’s hard to understand what Ilsa ever saw in him.
But as he’s leading the crowd in song the camera cuts to her adoring face with her “that’s so hot” look.
But as he’s leading the crowd in song the camera cuts to her adoring face with her “that’s so hot” look.
Reposted by Alan Allport
Kindle edition currently 99p. www.amazon.co.uk/Anglo-Saxons...
February 5, 2026 at 8:19 PM
Kindle edition currently 99p. www.amazon.co.uk/Anglo-Saxons...
Normalize starting a war because you blew up your own ship
February 15, 2026 at 2:24 PM
Normalize starting a war because you blew up your own ship
Reposted by Alan Allport
The RFK number seems like a massive failure of the media to explain what RFK is doing to our public health system and how catastrophic it will be
Net favorability of how Americans view
Trump: -18
Hegseth: -15
Vance: -14
Rubio: -10
RFK Jr: -4
www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/...
Trump: -18
Hegseth: -15
Vance: -14
Rubio: -10
RFK Jr: -4
www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/...
How Americans view key members of the Trump administration
A 58% majority say they have an unfavorable view of President Donald Trump, and 40% have a favorable view.
www.pewresearch.org
February 15, 2026 at 1:22 PM
The RFK number seems like a massive failure of the media to explain what RFK is doing to our public health system and how catastrophic it will be
Reposted by Alan Allport
Can’t believe we are still doing this
February 15, 2026 at 2:03 PM
Can’t believe we are still doing this
Reposted by Alan Allport
don’t do me like that dawg
February 15, 2026 at 9:30 AM
don’t do me like that dawg
Reposted by Alan Allport
Reposted by Alan Allport
Explaining the plot of Scooby-Doo to my daughter and realizing the central irony of the show is that the gang cruises around looking for magic and mysteries that never pan out, while the only truly supernatural element is the talking dog they all ignore.
February 14, 2026 at 7:19 PM
Explaining the plot of Scooby-Doo to my daughter and realizing the central irony of the show is that the gang cruises around looking for magic and mysteries that never pan out, while the only truly supernatural element is the talking dog they all ignore.
This is an irresponsible headline.
Overall, veterans are less likely to have criminal records.
Mass shooters are overwhelmingly younger white men and that’s where the correlation with veterans is.
Veteran mass shooters are usually those with *failed* military careers who were discharged early.
Overall, veterans are less likely to have criminal records.
Mass shooters are overwhelmingly younger white men and that’s where the correlation with veterans is.
Veteran mass shooters are usually those with *failed* military careers who were discharged early.
‘Military service is one of the strongest predictors for becoming a mass shooter in the US.’
@lalehkhalili.bsky.social on the symbiosis of drugs and war.
www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v4...
@lalehkhalili.bsky.social on the symbiosis of drugs and war.
www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v4...
Laleh Khalili · Guns, Money and Opium
There is an undeniable symmetry between surges in drug use in the US and the country’s covert operations overseas. The...
www.lrb.co.uk
February 15, 2026 at 12:48 PM
This is an irresponsible headline.
Overall, veterans are less likely to have criminal records.
Mass shooters are overwhelmingly younger white men and that’s where the correlation with veterans is.
Veteran mass shooters are usually those with *failed* military careers who were discharged early.
Overall, veterans are less likely to have criminal records.
Mass shooters are overwhelmingly younger white men and that’s where the correlation with veterans is.
Veteran mass shooters are usually those with *failed* military careers who were discharged early.
Drop an album that was important to you when you were nineteen.
February 15, 2026 at 12:35 PM
Drop an album that was important to you when you were nineteen.
Icebergs can’t melt steel beams
February 14, 2026 at 10:55 PM
Icebergs can’t melt steel beams
Reposted by Alan Allport
My local Barnes and Noble gives #AdvanceBtitannia the old red carpet treatment
February 14, 2026 at 8:59 PM
My local Barnes and Noble gives #AdvanceBtitannia the old red carpet treatment