April Girling
@girlinga.bsky.social
PhD Student (University of Worcester). Researching heterotopias in the work of John Milton and Lucy Hutchinson.
Found what I think was my first uni assignment (definitely the first time I wrote anything on Milton-- a CV for one the characters from Paradise Lost, I obviously picked Satan). Very funny to look back on and little did I know that nearly 9 years on I would be writing about Milton for my PhD.
February 9, 2026 at 4:05 PM
Found what I think was my first uni assignment (definitely the first time I wrote anything on Milton-- a CV for one the characters from Paradise Lost, I obviously picked Satan). Very funny to look back on and little did I know that nearly 9 years on I would be writing about Milton for my PhD.
A post-lecture trip to the cathedral. I love Worcester cathedral and I feel like this is the first time I've been in ages apart from graduation.
January 30, 2026 at 4:36 PM
A post-lecture trip to the cathedral. I love Worcester cathedral and I feel like this is the first time I've been in ages apart from graduation.
It's been a great few days at BSECS. I presented a paper on Eden and Restoration politics in Lucy Hutchinson's Order and Disorder and attended some excellent panels (I especially enjoyed the panel on mock epics and grand epics this morning).
#BSECS2026
#BSECS2026
January 9, 2026 at 3:02 PM
It's been a great few days at BSECS. I presented a paper on Eden and Restoration politics in Lucy Hutchinson's Order and Disorder and attended some excellent panels (I especially enjoyed the panel on mock epics and grand epics this morning).
#BSECS2026
#BSECS2026
Despite only 3 students showing up (lots of cold/flu and assignment deadlines) that's my final class of the semester finished! Now just to draft my conference paper before Christmas🎄.
December 15, 2025 at 4:24 PM
Despite only 3 students showing up (lots of cold/flu and assignment deadlines) that's my final class of the semester finished! Now just to draft my conference paper before Christmas🎄.
Still utterly obsessed with Oscar Wilde so there was no way I was missing this. I also met Stephen Fry (who better to play Lady Bracknell) and got to show him my tattoo of Wilde.
December 11, 2025 at 6:37 AM
Still utterly obsessed with Oscar Wilde so there was no way I was missing this. I also met Stephen Fry (who better to play Lady Bracknell) and got to show him my tattoo of Wilde.
Sometimes your siblings really humble you. My brother gets married in 2 years time, it's already been agreed that I won't be getting/needing a plus one on my invitation.
December 7, 2025 at 5:26 PM
Sometimes your siblings really humble you. My brother gets married in 2 years time, it's already been agreed that I won't be getting/needing a plus one on my invitation.
Slowly making my way through some more Tolkien.
December 4, 2025 at 7:06 PM
Slowly making my way through some more Tolkien.
After dark tour of The Commandery (despite having lived in Worcestershire my whole life I've never visited The Commandery in the day).
October 21, 2025 at 8:49 PM
After dark tour of The Commandery (despite having lived in Worcestershire my whole life I've never visited The Commandery in the day).
Pleased to say that my paper has been accepted for #BSECS2026! I'll be discussing Eden as a micro- and macrocosm in Lucy Hutchinson's Order and Disorder.
#EarlyModern
#EarlyModern
October 15, 2025 at 9:46 PM
Pleased to say that my paper has been accepted for #BSECS2026! I'll be discussing Eden as a micro- and macrocosm in Lucy Hutchinson's Order and Disorder.
#EarlyModern
#EarlyModern
Very grateful for the student who stayed behind to tell me that their classmates are always quiet during seminars and it's nothing to do with me specifically! Obviously looked a little frazzled today.
October 13, 2025 at 4:52 PM
Very grateful for the student who stayed behind to tell me that their classmates are always quiet during seminars and it's nothing to do with me specifically! Obviously looked a little frazzled today.
Day trip to The Tower.
October 12, 2025 at 6:50 PM
Day trip to The Tower.
Not one of my students (who was in year 8 during the first year of covid) joking that their friend was old because they were in year 11 at the time. I didn't dare mention that I was in my third year of uni...
October 10, 2025 at 1:45 PM
Not one of my students (who was in year 8 during the first year of covid) joking that their friend was old because they were in year 11 at the time. I didn't dare mention that I was in my third year of uni...
Class consensus from today's session on The Duchess of Malfi:
Antonio is about as useful as a chocolate teapot.
Antonio is about as useful as a chocolate teapot.
September 29, 2025 at 3:38 PM
Class consensus from today's session on The Duchess of Malfi:
Antonio is about as useful as a chocolate teapot.
Antonio is about as useful as a chocolate teapot.
Prep for session 2 is taking me back to my A-levels.
September 23, 2025 at 4:50 PM
Prep for session 2 is taking me back to my A-levels.
That definitely could have gone better but at least that's the stress of the first class out of the way.
Contract has been signed and the introductory session is ready to go. All set to teach my first class on Monday (as module leader!).
September 22, 2025 at 3:50 PM
That definitely could have gone better but at least that's the stress of the first class out of the way.
Contract has been signed and the introductory session is ready to go. All set to teach my first class on Monday (as module leader!).
September 19, 2025 at 4:24 PM
Contract has been signed and the introductory session is ready to go. All set to teach my first class on Monday (as module leader!).
I completely get verifying your age but these all seem like fairly terrible options, no?
July 23, 2025 at 9:37 PM
I completely get verifying your age but these all seem like fairly terrible options, no?
I've just been offered my first set of teaching hours!
Pleased to say that I have been offered the position of Associate Lecturer!
July 19, 2025 at 9:07 AM
I've just been offered my first set of teaching hours!
When I have to work on an article draft instead of having a cuddle on the sofa.
July 16, 2025 at 10:29 AM
When I have to work on an article draft instead of having a cuddle on the sofa.
Reunited for the week 🐾.
July 13, 2025 at 5:33 PM
Reunited for the week 🐾.
Great talk from Dr Stephen K Roberts this morning @stuarthistoryfest.bsky.social. Looking forward to attending another talk tomorrow but back to writing my chapter on Paradise Lost in the meantime.
#EarlyModern
#EarlyModern
July 5, 2025 at 11:57 AM
Great talk from Dr Stephen K Roberts this morning @stuarthistoryfest.bsky.social. Looking forward to attending another talk tomorrow but back to writing my chapter on Paradise Lost in the meantime.
#EarlyModern
#EarlyModern
Loads of beds inside and a cat house a mere few steps away but this is where he decides to sit. I'm sure it's nothing to do with the fact it's right next to the fish pond.
June 23, 2025 at 3:45 PM
Loads of beds inside and a cat house a mere few steps away but this is where he decides to sit. I'm sure it's nothing to do with the fact it's right next to the fish pond.
Hoping and praying that the weather decides to cool down before we're in London at the end of next week because I dread getting on the tube in this heat.
June 19, 2025 at 8:52 AM
Hoping and praying that the weather decides to cool down before we're in London at the end of next week because I dread getting on the tube in this heat.
I've got a Waterstones voucher burning a hole in my pocket. Any book recommendations?
June 1, 2025 at 6:10 PM
I've got a Waterstones voucher burning a hole in my pocket. Any book recommendations?
"Your mother is alive and well and living in Droitwich."
First day of the Rik Mayall Comedy Festival (including costumes from Blackadder and The Young Ones).
First day of the Rik Mayall Comedy Festival (including costumes from Blackadder and The Young Ones).
May 31, 2025 at 4:40 PM
"Your mother is alive and well and living in Droitwich."
First day of the Rik Mayall Comedy Festival (including costumes from Blackadder and The Young Ones).
First day of the Rik Mayall Comedy Festival (including costumes from Blackadder and The Young Ones).