Rachael King
@rscar.bsky.social
18th-centuryist, book historian, media scholar. I read old letters. Assoc. Prof., UCSB English
rachaelsking.com
rachaelsking.com
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Rachael King
@rscar.bsky.social
· Sep 23
I'm so happy to finally share this news. This book is about how the past 9 years changed my ideas about family, community, and care, and how those ideas fit into a long history. Huge thanks to my agent @carolineeisenmann.bsky.social, who held my hand through much angst, and to my editor Abby Mohr.
Printing press day in my Ethics of Care and the Novel grad seminar
February 11, 2026 at 3:10 AM
Printing press day in my Ethics of Care and the Novel grad seminar
Reposted by Rachael King
Get Ready for Douglass Day 2026! Fresh newsletter out today.
- Preview event on Feb 6
- New teaching resources
- Swag (trading cards are back!)
open.substack.com/pub/douglass...
And there's still plenty of time to register for Douglass Day 2026. All Rights for All!
- Preview event on Feb 6
- New teaching resources
- Swag (trading cards are back!)
open.substack.com/pub/douglass...
And there's still plenty of time to register for Douglass Day 2026. All Rights for All!
January 26, 2026 at 7:54 PM
Get Ready for Douglass Day 2026! Fresh newsletter out today.
- Preview event on Feb 6
- New teaching resources
- Swag (trading cards are back!)
open.substack.com/pub/douglass...
And there's still plenty of time to register for Douglass Day 2026. All Rights for All!
- Preview event on Feb 6
- New teaching resources
- Swag (trading cards are back!)
open.substack.com/pub/douglass...
And there's still plenty of time to register for Douglass Day 2026. All Rights for All!
Reposted by Rachael King
We're horrified & outraged: Immigration agents have once again committed cold-blooded murder of a public observer who posed no threat to them.
This time, they've executed a fellow nurse, Alex Pretti. We demand justice and accountability. Abolish ICE, now! https://bit.ly/4big77u
This time, they've executed a fellow nurse, Alex Pretti. We demand justice and accountability. Abolish ICE, now! https://bit.ly/4big77u
National Nurses United outraged by murder of VA registered nurse by immigration agents, demand abolition of ICE
NNU issued the following statement in response to the murder of Alex Pretti, RN: “The nation’s nurses, who make it their mission to care for and save human lives, are horrified and outraged that immig...
bit.ly
January 25, 2026 at 5:06 AM
We're horrified & outraged: Immigration agents have once again committed cold-blooded murder of a public observer who posed no threat to them.
This time, they've executed a fellow nurse, Alex Pretti. We demand justice and accountability. Abolish ICE, now! https://bit.ly/4big77u
This time, they've executed a fellow nurse, Alex Pretti. We demand justice and accountability. Abolish ICE, now! https://bit.ly/4big77u
ICU nurses took care of Ady around the clock during his final week of life. They lined the hallway, crying, during the walk of honor to the operating room for organ donation. Alex Pretti went from caring for people in the ICU to caring for people on the streets of Minneapolis, where he was murdered.
January 25, 2026 at 3:32 AM
ICU nurses took care of Ady around the clock during his final week of life. They lined the hallway, crying, during the walk of honor to the operating room for organ donation. Alex Pretti went from caring for people in the ICU to caring for people on the streets of Minneapolis, where he was murdered.
Hi, has anyone else noticed that ECCO ... doesn't work anymore? I'm searching for titles I know exist, that I have consulted before, and getting nothing.
January 23, 2026 at 6:43 PM
Hi, has anyone else noticed that ECCO ... doesn't work anymore? I'm searching for titles I know exist, that I have consulted before, and getting nothing.
I’ve been hanging out with a 3-year-old lately and it’s amazing how in a few short years your brain can forget about things like a massive tantrum because it isn’t currently “84 o’clock in the morning.”
January 11, 2026 at 9:40 PM
I’ve been hanging out with a 3-year-old lately and it’s amazing how in a few short years your brain can forget about things like a massive tantrum because it isn’t currently “84 o’clock in the morning.”
Reposted by Rachael King
On this day, the hallowed birthday of COMMON SENSE, by Thomas Paine, I present to you some lesser known quotations (and some blockbusters) -- to help us understand what he hated about kings, and what he loved about the people.
“It is not in numbers, but in unity, that our great strength lies.”
“It is not in numbers, but in unity, that our great strength lies.”
January 9, 2026 at 5:52 PM
On this day, the hallowed birthday of COMMON SENSE, by Thomas Paine, I present to you some lesser known quotations (and some blockbusters) -- to help us understand what he hated about kings, and what he loved about the people.
“It is not in numbers, but in unity, that our great strength lies.”
“It is not in numbers, but in unity, that our great strength lies.”
This is, in part, the argument of The Book of Improvement—especially the second post in the thread, that assuming improvement is automatic displaces work toward communal betterment.
Just received my copy edited files this morning!
Just received my copy edited files this morning!
I find the idea that technology “evolves” via some sort of passive internal force of history extremely pernicious. The idea that things simply improve rather than very specific choices and efforts being made in targeted areas that then require new infrastructures to maintain is really dangerous.
January 5, 2026 at 4:12 PM
This is, in part, the argument of The Book of Improvement—especially the second post in the thread, that assuming improvement is automatic displaces work toward communal betterment.
Just received my copy edited files this morning!
Just received my copy edited files this morning!
$5.99 glue gun was the winning Christmas present as 9-year-old spent the afternoon turning all the cardboard boxes into a village for his train set.
December 26, 2025 at 6:03 AM
$5.99 glue gun was the winning Christmas present as 9-year-old spent the afternoon turning all the cardboard boxes into a village for his train set.
Honored to be in conversation with such an incredible group of scholars
I wrote a #bookhistory love letter to some smart folks: @ryancordell.org @rscar.bsky.social @jmadelman.bsky.social (& others!) - thx to @gbarnhisel.bsky.social and all who had their mitts on this thing, & to @amantiquarian.bsky.social for supporting the research back in 2009 - only took 16 yrs lol!
December 16, 2025 at 7:21 PM
Honored to be in conversation with such an incredible group of scholars
I know everyone is celebrating a certain author’s 250th birthday but it’s also MY 41st so let’s focus on the living, shall we?
December 16, 2025 at 5:27 PM
I know everyone is celebrating a certain author’s 250th birthday but it’s also MY 41st so let’s focus on the living, shall we?
Well, England, it’s been fun, but I gotta get back to California: land of sunshine, big cars, not pronouncing the Ls in “tortilla,” and functional tumble dryers.
December 15, 2025 at 3:27 PM
Well, England, it’s been fun, but I gotta get back to California: land of sunshine, big cars, not pronouncing the Ls in “tortilla,” and functional tumble dryers.
Reposted by Rachael King
I’m running for Congress because we need leaders who will fight, not fold. I recognize this moment, and I’m ready to meet it. #FightDontFold #LanderForNYC #LanderForCongress
December 10, 2025 at 10:49 AM
I’m running for Congress because we need leaders who will fight, not fold. I recognize this moment, and I’m ready to meet it. #FightDontFold #LanderForNYC #LanderForCongress
The best semester @cecs-york.bsky.social in York, can’t believe it’s almost over
It’s been great to have Dr Rachael Scarborough King @rscar.bsky.social with us at CECS this semester as our @britishacademy.bsky.social International Visiting Fellow. Last week Rachael ran a fantastic digital humanities session for our postgraduates, looking at items in York’s Borthwick Archives:
December 9, 2025 at 8:12 PM
The best semester @cecs-york.bsky.social in York, can’t believe it’s almost over
Wasn’t planning to write today (other than LORs), then saw this and set aside 45 minutes. 343 words! #acadecawriteathon
starting Dec 1st! ie tomorrow!
for structure to eke out pages at a bonkers time of year (that is also a precious writing-est time):
you can do 250 words a day! books get written that way! if more, amazing! if not when grading or festive-ing, that's ok!
check in daily at #acadecawriteathon
for structure to eke out pages at a bonkers time of year (that is also a precious writing-est time):
you can do 250 words a day! books get written that way! if more, amazing! if not when grading or festive-ing, that's ok!
check in daily at #acadecawriteathon
is there a NaNoWriMo but for December and academic/ nonfiction? Should we start it?
December 1, 2025 at 5:02 PM
Wasn’t planning to write today (other than LORs), then saw this and set aside 45 minutes. 343 words! #acadecawriteathon
What Seth said
You can get my book, The Ends of Knowledge (co-edited with @rscar.bsky.social), for $9.50 at the Evil Overlord’s Galactic Hobby Farm. But you probably shouldn’t, because fuck that guy.
November 28, 2025 at 5:48 PM
What Seth said
My first talk to come with a souvenir
November 24, 2025 at 6:03 PM
My first talk to come with a souvenir
Oh, I’ve missed you
November 20, 2025 at 8:31 PM
Oh, I’ve missed you
Oh, this hurts. What a light to go out.
The final words of Alice’s farewell message: “Don’t let the bastards grind you down. I love you all.”
The final words of Alice’s farewell message: “Don’t let the bastards grind you down. I love you all.”
I don’t want to formulate words yet, but my friend Alice Wong, @sfdirewolf.bsky.social of the Disability Visibility Project, has passed.
Here are the words she left behind:
www.instagram.com/p/DREMDNBjnq...
Here are the words she left behind:
www.instagram.com/p/DREMDNBjnq...
Alice Wong on Instagram: "ID: Yellow background with black text "This is Alice's friend Sandy Ho, posting. Per Alice's wishes, this message is being shared at the time of her passing. Hi everyone, it ...
423 likes, 73 comments - alicatsamurai on November 14, 2025: "ID: Yellow background with black text "This is Alice's friend Sandy Ho, posting. Per Alice's wishes, this message is being shared at the t...
www.instagram.com
November 15, 2025 at 8:17 AM
Oh, this hurts. What a light to go out.
The final words of Alice’s farewell message: “Don’t let the bastards grind you down. I love you all.”
The final words of Alice’s farewell message: “Don’t let the bastards grind you down. I love you all.”
Reposted by Rachael King
Our message to Andrew Cuomo was loud & clear in June.
It’s louder & clearer tonight.
It’s louder & clearer tonight.
November 5, 2025 at 5:10 AM
Our message to Andrew Cuomo was loud & clear in June.
It’s louder & clearer tonight.
It’s louder & clearer tonight.
Part 2!
📢 Our next seminar is just a week away, with Rachael King @rscar.bsky.social, presenting a paper titled ‘Digital Remediations of Manuscript Archives’
🗓️ Tuesday 11 November, 5pm
📍 HG/09, Heslington Hall
www.york.ac.uk/eighteenth-c...
🗓️ Tuesday 11 November, 5pm
📍 HG/09, Heslington Hall
www.york.ac.uk/eighteenth-c...
Digital Remediations of Manuscript Archives - Centre for Eighteenth Century Studies, University of York
Rachael King, our British Academy International Fellow, addresses close and distant reading, and the computational analysis of manuscript archives.
www.york.ac.uk
November 4, 2025 at 5:11 PM
Part 2!
Deadline extended to Dec. 1!
WSECS proposals due Nov. 1! Come spend Presidents' Day weekend in sunny Santa Maria, CA, or present remotely. This year's theme is "Eighteenth-Century Collaborations."
www.wsecs.org/upcoming-eve...
www.wsecs.org/upcoming-eve...
November 3, 2025 at 1:57 PM
Deadline extended to Dec. 1!
Today is the second anniversary of Ady's death. Carl said, "I can't believe it's been two years. So much has happened, but it feels like just a year." We miss him every day.
While we're in York for the fall, Ady's caregiver Izamar set up this beautiful ofrenda for him at our house in Santa Barbara.
While we're in York for the fall, Ady's caregiver Izamar set up this beautiful ofrenda for him at our house in Santa Barbara.
November 1, 2025 at 8:47 AM
Today is the second anniversary of Ady's death. Carl said, "I can't believe it's been two years. So much has happened, but it feels like just a year." We miss him every day.
While we're in York for the fall, Ady's caregiver Izamar set up this beautiful ofrenda for him at our house in Santa Barbara.
While we're in York for the fall, Ady's caregiver Izamar set up this beautiful ofrenda for him at our house in Santa Barbara.