Rob Spence
@spencro.bsky.social
Former Eng Lit academic. I have written
about Ford Madox Ford, Louis de Bernieres, Wyndham Lewis, Penelope Fitzgerald, Robert Nye, but mainly about Anthony Burgess, a fellow Mancunian. robspence.org.uk Reviews at shinynewbooks.co.uk
victorcrabbe on Insta
about Ford Madox Ford, Louis de Bernieres, Wyndham Lewis, Penelope Fitzgerald, Robert Nye, but mainly about Anthony Burgess, a fellow Mancunian. robspence.org.uk Reviews at shinynewbooks.co.uk
victorcrabbe on Insta
Viareggio looking lovely in the November sunshine.
November 6, 2025 at 8:35 AM
Viareggio looking lovely in the November sunshine.
Reposted by Rob Spence
“The researchers aim to show that the ‘inevitability’ of AI is just a marketing frame perpetrated by the industry and that pushback is a lot more possible than we often see.” Yes!
‘Study after study shows that students want to develop these critical thinking skills, are not lazy, and large numbers of them would be in favor of banning ChatGPT and similar tools in universities’, says @olivia.science www.ru.nl/en/research/...
‘Opposing the inevitability of AI at universities is possible and necessary’ | Radboud University
Since the widespread release of ChatGPT in December of 2022, AI has taken over much of the world by storm – including academia. Most of this happened with very little pushback, despite a myriad of iss...
www.ru.nl
November 2, 2025 at 8:07 AM
“The researchers aim to show that the ‘inevitability’ of AI is just a marketing frame perpetrated by the industry and that pushback is a lot more possible than we often see.” Yes!
Reposted by Rob Spence
“They were careless people, Tom and Daisy—they smashed up things and creatures and then retreated back into their money or their vast carelessness or whatever it was that kept them together, and let other people clean up the mess...”
Per Danny Kemp via press pool
Trump is at the Halloween party at MAL
“Official theme is Gatsby and ‘a little party never killed nobody’, we’re told.”
Trump is at the Halloween party at MAL
“Official theme is Gatsby and ‘a little party never killed nobody’, we’re told.”
November 1, 2025 at 3:09 AM
“They were careless people, Tom and Daisy—they smashed up things and creatures and then retreated back into their money or their vast carelessness or whatever it was that kept them together, and let other people clean up the mess...”
A real eye-opener of an exhibition, for me anyway. I wasn’t aware of Boldini, de Nittis or Zandomeneghi, and now I am! Complimenti a Palazzo Blu! #belleepoquepisa #palazzoblu
October 29, 2025 at 4:00 PM
A real eye-opener of an exhibition, for me anyway. I wasn’t aware of Boldini, de Nittis or Zandomeneghi, and now I am! Complimenti a Palazzo Blu! #belleepoquepisa #palazzoblu
Reposted by Rob Spence
Shiny Thursday: @spencro.bsky.social reviews Brick Dust by Craig Jordan-Baker @epoquepress.bsky.social shinynewbooks.co.uk/brick-dust-b...
Brick Dust by Craig Jordan-Baker
Review by Rob Spence
When I started reading this quirkily entertaining novel, I was reminded of a remarkable Turkish film I saw some years ago. The film, 10 to 11, written and directed by Peli
shinynewbooks.co.uk
October 16, 2025 at 3:32 PM
Shiny Thursday: @spencro.bsky.social reviews Brick Dust by Craig Jordan-Baker @epoquepress.bsky.social shinynewbooks.co.uk/brick-dust-b...
Latest review: an odd, but entertaining novel, which ranges from sectarian violence to morris dancing.
shinynewbooks.co.uk/brick-dust-b...
shinynewbooks.co.uk/brick-dust-b...
Brick Dust by Craig Jordan-Baker
Review by Rob Spence
When I started reading this quirkily entertaining novel, I was reminded of a remarkable Turkish film I saw some years ago. The film, 10 to 11, written and directed by Peli
shinynewbooks.co.uk
October 16, 2025 at 7:57 AM
Latest review: an odd, but entertaining novel, which ranges from sectarian violence to morris dancing.
shinynewbooks.co.uk/brick-dust-b...
shinynewbooks.co.uk/brick-dust-b...
Midnight finish tonight at Pordenone. Powerful speeches by this year's Jean Mitry award winners, who stressed the vital role of culture in our troubled times. Well done Andrea Cuarterolo and Georgina Torello for their online journal and Paula Félix-Didier for her archival work. #cinemamutopordenone
October 11, 2025 at 6:20 AM
Midnight finish tonight at Pordenone. Powerful speeches by this year's Jean Mitry award winners, who stressed the vital role of culture in our troubled times. Well done Andrea Cuarterolo and Georgina Torello for their online journal and Paula Félix-Didier for her archival work. #cinemamutopordenone
shinynewbooks.co.uk/giaime-along... Latest review: a thriller set in WW2 and the 1980s that has some contemporary resonances.
Giaime Alonge, The Feeling of Iron
Translated by Clarissa Botsford
Review by Rob Spence
The publisher's blurb for Giaime Alonge's first novel describes it as "a masterful blend of fact and fiction", and that's certainly accu
shinynewbooks.co.uk
October 9, 2025 at 10:37 AM
shinynewbooks.co.uk/giaime-along... Latest review: a thriller set in WW2 and the 1980s that has some contemporary resonances.
open.substack.com/pub/anthonyb... @lordbonkers.bsky.social This may be of interest: Burgess on Auden.
In Memory of W.H. Auden
Anthony Burgess pays homage to one of his favourite poets
open.substack.com
October 3, 2025 at 4:56 PM
open.substack.com/pub/anthonyb... @lordbonkers.bsky.social This may be of interest: Burgess on Auden.
open.substack.com/pub/jmarriot... A brilliant, if depressing analysis of the current state of literacy.
The dawn of the post-literate society
And the end of civilisation
open.substack.com
September 19, 2025 at 7:28 AM
open.substack.com/pub/jmarriot... A brilliant, if depressing analysis of the current state of literacy.
Reposted by Rob Spence
Now that it’s the time of year when the obscurely-funded right wing Restore Trust, a private company, try once again to take over the National Trust, my annual reminder of what they want to do with our history & heritage.
blogs.sussex.ac.uk/snapshotsofe...
blogs.sussex.ac.uk/snapshotsofe...
Culture Warriors’ Attacks on the National Trust
Charles Moore uses the Spectator of 3 June to rally support for a rebel National Trust group. Calling themselves Restore Trust, this group of disaffected members and former members bemoan the insti…
blogs.sussex.ac.uk
September 16, 2025 at 6:53 AM
Now that it’s the time of year when the obscurely-funded right wing Restore Trust, a private company, try once again to take over the National Trust, my annual reminder of what they want to do with our history & heritage.
blogs.sussex.ac.uk/snapshotsofe...
blogs.sussex.ac.uk/snapshotsofe...
Reposted by Rob Spence
One of the strangest ironies of the last ten years has been watching Britain immersing itself as deeply as ever in memories of WW2 while proudly turning its back on the project that emerged from it.
May 8, 2025 at 10:46 AM
One of the strangest ironies of the last ten years has been watching Britain immersing itself as deeply as ever in memories of WW2 while proudly turning its back on the project that emerged from it.
Reposted by Rob Spence
Far right protest today:
29 - police officers injured
9 - protestors arrested
Proscribed group protests:
0 - police officers injured
1,600 - protestors arrested
We have Keir Starmer and Yvette Cooper to thank for this absurd anomaly
29 - police officers injured
9 - protestors arrested
Proscribed group protests:
0 - police officers injured
1,600 - protestors arrested
We have Keir Starmer and Yvette Cooper to thank for this absurd anomaly
September 13, 2025 at 9:11 PM
Far right protest today:
29 - police officers injured
9 - protestors arrested
Proscribed group protests:
0 - police officers injured
1,600 - protestors arrested
We have Keir Starmer and Yvette Cooper to thank for this absurd anomaly
29 - police officers injured
9 - protestors arrested
Proscribed group protests:
0 - police officers injured
1,600 - protestors arrested
We have Keir Starmer and Yvette Cooper to thank for this absurd anomaly
The gang were not entirely convinced by the choice of getaway car.
September 10, 2025 at 4:46 PM
The gang were not entirely convinced by the choice of getaway car.
Good to see New Scientist addressing the key issues of our time.
September 9, 2025 at 2:35 PM
Good to see New Scientist addressing the key issues of our time.
Latest review: Marek Kohn's very well-researched account of how the cities of central Europe reimagined themselves in the post-war period. Fascinating! shinynewbooks.co.uk/the-stories-...
The Stories Old Towns Tell by Marek Kohn – Shiny New Books
Review by Rob Spence
Decades ago, on holiday in the south of France, we came by chance across a beautiful baroque chateau in the countryside. We decided to get a closer look, and discovered th
shinynewbooks.co.uk
September 9, 2025 at 8:39 AM
Latest review: Marek Kohn's very well-researched account of how the cities of central Europe reimagined themselves in the post-war period. Fascinating! shinynewbooks.co.uk/the-stories-...
Why not make it compulsory for all MPs to disclose their mortgage and housing arrangements? Those howling for the head of Angela Rayner might not be entirely guiltless.
September 3, 2025 at 7:17 PM
Why not make it compulsory for all MPs to disclose their mortgage and housing arrangements? Those howling for the head of Angela Rayner might not be entirely guiltless.
Reposted by Rob Spence
Overt racism on our streets, flags as threats, Reform strutting around like they’re in power already, toxic radicalisation by Musk on X, politicians howling to leave the ECHR and to hell with the consequences…
How can the govt just meekly nod along?
FFS and for all our sakes, stand up to this shit.
How can the govt just meekly nod along?
FFS and for all our sakes, stand up to this shit.
September 2, 2025 at 8:27 AM
Overt racism on our streets, flags as threats, Reform strutting around like they’re in power already, toxic radicalisation by Musk on X, politicians howling to leave the ECHR and to hell with the consequences…
How can the govt just meekly nod along?
FFS and for all our sakes, stand up to this shit.
How can the govt just meekly nod along?
FFS and for all our sakes, stand up to this shit.
Reposted by Rob Spence
To a large degree, the collapse of American power is driven by the stupidity of its leaders.
🚨 Speaker Mike Johnson says the problem with gun violence is the human heart, but global evidence shows easy access to guns and inequality — not the heart — drive violence. From Dunblane in the UK to Port Arthur in Australia, stronger laws saved lives.
open.substack.com/pub/theintel...
open.substack.com/pub/theintel...
August 30, 2025 at 7:37 PM
To a large degree, the collapse of American power is driven by the stupidity of its leaders.
Reposted by Rob Spence
If you honestly believe the Russians hit the EU delegation in Kyiv by accident, I don't think you should be allowed to operate heavy machinery and I frankly question if letting you dress and bathe yourself is a violation of our collective duty of care.
August 28, 2025 at 9:09 AM
If you honestly believe the Russians hit the EU delegation in Kyiv by accident, I don't think you should be allowed to operate heavy machinery and I frankly question if letting you dress and bathe yourself is a violation of our collective duty of care.
Reposted by Rob Spence
More superb coverage of our campaign. One day left to have your say. ~AA
www.bestforbritain.org/petition-elo...
www.bestforbritain.org/petition-elo...
August 21, 2025 at 12:45 PM
More superb coverage of our campaign. One day left to have your say. ~AA
www.bestforbritain.org/petition-elo...
www.bestforbritain.org/petition-elo...
Reposted by Rob Spence
I don't know about you but I've had about enough of mainstream media & politicians legitimising racist anti-asylum protests that terrorise refugees & communities.
I had to push back hard, TWICE on BBC yesterday about supposed "legitimate concerns" www.youtube.com/watch?v=XtkA...
I had to push back hard, TWICE on BBC yesterday about supposed "legitimate concerns" www.youtube.com/watch?v=XtkA...
ENOUGH of the BBC legitimising anti-asylum protests!
YouTube video by Zoe Gardner
www.youtube.com
August 21, 2025 at 8:00 AM
I don't know about you but I've had about enough of mainstream media & politicians legitimising racist anti-asylum protests that terrorise refugees & communities.
I had to push back hard, TWICE on BBC yesterday about supposed "legitimate concerns" www.youtube.com/watch?v=XtkA...
I had to push back hard, TWICE on BBC yesterday about supposed "legitimate concerns" www.youtube.com/watch?v=XtkA...
Another great leaves the crease. My generation will always associate a score of 311 with him. Old Trafford, 1964. www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricke...
Bob Simpson: Former Australia captain and coach dies aged 89
Former Australia Test captain and coach Bob Simpson dies aged 89.
www.bbc.co.uk
August 16, 2025 at 7:41 AM
Another great leaves the crease. My generation will always associate a score of 311 with him. Old Trafford, 1964. www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricke...
Reposted by Rob Spence
What strange times, when the commander of RAF Greenham Common is coming out as a liberal supporter of the right to protest
August 11, 2025 at 8:47 AM
What strange times, when the commander of RAF Greenham Common is coming out as a liberal supporter of the right to protest