Jonathan Healey
@jonathanhealey.bsky.social
Historian and Occasional Book-writer (https://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/blazing-world-9781526621696/)
Works at Oxford University. New book, The Blood in Winter, out now!
https://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/blood-in-winter-9781526672292/
Works at Oxford University. New book, The Blood in Winter, out now!
https://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/blood-in-winter-9781526672292/
📍checked in safe from Summertown Marks and Spencer on Christmas Eve.
December 24, 2025 at 3:30 PM
📍checked in safe from Summertown Marks and Spencer on Christmas Eve.
Wow. This is probably the rudest thing anyone has ever said about Cumbria.
For those who know the UK:
Chatgpt is equally at home with screwing around with borders and names.
I asked it to "Generate a map of the United Kingdom with all the counties named" 🤣
Chatgpt is equally at home with screwing around with borders and names.
I asked it to "Generate a map of the United Kingdom with all the counties named" 🤣
December 23, 2025 at 4:38 PM
Wow. This is probably the rudest thing anyone has ever said about Cumbria.
'I wish it could be Christmas every... er... month?'
We all know that Parliament abolished Christmas in 1647 (boo!), but they also created a new monthly holiday (yay!), enforceable by magistrates.
The actual Christmas ban caused riots later that year, but after that was barely enforced.
We all know that Parliament abolished Christmas in 1647 (boo!), but they also created a new monthly holiday (yay!), enforceable by magistrates.
The actual Christmas ban caused riots later that year, but after that was barely enforced.
December 23, 2025 at 2:53 PM
'I wish it could be Christmas every... er... month?'
We all know that Parliament abolished Christmas in 1647 (boo!), but they also created a new monthly holiday (yay!), enforceable by magistrates.
The actual Christmas ban caused riots later that year, but after that was barely enforced.
We all know that Parliament abolished Christmas in 1647 (boo!), but they also created a new monthly holiday (yay!), enforceable by magistrates.
The actual Christmas ban caused riots later that year, but after that was barely enforced.
Reposted by Jonathan Healey
#NowSpinning Magnard’s highly compelling and totally touching Fourth Symphony.
December 22, 2025 at 1:17 PM
#NowSpinning Magnard’s highly compelling and totally touching Fourth Symphony.
Enjoyed working through Prince Rupert’s Civil War ‘Journal’ today, especially his spelling of ‘Birmingham’.
December 22, 2025 at 5:51 PM
Enjoyed working through Prince Rupert’s Civil War ‘Journal’ today, especially his spelling of ‘Birmingham’.
Reposted by Jonathan Healey
Got an unread email from @jonathanhealey.bsky.social in my inbox entitled ‘Hampshire Beacon Plot’ and it feels seditious, like we are planning something
December 22, 2025 at 5:30 PM
Got an unread email from @jonathanhealey.bsky.social in my inbox entitled ‘Hampshire Beacon Plot’ and it feels seditious, like we are planning something
Pleased to find an actual Poindexter in the archives today.
December 22, 2025 at 3:21 PM
Pleased to find an actual Poindexter in the archives today.
Reposted by Jonathan Healey
Rare footage of St Paul’s Cathedral testing its giant flamethrower
December 21, 2025 at 8:37 AM
Rare footage of St Paul’s Cathedral testing its giant flamethrower
Furious debate has arisen this morning.
Does this joke still work once you realise that it’s one rebel speaking to the others?
Does this joke still work once you realise that it’s one rebel speaking to the others?
December 20, 2025 at 8:49 AM
Furious debate has arisen this morning.
Does this joke still work once you realise that it’s one rebel speaking to the others?
Does this joke still work once you realise that it’s one rebel speaking to the others?
Reposted by Jonathan Healey
People who aspire to be academics: I wish to live a life of the mind
Actual academics:
Actual academics:
I have a weird question for the #bird people on here. Do you think someone could tell that a book was pooped on specifically by a sparrowhawk (or perhaps hawks generally) just from the feces? I'm looking at a 16th c. case where witnesses claim books were pooped on specifically by sparrowhawks!
December 18, 2025 at 3:34 PM
People who aspire to be academics: I wish to live a life of the mind
Actual academics:
Actual academics:
Reposted by Jonathan Healey
That trailer for the new Animal Farm film brought to mind this banger of a tweet
December 17, 2025 at 9:14 PM
That trailer for the new Animal Farm film brought to mind this banger of a tweet
Not sure why I think of Peer Gynt as Christmassy music. Järvi’s is probably my favourite recording of the whole score. It’s exciting and the Hardanger fiddle sounds great.
December 16, 2025 at 11:42 AM
Not sure why I think of Peer Gynt as Christmassy music. Järvi’s is probably my favourite recording of the whole score. It’s exciting and the Hardanger fiddle sounds great.
Thank you Springer for this ‘Holiday Sale’ suggestion….
December 14, 2025 at 12:44 PM
Thank you Springer for this ‘Holiday Sale’ suggestion….
Loving this new podcast still….
December 14, 2025 at 12:31 PM
Loving this new podcast still….
Take note Elon Musk, *this* is how you start a new English Civil War.
In Issue 26 we have ranked the Ceremonial Counties of England, from top to bottom...
December 13, 2025 at 11:50 PM
Take note Elon Musk, *this* is how you start a new English Civil War.
Was really impressed by the Shakespeare Schoolroom and Guildhall in Stratford today. The new wall painting was fascinating - especially the medieval ‘shopping list’.
December 13, 2025 at 8:48 PM
Was really impressed by the Shakespeare Schoolroom and Guildhall in Stratford today. The new wall painting was fascinating - especially the medieval ‘shopping list’.
Reposted by Jonathan Healey
I highly recommend UPRISING created and hosted by @rebeccarideal.bsky.social, who runs you through events blow-by-blow of one of the most destructive sagas in Britain and Ireland's history: the Civil Wars. The perfect podcast to pass the time over the holiday break.👇
Hope you don’t mind me sharing this again. I’m just so excited to share this brand new podcast series produced by @histfest.bsky.social for @historyextra.bsky.social
Listen wherever you get your podcasts (here’s the Spotify link spotify.link/hxH97mL4PXb )
Listen wherever you get your podcasts (here’s the Spotify link spotify.link/hxH97mL4PXb )
Once Upon a Time in the North
spotify.link
December 12, 2025 at 12:53 PM
I highly recommend UPRISING created and hosted by @rebeccarideal.bsky.social, who runs you through events blow-by-blow of one of the most destructive sagas in Britain and Ireland's history: the Civil Wars. The perfect podcast to pass the time over the holiday break.👇
A brilliant account of how the seeds of battle were sown. www.washingtonindependentreviewofbooks.com/bookreview/t... @aaknopf.bsky.social @jonathanhealey.bsky.social #booksky
The Blood in Winter: England on the Brink of Civil War, 1642 | Washington Independent Review of Books
The Independent is an important voice in the community of readers and writers dedicated to book reviews and writing about the world of books.
www.washingtonindependentreviewofbooks.com
December 12, 2025 at 12:26 PM
This is wrong isn’t it? Copland was talking about the Third?
December 7, 2025 at 12:16 PM
This is wrong isn’t it? Copland was talking about the Third?
Found an old picture of the Battle of Scarif.
December 6, 2025 at 4:00 PM
Found an old picture of the Battle of Scarif.
Haha this map is total shite.
December 6, 2025 at 12:14 PM
Haha this map is total shite.
Hoping the traffic clears quickly on the Banbury Road because Alice is currently treating the whole bus to ‘The Twelve Days of Christmas’ in its entirety.
December 5, 2025 at 6:14 PM
Hoping the traffic clears quickly on the Banbury Road because Alice is currently treating the whole bus to ‘The Twelve Days of Christmas’ in its entirety.
That tagline sounds kind of aggressive!
December 5, 2025 at 6:13 PM
That tagline sounds kind of aggressive!
Reposted by Jonathan Healey
Excited to announce I'm teaching a week-long summer school for @ox.ac.uk in August! Sign up for a deep dive into the Wars of the Roses, including a full day field trip. lifelong-learning.ox.ac.uk/courses/the-...
The Wars of the Roses
Explore the drama of the Wars of the Roses: a time of ambition, betrayal, and shifting power. This course uncovers the real stories behind Henry VI, Richard III, and the rise of the Tudors, separating...
lifelong-learning.ox.ac.uk
December 5, 2025 at 1:51 PM
Excited to announce I'm teaching a week-long summer school for @ox.ac.uk in August! Sign up for a deep dive into the Wars of the Roses, including a full day field trip. lifelong-learning.ox.ac.uk/courses/the-...