Sara Charles
@saracharles.bsky.social
Medieval manuscript practitioner, bringing the manuscript making process to life. Author of The Medieval Scriptorium. Cat lady.
www.teachingmanuscripts.com
PhD in medieval martyrologies. Editor of Historical Research journal.
www.teachingmanuscripts.com
PhD in medieval martyrologies. Editor of Historical Research journal.
Pinned
Sara Charles
@saracharles.bsky.social
· Jan 10
I recently prepared a page from a medieval manuscript (CCCC, MS 143, fol. 28r) for a TV programme. Here's a look behind the scenes at how it was prepared, using tradition techniques. I made four examples to show the different stages of production #bookhistory #medievalmanuscripts #medievalsky
Reposted by Sara Charles
Furiously finalising my campaign so I can press "launch". One last chance to sign up for first dibs (the limited rewards are very limited); the next reminder will be once the campaign is already live!
Is there anyone on Bsky who remembers this book? It's been out of print for a while, because it needs revising in the light of 5 more years of research & experience (including a proper translation of Umdat ul-Kuttab). Being unpaid work, I've simply not been able to prioritise this, so I've decided…
November 10, 2025 at 12:27 PM
Furiously finalising my campaign so I can press "launch". One last chance to sign up for first dibs (the limited rewards are very limited); the next reminder will be once the campaign is already live!
A cat on Catte Street. I’m building a model to help with my research of Catte Street, Oxford. Leoba is helping via physical manifestation (not to scale)
November 8, 2025 at 2:11 PM
A cat on Catte Street. I’m building a model to help with my research of Catte Street, Oxford. Leoba is helping via physical manifestation (not to scale)
Reposted by Sara Charles
Quite.
The lack of coverage of the BL cyberattack and its consequences has been dispiriting.
There are multiple angles to it but apparently none of that has been found by editors to be especially newsworthy.
The lack of coverage of the BL cyberattack and its consequences has been dispiriting.
There are multiple angles to it but apparently none of that has been found by editors to be especially newsworthy.
Turns out this news was in the public domain yesterday but no one has covered it as far as I can tell. Does no one care about our national library anymore? It was much the same with the cyberattack. If this was a bit of 'science' infrastructure can you imagine?
www.pcs.org.uk/news-events/...
www.pcs.org.uk/news-events/...
British Library chief executive quits midway through PCS strike
The British Library has been thrown into further turmoil midway through a two-week PCS strike with the resignation of its chief executive Rebecca Lawrence.
www.pcs.org.uk
November 4, 2025 at 3:58 PM
Quite.
The lack of coverage of the BL cyberattack and its consequences has been dispiriting.
There are multiple angles to it but apparently none of that has been found by editors to be especially newsworthy.
The lack of coverage of the BL cyberattack and its consequences has been dispiriting.
There are multiple angles to it but apparently none of that has been found by editors to be especially newsworthy.
A perfect exit hole in a marble gall #everydaymiracles #irongallink
November 2, 2025 at 1:41 PM
A perfect exit hole in a marble gall #everydaymiracles #irongallink
Good advice here from @15thcgossipgirl.bsky.social
November 1, 2025 at 11:35 AM
Good advice here from @15thcgossipgirl.bsky.social
Reposted by Sara Charles
This has been my earworm for nearly 10 days now, so I'm so so sorry, but now I have to inflict it on you: www.youtube.com/watch?v=DHsp...
Running up that hill Cover in Early Middle English BARDCORE/MEDIEVAL version. Original by Kate Bush.
YouTube video by the_miracle_aligner
www.youtube.com
October 28, 2025 at 7:37 PM
This has been my earworm for nearly 10 days now, so I'm so so sorry, but now I have to inflict it on you: www.youtube.com/watch?v=DHsp...
Reposted by Sara Charles
The British Library has long relied on the good will of its fabulous staff, whom it treats shockingly, pays derisorily and ignores as much as it can. Faced with a contemptible 2.6% pay offer, the staff has, unsurprisingly, had enough.
British Library workers are sick of poor pay, overwork, and feeling the fallout of a cyber-attack which left them vulnerable to identity theft and blackmail. Now, they are going on strike for a fortnight.
tribunemag.co.uk/2025/10/from...
tribunemag.co.uk/2025/10/from...
From National Treasure to National Scandal
British Library workers are sick of poor pay, overwork, and feeling the fallout of a cyber-attack which left them vulnerable to identity theft and blackmail. Now, they are going on strike for a fortni...
tribunemag.co.uk
October 27, 2025 at 8:41 PM
The British Library has long relied on the good will of its fabulous staff, whom it treats shockingly, pays derisorily and ignores as much as it can. Faced with a contemptible 2.6% pay offer, the staff has, unsurprisingly, had enough.
Reposted by Sara Charles
The risible wages are well-known in the wider field of the library, museum, gallery and archive world. I’d like to think public opinion is with the people who make the place click day-in-day-out; they deserve better.
Knowledge may be free but labour isn’t: spread the wealth and pay the workers!
Knowledge may be free but labour isn’t: spread the wealth and pay the workers!
October 26, 2025 at 8:00 AM
The risible wages are well-known in the wider field of the library, museum, gallery and archive world. I’d like to think public opinion is with the people who make the place click day-in-day-out; they deserve better.
Knowledge may be free but labour isn’t: spread the wealth and pay the workers!
Knowledge may be free but labour isn’t: spread the wealth and pay the workers!
I'll be talking to the Caxton Club next month on The Medieval Scriptorium - going through all the stages of making manuscripts, including demonstration videos. There may be cats in the background. Fri 14 Nov 12:00PM CT (5.00PM GMT) #medievalsky #bookhistory
www.caxtonclub.org/event-6296386
www.caxtonclub.org/event-6296386
October 24, 2025 at 10:25 AM
I'll be talking to the Caxton Club next month on The Medieval Scriptorium - going through all the stages of making manuscripts, including demonstration videos. There may be cats in the background. Fri 14 Nov 12:00PM CT (5.00PM GMT) #medievalsky #bookhistory
www.caxtonclub.org/event-6296386
www.caxtonclub.org/event-6296386
Reposted by Sara Charles
Back by popular demand, Introduction to Latin Palaeography will run online in February 2026 #MedievalSky 👇
ies.sas.ac.uk/news-events/...
ies.sas.ac.uk/news-events/...
Introduction to Latin Palaeography
ies.sas.ac.uk
October 23, 2025 at 4:59 PM
Back by popular demand, Introduction to Latin Palaeography will run online in February 2026 #MedievalSky 👇
ies.sas.ac.uk/news-events/...
ies.sas.ac.uk/news-events/...
Reposted by Sara Charles
The programme is out 📣
Heritage Science and Manuscripts from Antiquity and the Middle Ages!
A two-day colloquium organised by the #CraftingDocuments project in partnership with the @cmtc-oxford.bsky.social
(We are working on hosting it as a hybrid event. more soon)
Registration info 👇🏼
#medievalsky
Heritage Science and Manuscripts from Antiquity and the Middle Ages!
A two-day colloquium organised by the #CraftingDocuments project in partnership with the @cmtc-oxford.bsky.social
(We are working on hosting it as a hybrid event. more soon)
Registration info 👇🏼
#medievalsky
October 23, 2025 at 11:57 AM
The programme is out 📣
Heritage Science and Manuscripts from Antiquity and the Middle Ages!
A two-day colloquium organised by the #CraftingDocuments project in partnership with the @cmtc-oxford.bsky.social
(We are working on hosting it as a hybrid event. more soon)
Registration info 👇🏼
#medievalsky
Heritage Science and Manuscripts from Antiquity and the Middle Ages!
A two-day colloquium organised by the #CraftingDocuments project in partnership with the @cmtc-oxford.bsky.social
(We are working on hosting it as a hybrid event. more soon)
Registration info 👇🏼
#medievalsky
Reposted by Sara Charles
Objectively the best Medieval Summer School out there 😉 Please consider sharing and, even better, applying! 🙂
We are SO excited to announce that applications are now open for this year's Medieval Studies Summer School! 🎉 Please do pass this information on to anyone you think might be interested!
We'll be sharing some highlights of last year's programme over the next few weeks!
#medievalsky #skystorians
We'll be sharing some highlights of last year's programme over the next few weeks!
#medievalsky #skystorians
October 23, 2025 at 10:19 AM
Objectively the best Medieval Summer School out there 😉 Please consider sharing and, even better, applying! 🙂
Reposted by Sara Charles
Look what arrived earlier than scheduled…
October 22, 2025 at 2:44 PM
Look what arrived earlier than scheduled…
Reposted by Sara Charles
Are you coming along to #HistDay25 on Tuesday 4 November 2025? Why not stay at Senate House for my #lecture in the evening, on 'Can popular #history be radical? Historical research and writing for the public'. Book your free place: www.history.ac.uk/news-events/...
October 15, 2025 at 2:58 PM
Are you coming along to #HistDay25 on Tuesday 4 November 2025? Why not stay at Senate House for my #lecture in the evening, on 'Can popular #history be radical? Historical research and writing for the public'. Book your free place: www.history.ac.uk/news-events/...
Reposted by Sara Charles
Join us in Rome or online for a seminar on plant illustrations on 6 November! 🪴🌻🌿
Through images of mandrakes and ferns, @fabribald.bsky.social and I will be discussing issues in the role of images in early modern botany.
www.biblhertz.it/events/43483...
Through images of mandrakes and ferns, @fabribald.bsky.social and I will be discussing issues in the role of images in early modern botany.
www.biblhertz.it/events/43483...
The Role of Images in Early Modern Botany
This seminar brings together two experts on sixteenth- and seventeenth-century plants. Zooming in on the dilemma of visualizing plants (or not), and how images could become part of epistemic methods w...
www.biblhertz.it
October 20, 2025 at 10:02 AM
Join us in Rome or online for a seminar on plant illustrations on 6 November! 🪴🌻🌿
Through images of mandrakes and ferns, @fabribald.bsky.social and I will be discussing issues in the role of images in early modern botany.
www.biblhertz.it/events/43483...
Through images of mandrakes and ferns, @fabribald.bsky.social and I will be discussing issues in the role of images in early modern botany.
www.biblhertz.it/events/43483...
Homegrown madder pigment. It's wonderful to create medieval pigment from something grown in your garden #bookhistory #medievalpigments #medievalsky
October 12, 2025 at 3:15 PM
Homegrown madder pigment. It's wonderful to create medieval pigment from something grown in your garden #bookhistory #medievalpigments #medievalsky
Reposted by Sara Charles
£145
DUTCH AUCTION in support of salivaryglandcancer.uk
In my shop, this piece is priced at £165. At noon every day (BST) the price drops by £10, until it sells.
First DM gets it. UK shipping only.
Half of what you pay will go to SGC UK.
Please repost for widest coverage. Thank you :)
In my shop, this piece is priced at £165. At noon every day (BST) the price drops by £10, until it sells.
First DM gets it. UK shipping only.
Half of what you pay will go to SGC UK.
Please repost for widest coverage. Thank you :)
October 12, 2025 at 10:59 AM
£145
You’re not working now. You’re giving me attention
October 12, 2025 at 11:19 AM
You’re not working now. You’re giving me attention
Reposted by Sara Charles
It's true: I wrote a book. And what's more, the book is done and soon you'll be able to own a copy. And what's more more, if you want a hard copy you can order one for 50% off now, with the code SAR50. And if you want it digitally, it'll be open access!
www.arc-humanities.org/978180270163...
www.arc-humanities.org/978180270163...
Trans Histories of the Medieval Book - Arc Humanities Press
Archival collections are political spaces: the decisions that govern whose histories are preserved, when, and by whom are not neutral. They reflect the commu...
www.arc-humanities.org
October 8, 2025 at 3:17 PM
It's true: I wrote a book. And what's more, the book is done and soon you'll be able to own a copy. And what's more more, if you want a hard copy you can order one for 50% off now, with the code SAR50. And if you want it digitally, it'll be open access!
www.arc-humanities.org/978180270163...
www.arc-humanities.org/978180270163...
October 8, 2025 at 11:21 AM
Reposted by Sara Charles
✨Book Curses✨ is included in the list of Bewitching Bodleian Bestsellers, so you should buy Book Curses and the 1000 piece puzzle of The World of Frankenstein. Or Book Curses and a Cthulhu pin badge. Or Book Curses and the Edgar Allen Toe socks.
Bewitching Bodleian Bestsellers
Celebrate the spooky season in style - from gothic literature to ghoulish accessories, the Booleian has you sorted!
bodleianshop.co.uk
October 8, 2025 at 10:20 AM
✨Book Curses✨ is included in the list of Bewitching Bodleian Bestsellers, so you should buy Book Curses and the 1000 piece puzzle of The World of Frankenstein. Or Book Curses and a Cthulhu pin badge. Or Book Curses and the Edgar Allen Toe socks.
Welcome back, old friend! #bookhistory
MLGB is back!! Delighted that Medieval Libraries of Great Britain @bodleian.ox.ac.uk is now back online. We are also working had on plans for the next phase of the resource, enhancing & adding data & functionality. HUGE thanks to my colleagues for their hard & clever work mlgb.bodleian.ox.ac.uk
October 7, 2025 at 11:44 AM
Welcome back, old friend! #bookhistory
Reposted by Sara Charles
Really pleased with how this interview hosted by @colingorrie.bsky.social turned out, especially with his questions – Colin is himself such a skilled linguist that his questions fired up my own thoughts. His Yiddish/Hebrew writing reflections (48:40) was a stroke of genius.
youtu.be/5rlaMWduwyc?...
youtu.be/5rlaMWduwyc?...
History of the alphabet: a conversation with Danny Bate
YouTube video by Colin Gorrie
youtu.be
October 5, 2025 at 11:00 AM
Really pleased with how this interview hosted by @colingorrie.bsky.social turned out, especially with his questions – Colin is himself such a skilled linguist that his questions fired up my own thoughts. His Yiddish/Hebrew writing reflections (48:40) was a stroke of genius.
youtu.be/5rlaMWduwyc?...
youtu.be/5rlaMWduwyc?...
Reposted by Sara Charles
Six weeks ago, I picked up a year-old tawny owl with a broken leg off the main road near our home and dropped him off at our nearest vet.
After a few days, I received one of the most bizarre phone calls I’ve ever had, asking “So when are you coming to pick up your owl?” 🧵
After a few days, I received one of the most bizarre phone calls I’ve ever had, asking “So when are you coming to pick up your owl?” 🧵
October 5, 2025 at 9:12 AM
Six weeks ago, I picked up a year-old tawny owl with a broken leg off the main road near our home and dropped him off at our nearest vet.
After a few days, I received one of the most bizarre phone calls I’ve ever had, asking “So when are you coming to pick up your owl?” 🧵
After a few days, I received one of the most bizarre phone calls I’ve ever had, asking “So when are you coming to pick up your owl?” 🧵
Reposted by Sara Charles
I am very much looking forward to giving a paper at the @tetraseminar.bsky.social on Middle English book curses and perceptions of the material text! Book-historical horror suitable for the season🕯️🔔📖
Next Thursday 9 October, Eleanor Baker (@eleanormaybaker.bsky.social) will explore the world of Middle English book curses. All welcome!
October 3, 2025 at 1:09 PM
I am very much looking forward to giving a paper at the @tetraseminar.bsky.social on Middle English book curses and perceptions of the material text! Book-historical horror suitable for the season🕯️🔔📖