James Connolly
@drjamesconnolly.bsky.social
Historian at UCL SELCS specialising in modern France and Europe, the First World War, and military occupation. Other interests include film, TV, gaming, and comedy (especially puns). Very occasional stand-up comedian (7 performances so far).
Pinned
www.manchesterhive.com
Just to make this as easily accessible as it was 'elsewhere', here's the link to the Open Access version of my book 'The Experience of Occupation in the Nord, 1914-1918': www.manchesterhive.com/display/9781...
I sometimes do it "for" my wife too, but a) she now understands a ridiculous amount of French, and b) it's clear that it's me being passive-aggressive to make a point, ahem.
February 11, 2026 at 5:52 PM
I sometimes do it "for" my wife too, but a) she now understands a ridiculous amount of French, and b) it's clear that it's me being passive-aggressive to make a point, ahem.
(It was a performative switch to English, so the guy understood me and in the hope he would move to avoid my son)
February 11, 2026 at 4:27 PM
(It was a performative switch to English, so the guy understood me and in the hope he would move to avoid my son)
Bilingual four-year-old, after I said "Be careful" as he nearly cycled into someone on the pavement: "Daddy, I don't like it when you speak in English."
February 11, 2026 at 4:22 PM
Bilingual four-year-old, after I said "Be careful" as he nearly cycled into someone on the pavement: "Daddy, I don't like it when you speak in English."
A pamphlet written by supporters of the far-right extra-parliamentary league Croix de Feu from inter-war France. I was struck by the racist, incoherent, angry rantings of a disturbed individual with a penchant for odd capitalisation. It rang a bell for some reason... Je dis ça, je dis rien.
February 4, 2026 at 11:33 AM
A pamphlet written by supporters of the far-right extra-parliamentary league Croix de Feu from inter-war France. I was struck by the racist, incoherent, angry rantings of a disturbed individual with a penchant for odd capitalisation. It rang a bell for some reason... Je dis ça, je dis rien.
Did anyone notice?
To be fair, these are fairly similar and from the same shop. And I do have smarter shoes in my office to teach in!
To be fair, these are fairly similar and from the same shop. And I do have smarter shoes in my office to teach in!
February 3, 2026 at 10:34 AM
Did anyone notice?
To be fair, these are fairly similar and from the same shop. And I do have smarter shoes in my office to teach in!
To be fair, these are fairly similar and from the same shop. And I do have smarter shoes in my office to teach in!
Not doing much better this morning: had to rush to get my son to school, then realised a few minutes later that I'm wearing two different trainers.
Got on the wrong train on the way home, after running for the correct one and getting there in time. I was desperate to get back ASAP to relieve a friend looking after my son after school. Now I'll be almost an hour later than planned.
February 3, 2026 at 8:59 AM
Not doing much better this morning: had to rush to get my son to school, then realised a few minutes later that I'm wearing two different trainers.
Reposted by James Connolly
Aujourd'hui, le premier des livres issus de ma thèse a été publié! Destiné à un publique francophone et plutôt littéraire, il sera accompagné d'un autre ouvrage plus historique en anglais.
January 30, 2026 at 6:16 PM
Aujourd'hui, le premier des livres issus de ma thèse a été publié! Destiné à un publique francophone et plutôt littéraire, il sera accompagné d'un autre ouvrage plus historique en anglais.
Et ils ont éclaté de rire.
February 2, 2026 at 6:47 PM
Et ils ont éclaté de rire.
The doctors couldn't believe it when they looked at his arsenal.
February 2, 2026 at 6:27 PM
The doctors couldn't believe it when they looked at his arsenal.
Haha, very true. And judging by the reaction in the room, you'd never guess. My jokes are often followed by a disappointed "Come on!" from me.
February 2, 2026 at 6:03 PM
Haha, very true. And judging by the reaction in the room, you'd never guess. My jokes are often followed by a disappointed "Come on!" from me.
I may have only taken a screenshot of the positive bits, ahem...
February 2, 2026 at 5:56 PM
I may have only taken a screenshot of the positive bits, ahem...
Feel like a right loser, but this early module feedback from students about what they are enjoying has cheered me up a bit.
February 2, 2026 at 5:52 PM
Feel like a right loser, but this early module feedback from students about what they are enjoying has cheered me up a bit.
Got on the wrong train on the way home, after running for the correct one and getting there in time. I was desperate to get back ASAP to relieve a friend looking after my son after school. Now I'll be almost an hour later than planned.
February 2, 2026 at 5:52 PM
Got on the wrong train on the way home, after running for the correct one and getting there in time. I was desperate to get back ASAP to relieve a friend looking after my son after school. Now I'll be almost an hour later than planned.
Thanks for sharing - will give it a listen!
January 30, 2026 at 11:30 AM
Thanks for sharing - will give it a listen!
And that's just the documentation I've marked as potentially relevant. In total, there must be almost a million pages in the Interallied Rhineland High Commission archives alone.
January 30, 2026 at 11:15 AM
And that's just the documentation I've marked as potentially relevant. In total, there must be almost a million pages in the Interallied Rhineland High Commission archives alone.
Giving a departmental research paper today in which I'll discuss the challenges of my research on the occupied Rhineland. One is the sheer number of archival documents: calculated that I've read c.7,000 pages resulting in c.64,200 words of notes. Still have another 18,000 pages to read through.
January 30, 2026 at 11:15 AM
Giving a departmental research paper today in which I'll discuss the challenges of my research on the occupied Rhineland. One is the sheer number of archival documents: calculated that I've read c.7,000 pages resulting in c.64,200 words of notes. Still have another 18,000 pages to read through.
My four-year-old this morning: "I love it when you wear your glasses but I don't like not when you take your glasses off. You look like an old man, and I don't really like old mans, unless they look good."
January 21, 2026 at 7:20 AM
My four-year-old this morning: "I love it when you wear your glasses but I don't like not when you take your glasses off. You look like an old man, and I don't really like old mans, unless they look good."
I had that same comment too! "It's not incredible, is it?!"
January 20, 2026 at 10:47 PM
I had that same comment too! "It's not incredible, is it?!"
There are much bigger problems in the world, but: having to run to school with your son, then run for a train, sweating profusely, doesn't set you up brilliantly for a day of intensive teaching followed by an open-mic stand-up spot in the evening.
January 20, 2026 at 9:06 AM
There are much bigger problems in the world, but: having to run to school with your son, then run for a train, sweating profusely, doesn't set you up brilliantly for a day of intensive teaching followed by an open-mic stand-up spot in the evening.
Story of my life. The first draft of my PhD was 50,000 words too long, and I remember my supervisor's words: "If you removed every fucking adverb, you wouldn't lose an iota of meaning."
January 19, 2026 at 2:53 PM
Story of my life. The first draft of my PhD was 50,000 words too long, and I remember my supervisor's words: "If you removed every fucking adverb, you wouldn't lose an iota of meaning."
Reposted by James Connolly
The Centre for the Study of the Legacies of British Slavery (CSLBS) is excited to announce 3 new roles on our groundbreaking Valuable Lives project!
🔍 Open roles:
• 2 x Research Assistant (Digital Humanities)
• 1 x Research Fellow (Digital Humanities)
🗓 Closing date: 23 Jan 2026
shorturl.at/OCpLP
🔍 Open roles:
• 2 x Research Assistant (Digital Humanities)
• 1 x Research Fellow (Digital Humanities)
🗓 Closing date: 23 Jan 2026
shorturl.at/OCpLP
Opportunities
Find opportunities to join UCL History in academic, research, teaching and learning, admin and other capacities below.
shorturl.at
January 6, 2026 at 12:31 PM
The Centre for the Study of the Legacies of British Slavery (CSLBS) is excited to announce 3 new roles on our groundbreaking Valuable Lives project!
🔍 Open roles:
• 2 x Research Assistant (Digital Humanities)
• 1 x Research Fellow (Digital Humanities)
🗓 Closing date: 23 Jan 2026
shorturl.at/OCpLP
🔍 Open roles:
• 2 x Research Assistant (Digital Humanities)
• 1 x Research Fellow (Digital Humanities)
🗓 Closing date: 23 Jan 2026
shorturl.at/OCpLP
Ah, that sounds very interesting too, and I think there could be some good links between our articles!
January 16, 2026 at 5:15 PM
Ah, that sounds very interesting too, and I think there could be some good links between our articles!
Ah, very cool, I'm honoured!
I think I can share the article details here as I'm in the final stages of revisions (plus I don't have many followers here anyway): it's on German representations of poor public hygiene and health in occupied France, 1914-18.
I think I can share the article details here as I'm in the final stages of revisions (plus I don't have many followers here anyway): it's on German representations of poor public hygiene and health in occupied France, 1914-18.
January 16, 2026 at 5:05 PM
Ah, very cool, I'm honoured!
I think I can share the article details here as I'm in the final stages of revisions (plus I don't have many followers here anyway): it's on German representations of poor public hygiene and health in occupied France, 1914-18.
I think I can share the article details here as I'm in the final stages of revisions (plus I don't have many followers here anyway): it's on German representations of poor public hygiene and health in occupied France, 1914-18.
I actually knew one scholar who told me they quit academia to become a urine-sample analyst, but I think they were taking the piss.
(I've got a few of these as urine and faeces are topics present in all my attempts at stand-up so far)
(I've got a few of these as urine and faeces are topics present in all my attempts at stand-up so far)
January 16, 2026 at 5:03 PM
I actually knew one scholar who told me they quit academia to become a urine-sample analyst, but I think they were taking the piss.
(I've got a few of these as urine and faeces are topics present in all my attempts at stand-up so far)
(I've got a few of these as urine and faeces are topics present in all my attempts at stand-up so far)
Also, I'm currently revising an article with the same kinds of references so I say we have to just accept the topic!
January 16, 2026 at 4:59 PM
Also, I'm currently revising an article with the same kinds of references so I say we have to just accept the topic!