Jay Rubenstein
@medievaljay.bsky.social
Medieval historian interested in other stuff
Pinned
Jay Rubenstein
@medievaljay.bsky.social
· Sep 14
So who am I and what am I doing? I am a historian of medieval Europe and am writing a book on the Crusader Kingdom of Jerusalem (1099-1187). It is under contract with Basic Books. The goal is to write a narrative history the incorporates cultural, religious, apocalyptic, and romantic (!) material
Reposted by Jay Rubenstein
Yes, I have. And often.
you ever just stop and think about Side One of Hounds of Love?
1. "Running Up That Hill (A Deal with God)"
2. "Hounds of Love"
3. "The Big Sky"
4. "Mother Stands for Comfort"
5. "Cloudbusting"
1. "Running Up That Hill (A Deal with God)"
2. "Hounds of Love"
3. "The Big Sky"
4. "Mother Stands for Comfort"
5. "Cloudbusting"
February 10, 2026 at 10:37 PM
Yes, I have. And often.
Reposted by Jay Rubenstein
You no longer have to download Perspectives and scroll to page 46. My "appreciation" piece for the great Peggy Brown, an amazing historian and much-missed friend, has its own URL. I hope she would have liked it, and I hope you will, too. www.historians.org/perspectives...
Elizabeth A. R. Brown (1932–2024) – AHA
www.historians.org
February 11, 2026 at 10:26 AM
You no longer have to download Perspectives and scroll to page 46. My "appreciation" piece for the great Peggy Brown, an amazing historian and much-missed friend, has its own URL. I hope she would have liked it, and I hope you will, too. www.historians.org/perspectives...
Years ago I saw this sign at Vaux-le-Vicomte, a 17th-century château outside Paris, and have wondered what it meant. Are visitors encouraged to prune topiary? Are they warned against it? Or warned against too severe a pruning? Or not severe enough? And why is this sign in English? So many mysteries.
February 11, 2026 at 1:16 PM
Years ago I saw this sign at Vaux-le-Vicomte, a 17th-century château outside Paris, and have wondered what it meant. Are visitors encouraged to prune topiary? Are they warned against it? Or warned against too severe a pruning? Or not severe enough? And why is this sign in English? So many mysteries.
You no longer have to download Perspectives and scroll to page 46. My "appreciation" piece for the great Peggy Brown, an amazing historian and much-missed friend, has its own URL. I hope she would have liked it, and I hope you will, too. www.historians.org/perspectives...
Elizabeth A. R. Brown (1932–2024) – AHA
www.historians.org
February 11, 2026 at 10:26 AM
You no longer have to download Perspectives and scroll to page 46. My "appreciation" piece for the great Peggy Brown, an amazing historian and much-missed friend, has its own URL. I hope she would have liked it, and I hope you will, too. www.historians.org/perspectives...
Yes, I have. And often.
you ever just stop and think about Side One of Hounds of Love?
1. "Running Up That Hill (A Deal with God)"
2. "Hounds of Love"
3. "The Big Sky"
4. "Mother Stands for Comfort"
5. "Cloudbusting"
1. "Running Up That Hill (A Deal with God)"
2. "Hounds of Love"
3. "The Big Sky"
4. "Mother Stands for Comfort"
5. "Cloudbusting"
February 10, 2026 at 10:37 PM
Yes, I have. And often.
To my fanatical and loyal Oxford fan base, I will be in town next Monday February 16 to speak at the medieval seminar at All Souls College on the topic of "Queen Melisende of Jerusalem and the Wages of Sin." Bring your cowbells and cigarette lighters. It'll be crazy.
February 10, 2026 at 7:53 PM
To my fanatical and loyal Oxford fan base, I will be in town next Monday February 16 to speak at the medieval seminar at All Souls College on the topic of "Queen Melisende of Jerusalem and the Wages of Sin." Bring your cowbells and cigarette lighters. It'll be crazy.
February 9, 2026 at 10:17 PM
Reposted by Jay Rubenstein
Happy Carmen Miranda's birthday!
February 9, 2026 at 3:15 PM
Happy Carmen Miranda's birthday!
A very rough draft of Chapter 41 is in the bag. I wanted to title it "Babylon Rising," in reference to one of the books in the Expanse series by James S. A. Corey (viz @abraham.bsky.social ), but I was mashing up "Babylon's Ashes" (vol 6) and "Persepolis Rising" (vol 7).
So who am I and what am I doing? I am a historian of medieval Europe and am writing a book on the Crusader Kingdom of Jerusalem (1099-1187). It is under contract with Basic Books. The goal is to write a narrative history the incorporates cultural, religious, apocalyptic, and romantic (!) material
February 9, 2026 at 1:33 PM
A very rough draft of Chapter 41 is in the bag. I wanted to title it "Babylon Rising," in reference to one of the books in the Expanse series by James S. A. Corey (viz @abraham.bsky.social ), but I was mashing up "Babylon's Ashes" (vol 6) and "Persepolis Rising" (vol 7).
Reposted by Jay Rubenstein
My cat, always ready for her closeup.
February 7, 2026 at 7:34 PM
My cat, always ready for her closeup.
My cat, always ready for her closeup.
February 7, 2026 at 7:34 PM
My cat, always ready for her closeup.
I’m not gonna lie. As I walk the water logged Heath beneath these morbidly heavy gray skies, I’m starting to miss California
February 7, 2026 at 8:04 AM
I’m not gonna lie. As I walk the water logged Heath beneath these morbidly heavy gray skies, I’m starting to miss California
“The work had reached a point where the almost incessant blows of the hammer permitted those inside no rest.” A description of a 12th-century siege or of life in my London apartment?
February 5, 2026 at 9:57 AM
“The work had reached a point where the almost incessant blows of the hammer permitted those inside no rest.” A description of a 12th-century siege or of life in my London apartment?
Reposted by Jay Rubenstein
It was a privilege for @cmrsedinburgh.bsky.social to have @medievaljay.bsky.social in town yesterday - thanks Jay for such a terrific paper.
I do love Edinburgh. Even blanketed in intense gloom, which is the only way I have ever seen it. One of three cities in the world I’d move to in a heartbeat.
February 4, 2026 at 9:02 AM
It was a privilege for @cmrsedinburgh.bsky.social to have @medievaljay.bsky.social in town yesterday - thanks Jay for such a terrific paper.
I do love Edinburgh. Even blanketed in intense gloom, which is the only way I have ever seen it. One of three cities in the world I’d move to in a heartbeat.
February 3, 2026 at 10:04 PM
I do love Edinburgh. Even blanketed in intense gloom, which is the only way I have ever seen it. One of three cities in the world I’d move to in a heartbeat.
Reposted by Jay Rubenstein
My cat Lizzie, at the window, welcomes me home after my morning walk
February 1, 2026 at 8:33 AM
My cat Lizzie, at the window, welcomes me home after my morning walk
How did I forget the link to this? youtu.be/-dtr4Z0PllI?...
February 1, 2026 at 9:34 AM
How did I forget the link to this? youtu.be/-dtr4Z0PllI?...
My cat Lizzie, at the window, welcomes me home after my morning walk
February 1, 2026 at 8:33 AM
My cat Lizzie, at the window, welcomes me home after my morning walk
The rainy weather is producing epically good views from the Heath.
January 31, 2026 at 10:45 PM
The rainy weather is producing epically good views from the Heath.
Some of the best dialogue ever written in this film
Character introduction of #FemmeFatale Jane Greer as Kathie Moffat in Out of the Past (1947) #FilmNoir
January 31, 2026 at 8:22 PM
Some of the best dialogue ever written in this film
Reposted by Jay Rubenstein
Never off topic!
January 28, 2026 at 5:02 PM
Never off topic!
“A small vice-like object.” For me, one of the funniest lines ever delivered. I do love Catherine O’Hara
SCTV was the funniest ensemble comedy show ever. Its cast included the great Catherine O’Hara. As sad as I am, this one still makes me laugh. m.youtube.com/watch?v=TFDX...
SCTV - HIGH Q with ALEX TREBEL (St. Anthony’s Collegiate vs. Parkdale High)
YouTube video by TVOR - The Voice of Reason
m.youtube.com
January 30, 2026 at 6:37 PM
“A small vice-like object.” For me, one of the funniest lines ever delivered. I do love Catherine O’Hara
SCTV was the funniest ensemble comedy show ever. Its cast included the great Catherine O’Hara. As sad as I am, this one still makes me laugh. m.youtube.com/watch?v=TFDX...
SCTV - HIGH Q with ALEX TREBEL (St. Anthony’s Collegiate vs. Parkdale High)
YouTube video by TVOR - The Voice of Reason
m.youtube.com
January 30, 2026 at 6:27 PM
SCTV was the funniest ensemble comedy show ever. Its cast included the great Catherine O’Hara. As sad as I am, this one still makes me laugh. m.youtube.com/watch?v=TFDX...
Brian Di Palma’s “Black Dahlia” came out in 2006 and David Fincher’s “Zodiac” came out in 2007. Who knew they had a recurring character? killerinthecode.com
Killer In The Code
Killer In The Code: Solving The Black Dahlia & Zodiac Cases. A podcast from Michael Connelly. Has Alex Baber closed the cases that have baffled law enforcement?
killerinthecode.com
January 29, 2026 at 8:08 PM
Brian Di Palma’s “Black Dahlia” came out in 2006 and David Fincher’s “Zodiac” came out in 2007. Who knew they had a recurring character? killerinthecode.com
I was saying, "Shop Around the Corner."Lubitsch directing Margaret Sullivan and holy shit can you believe how young he is Jimmy Stewart.
January 29, 2026 at 5:10 PM
I was saying, "Shop Around the Corner."Lubitsch directing Margaret Sullivan and holy shit can you believe how young he is Jimmy Stewart.