Catherine Fletcher
@catherinefletcher.info
Writing history, usually in Manchester, when possible in Italy. 'Renaissance skulduggery' - The Guardian. THE ROADS TO ROME out now. Coming April 26: THE FIREARM REVOLUTION.
Reposted by Catherine Fletcher
if you really want to feel wonderful, spending a bit of time with the brain of Leonardo Da Vinci is the way
it is interesting. seeking out brand new people is *also* delightful but you'll get a long way in life by going: sad? listen to Bach, look at Leonardo's notebooks/sketches, read Jane Austen
it is interesting. seeking out brand new people is *also* delightful but you'll get a long way in life by going: sad? listen to Bach, look at Leonardo's notebooks/sketches, read Jane Austen
Today at 1345 on Radio 4 (or available now online), I'm talking to @naomialderman.bsky.social about Leonardo da Vinci.
BBC Radio 4 - Human Intelligence, Series 2, Perfectionists: Leonardo Da Vinci
The quintessential Renaissance man, artist Leonardo da Vinci was curious about everything.
www.bbc.co.uk
January 15, 2026 at 3:58 PM
if you really want to feel wonderful, spending a bit of time with the brain of Leonardo Da Vinci is the way
it is interesting. seeking out brand new people is *also* delightful but you'll get a long way in life by going: sad? listen to Bach, look at Leonardo's notebooks/sketches, read Jane Austen
it is interesting. seeking out brand new people is *also* delightful but you'll get a long way in life by going: sad? listen to Bach, look at Leonardo's notebooks/sketches, read Jane Austen
Reposted by Catherine Fletcher
the vagina museum should open a branch in vienna and call it the kunthistorisches museum
January 15, 2026 at 8:36 AM
the vagina museum should open a branch in vienna and call it the kunthistorisches museum
Today at 1345 on Radio 4 (or available now online), I'm talking to @naomialderman.bsky.social about Leonardo da Vinci.
BBC Radio 4 - Human Intelligence, Series 2, Perfectionists: Leonardo Da Vinci
The quintessential Renaissance man, artist Leonardo da Vinci was curious about everything.
www.bbc.co.uk
January 15, 2026 at 8:30 AM
Today at 1345 on Radio 4 (or available now online), I'm talking to @naomialderman.bsky.social about Leonardo da Vinci.
See also my in-flight map last week. I don't know what they call this projection but Greenland is almost the size of North America.
January 13, 2026 at 6:58 PM
See also my in-flight map last week. I don't know what they call this projection but Greenland is almost the size of North America.
It's worth knowing that this is a right-wing talking point in the UK: if challenged they will say oh well, of course there were some immigrants but it was nothing like today etc. etc.
I just heard a law professor claim in a recording that in early modern England, there wasn’t any significant migration to the British Isles, which is just plainly wrong.
January 8, 2026 at 1:13 PM
It's worth knowing that this is a right-wing talking point in the UK: if challenged they will say oh well, of course there were some immigrants but it was nothing like today etc. etc.
It was a bright cold day in April, and the clock, recently purchased from Heal's on Tottenham Court Road, was striking thirteen.
It was a queer, sultry summer, the summer they electrocuted the Rosenbergs, and I didn’t know what I was doing in New York. I made myself a delicious cocktail with Beefeater Gin.
The sky above the port was the color of Dulux Blueberry White
January 7, 2026 at 11:39 AM
It was a bright cold day in April, and the clock, recently purchased from Heal's on Tottenham Court Road, was striking thirteen.
This is an interesting piece but it kind of misses that Sheffield's steel industry was always closely tied to armaments.
From steel to guns: inside Britain’s newest arms factory
Sheffield was once the UK’s centre of steelmaking. Now a rising tide of defence spending promises revival
www.ft.com
January 6, 2026 at 9:02 PM
This is an interesting piece but it kind of misses that Sheffield's steel industry was always closely tied to armaments.
Reposted by Catherine Fletcher
new series of Human Intelligence starts today at 1.45pm!
three weeks of an episode every day, to start your year off by learning about some stuff (if you like that sort of thing):
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...
three weeks of an episode every day, to start your year off by learning about some stuff (if you like that sort of thing):
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...
BBC Radio 4 - Human Intelligence, Exiles: Karl Marx
Exploring the mind of Karl Marx, a revolutionary political thinker and philosopher.
www.bbc.co.uk
January 5, 2026 at 10:18 AM
new series of Human Intelligence starts today at 1.45pm!
three weeks of an episode every day, to start your year off by learning about some stuff (if you like that sort of thing):
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...
three weeks of an episode every day, to start your year off by learning about some stuff (if you like that sort of thing):
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...
Reposted by Catherine Fletcher
Applications are also invited for a new RHS programme for 2026, co-hosted with @ihr.bsky.social and @chalkefestival.bsky.social.
'Pitch my Project' is for early career historians to present their research at the Chalke History Festival in June bit.ly/44kfUMM. Closing date: 6 February. #Skystorians
'Pitch my Project' is for early career historians to present their research at the Chalke History Festival in June bit.ly/44kfUMM. Closing date: 6 February. #Skystorians
Pitch my Project: an opportunity for early career historians to present their work at the Chalke History Festival 2026 - RHS
Have you ever wanted to share your research with a wide audience? Would you like to gain experience in public speaking, and be supported to develop imaginative ways to communicate your research to the...
bit.ly
January 5, 2026 at 9:53 AM
Applications are also invited for a new RHS programme for 2026, co-hosted with @ihr.bsky.social and @chalkefestival.bsky.social.
'Pitch my Project' is for early career historians to present their research at the Chalke History Festival in June bit.ly/44kfUMM. Closing date: 6 February. #Skystorians
'Pitch my Project' is for early career historians to present their research at the Chalke History Festival in June bit.ly/44kfUMM. Closing date: 6 February. #Skystorians
Lovely to get back from my holidays to three emails from readers telling me how much they enjoyed The Roads to Rome. That book was a bit of a departure from my usual work, so it's great to hear that people appreciate it.
January 5, 2026 at 9:12 AM
Lovely to get back from my holidays to three emails from readers telling me how much they enjoyed The Roads to Rome. That book was a bit of a departure from my usual work, so it's great to hear that people appreciate it.
The Maltese Falcon, from the point of view of an actual peregrine falcon paid as tribute to the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V
Time to build this universe out! I’d read a whole series about Gutman’s globe-trotting Falcon-hunting adventures. Or about Effie opening her own agency in the ‘60s. So many possibilities.
January 4, 2026 at 11:43 AM
The Maltese Falcon, from the point of view of an actual peregrine falcon paid as tribute to the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V
A sixteenth-century imperial power would just subcontract Venezuela to some German traders
January 3, 2026 at 4:51 PM
A sixteenth-century imperial power would just subcontract Venezuela to some German traders
Venezuela media guide (no longer being updated but most of the links still work):
Venezuela media guide
An overview of the media in Venezuela, including links to broadcasters and newspapers.
www.bbc.co.uk
January 3, 2026 at 9:45 AM
Venezuela media guide (no longer being updated but most of the links still work):
I'm currently costing making a podcast (with a proper script and edits and stuff) for a grant application and we're well into five figures a year before we've paid a single contributor, let alone left the building to record on location.
Think about this a lot.
Editing takes time. Costs money. Most podcasts don’t earn any money. So most podcasts don’t edit. And so leaving all the irrelevant stuff in has been normalised in a way it never has been on radio, which is funded and for that money expects concision in return.
Editing takes time. Costs money. Most podcasts don’t earn any money. So most podcasts don’t edit. And so leaving all the irrelevant stuff in has been normalised in a way it never has been on radio, which is funded and for that money expects concision in return.
So much truth. And controversial view: for me one of the key differences between radio programmes and podcasts is that radio programmes rarely make me shout GET THE FUCK ON WITH IT I DON’T CARE WHAT YOU SAID EARLIER IN THE PUB I WASN’T THERE
January 2, 2026 at 10:15 AM
I'm currently costing making a podcast (with a proper script and edits and stuff) for a grant application and we're well into five figures a year before we've paid a single contributor, let alone left the building to record on location.
just thinking ahead to major historical anniversaries that fall within the likely term of the next government, and we have:
trial and execution of Jesus (2000)
break with Rome (500)
abolition of slavery (200)
Hitler coming to power (100)
so this will be fun
trial and execution of Jesus (2000)
break with Rome (500)
abolition of slavery (200)
Hitler coming to power (100)
so this will be fun
One of the first things a Farage government will do will be to make sure "the young are
taught correctly about our history," and if that doesn't set off all manner of alarm bells then it should. (MAIL)
taught correctly about our history," and if that doesn't set off all manner of alarm bells then it should. (MAIL)
January 1, 2026 at 5:09 PM
just thinking ahead to major historical anniversaries that fall within the likely term of the next government, and we have:
trial and execution of Jesus (2000)
break with Rome (500)
abolition of slavery (200)
Hitler coming to power (100)
so this will be fun
trial and execution of Jesus (2000)
break with Rome (500)
abolition of slavery (200)
Hitler coming to power (100)
so this will be fun
Reposted by Catherine Fletcher
Friends and mutuals with Ghost, Substack, etc - what subscription models have worked for you? Paid-for, a mix of paid and free, free with the option to 'buy you a coffee'?
I'm looking to set up on Ghost after my PhD is in, so any tips welcome!
I'm looking to set up on Ghost after my PhD is in, so any tips welcome!
December 31, 2025 at 11:51 AM
Friends and mutuals with Ghost, Substack, etc - what subscription models have worked for you? Paid-for, a mix of paid and free, free with the option to 'buy you a coffee'?
I'm looking to set up on Ghost after my PhD is in, so any tips welcome!
I'm looking to set up on Ghost after my PhD is in, so any tips welcome!
A few years ago I (who worked at the BBC 1999-2004) moderated a colleague's assignments on contemporary media history and had to restrain myself from writing in the margins 'No', 'Didn't happen' and 'wtaf'.
As a historian, I fully embrace that the 1990s are now considered a historical era worthy of being analysed properly.
As someone in their mid-40s, this is also an outrageous insult to suggest that a significant passage of time has occurred!
As someone in their mid-40s, this is also an outrageous insult to suggest that a significant passage of time has occurred!
Gonna start referring to anything from 1970-1999 as “The late 1900s” and see what happens.
January 1, 2026 at 1:36 PM
A few years ago I (who worked at the BBC 1999-2004) moderated a colleague's assignments on contemporary media history and had to restrain myself from writing in the margins 'No', 'Didn't happen' and 'wtaf'.
Picture of the staff who operate my account.
December 31, 2025 at 9:35 PM
Picture of the staff who operate my account.
Reposted by Catherine Fletcher
At midnight today, it will have been 2016 for the past decade.
December 31, 2025 at 5:20 AM
At midnight today, it will have been 2016 for the past decade.
Every so often I look at these cars and every time they're overpriced versus the competition. If you need to run errands, it's cheaper to wait until you have a day's worth then get a standard car rental for the weekend. If you want to go for a country walk, it's cheaper to take the train.
Zipcar’s business model is an evolutionary dead end
The problem for car clubs is that most of the costs are fixed
www.ft.com
December 31, 2025 at 9:16 AM
Every so often I look at these cars and every time they're overpriced versus the competition. If you need to run errands, it's cheaper to wait until you have a day's worth then get a standard car rental for the weekend. If you want to go for a country walk, it's cheaper to take the train.
Lovely to see The Roads to Rome in such great company.
December buys.
(I think I will take a break from book buying after this. Hopefully, I can bring my unread count to 350 by 2026 end).
Books by @profgabriele.com , @lollardfish.bsky.social , @gevemac.bsky.social , @samottewillsoulsby.bsky.social and others.
(I think I will take a break from book buying after this. Hopefully, I can bring my unread count to 350 by 2026 end).
Books by @profgabriele.com , @lollardfish.bsky.social , @gevemac.bsky.social , @samottewillsoulsby.bsky.social and others.
December 30, 2025 at 12:11 PM
Lovely to see The Roads to Rome in such great company.
Reposted by Catherine Fletcher
Looking back at 2025 - Centre for Place Writing books published this year.
Including The Roads to Rome @cathfletcher.bsky.social Stowaway @joeshute.bsky.social A Shorter Ulysses @anthonyburgess.bsky.social & Moving Mountains @louisekenward.bsky.social
#BookSky
Including The Roads to Rome @cathfletcher.bsky.social Stowaway @joeshute.bsky.social A Shorter Ulysses @anthonyburgess.bsky.social & Moving Mountains @louisekenward.bsky.social
#BookSky
December 29, 2025 at 6:44 PM
Looking back at 2025 - Centre for Place Writing books published this year.
Including The Roads to Rome @cathfletcher.bsky.social Stowaway @joeshute.bsky.social A Shorter Ulysses @anthonyburgess.bsky.social & Moving Mountains @louisekenward.bsky.social
#BookSky
Including The Roads to Rome @cathfletcher.bsky.social Stowaway @joeshute.bsky.social A Shorter Ulysses @anthonyburgess.bsky.social & Moving Mountains @louisekenward.bsky.social
#BookSky