Vanda Wilcox
banner
vandawilcox.bsky.social
Vanda Wilcox
@vandawilcox.bsky.social
professional procrastinator, precarious historian, cat serf, romanista. Writes about the First World War, Italy, imperialism & Georgette Heyer, not usually all at once.🪡🥧🐈‍⬛️
Reposted by Vanda Wilcox
Please sign to protest the closure of Modern Languages programmes at Nottingham.

Solidarity with affected colleagues and students in Modern Languages and other departments.
👇👇👇
c.org/xYPmDLcXBn
c.org
November 10, 2025 at 4:57 PM
Got sent a questionnaire about AI at work, designed by the business department, which asked 'how I use AI personally' and 'how I use AI for teaching'.

No option for 'I don't' was available.

Not sure my write-in comments will entirely delight the business department.
November 10, 2025 at 8:16 PM
Reposted by Vanda Wilcox
Italian WW1 trench near Bosco Malo (Hudi Log) on the Carso, dug in summer 1917, untouched since then (except by brush fires in 2021).
November 9, 2025 at 7:52 PM
Double figures! Made the annual chocolate and raspberry cake: it's a Nigella recipe, with added raspberry jam layer on the middle, and a sour cream chocolate icing.
November 8, 2025 at 2:59 PM
Reposted by Vanda Wilcox
📣 The WFA PhD Grant Scheme is currently open to applicants!
We want to hear from anyone researching the First World War as part of their doctoral thesis, no matter what the topic!
#fwwhist
Full details and application form can be found below ⬇️
www.westernfrontassociation.com/latest-news/...
October 24, 2025 at 6:15 AM
Does anyone else find that the weird sycophantic tone of ChatGpt is now filtering into student communications?

Even if they write an email themselves, some of them seem to assume that grovelling flattery is the correct way to address people
November 7, 2025 at 1:59 PM
I have one book proposal on the Italian colonial empire out for review and another one almost ready to send off so on this morning's train journey I'm refreshing myself by revising my essay on colonialism in Georgette Heyer's romance novels and getting it ready to submit #AcWri
November 7, 2025 at 10:09 AM
Normal, in the sense of, do some politicians in Europe also embrace these policies- yes. Normal as in: we all have free buses and universal childcare? If only!
Europeans recognize Zohran Mamdani’s supposedly radical policies as ‘normal’ -- Critics of New York City’s mayor-elect have said his pledges of free bus service and universal childcare are unrealistic, but in Europe it’s a given www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
Europeans recognize Zohran Mamdani’s supposedly radical policies as ‘normal’
Critics of New York City’s mayor-elect have said his pledges of free bus service and universal childcare are unrealistic, but in Europe it’s a given
www.theguardian.com
November 7, 2025 at 9:12 AM
Had so much fun bringing @chriskempshall.bsky.social to speak to my students this evening

I feel confident none of them will ever more doubt the political and historical content of Star Wars 😅
November 6, 2025 at 9:49 PM
Reposted by Vanda Wilcox
PHRENOLOGY II: THIS TIME IT'S AN ACCOUNTABILITY SINK
bro are you fucking kidding me
November 6, 2025 at 7:11 PM
I had to stop playing this game many years ago because it was ruining my life but reading this makes me feel incredibly nostalgic

if ever I want to deliberately lose my job & marriage, I shall 100% get back into the series again
November 6, 2025 at 12:23 PM
Reposted by Vanda Wilcox
hey y'all! my questionnaire on player experience in historical videogames is now LIVE! if you play videogames about the past, we want to hear from you! edu.nl/7w3yn
November 6, 2025 at 10:35 AM
Reposted by Vanda Wilcox
Wonder why this scene looks so familiar...
#WildlifeWednesday 🐦🐕
November 5, 2025 at 6:57 AM
today I am trying to put something into MLA format for the first time and, while I always knew I hated MLA citations, I had no idea how much I deeply, profoundly, viscerally loathe MLA citations.

this whole process is making my teeth itch
November 4, 2025 at 2:19 PM
Reposted by Vanda Wilcox
Looking forward to Dr Selena Daly’s book launch @ucddublin.bsky.social War Studies tomorrow. All welcome.
November 4, 2025 at 11:50 AM
I remember reading parts of this years ago when it was a WiP, it was the MOST fun. Highly recommended!
Killing the Dead by John Blair provides the first in-depth, global account of one of the world’s most widespread yet misunderstood forms of mass hysteria—the #vampire epidemic.

Now available in the UK, & coming to North America on Nov 11.

Learn more: press.princeton.edu/books/hardco...

#Halloween
October 31, 2025 at 12:59 PM
More fuel for my deep-seated conviction that everything is fundamentally about the FWW/ the FWW is about everything:
I didn't know until today about the British royalty who were stripped of their titles and honours after the First World War for siding with the Germans.
www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue...
October 31, 2025 at 10:55 AM
Reposted by Vanda Wilcox
Keep your archives.
WW1 letters show how Hackney social club lifted soldiers' morale
About 500 men from Hackney's Mildmay Club served in WW1 and often wrote to the club secretary.
www.bbc.com
October 31, 2025 at 6:27 AM
Halloween baking 🎃👻

ready for kiddo to take to her Halloween party tomorrow

Some of them will be sandwiched together with apricot jam
October 30, 2025 at 4:18 PM
Reposted by Vanda Wilcox
I have looked upon
the works
that were in
an antique land
and which you were
probably saving
for eternity

Forgive me
they were decayed
so boundless
and so bare
My name is Ozymandias, King of Kings. Look on my works and let me know if you have any questions! 🤗
October 30, 2025 at 1:40 PM
I have looked upon
the works
that were in
an antique land
and which you were
probably saving
for eternity

Forgive me
they were decayed
so boundless
and so bare
My name is Ozymandias, King of Kings. Look on my works and let me know if you have any questions! 🤗
October 30, 2025 at 1:40 PM
Reposted by Vanda Wilcox
While France has some issues with museum theft (Louvre, coins…), Carabinieri recovered a 1400s miniature stolen in 1980s.

Was on sale on a London-based auction house and kept in Switzerland.

(Value ca 250,000Euros).
October 30, 2025 at 12:45 PM
Reposted by Vanda Wilcox
The museum of the Italian Alpini is situated on the Doss Trento, a hill overlooking Trento. In close vicinity to the Museum is the Mausoleum of Cesare Battisti, consisting of a circle of 16 white colums and erected during the Fascist era (1935). The views from the hill over Trento are spectacular.
October 29, 2025 at 4:17 PM
My students are SO excited to have Chris come and ruin history for them!
Next week I'm flying off to Rome to ruin both history *and* Star Wars for @vandawilcox.bsky.social's students. Here's a little sneak peak.
October 29, 2025 at 3:22 PM
Reposted by Vanda Wilcox
the nyt posts this stuff like avoiding AI for 48 hours is hard and meanwhile i have literally never once intentionally used an AI program for anything ever
October 28, 2025 at 5:55 PM