James Armstrong
@armstrongwrites.bsky.social
Dramatist. Dickensian. Dancer.
Alas, #MLA26 has wrapped up, but for a limited time, you should still be able to watch recordings of the virtual sessions, including the one I chaired this morning on Shavian Family Resemblances.
January 11, 2026 at 10:33 PM
Alas, #MLA26 has wrapped up, but for a limited time, you should still be able to watch recordings of the virtual sessions, including the one I chaired this morning on Shavian Family Resemblances.
Come out TODAY to the Kips Bay branch of the New York Public Library to join the Friends of Dickens New York as we discuss the opening chapters of A TALE OF TWO CITIES. We'll be meeting on the second floor beginning at 1pm.
September 6, 2025 at 2:24 PM
Come out TODAY to the Kips Bay branch of the New York Public Library to join the Friends of Dickens New York as we discuss the opening chapters of A TALE OF TWO CITIES. We'll be meeting on the second floor beginning at 1pm.
My poem "Zodiac" will be published in in the Summer 2025 issue of The Soliloquist.
thesoliloquistmagazine.my.canva.site#home
thesoliloquistmagazine.my.canva.site#home
July 10, 2025 at 3:20 AM
My poem "Zodiac" will be published in in the Summer 2025 issue of The Soliloquist.
thesoliloquistmagazine.my.canva.site#home
thesoliloquistmagazine.my.canva.site#home
I'm begging you to come out to the Kips Bay Branch of the New York Public library on Saturday, June 7th, as the Friends of Dickens New York discusses the final tales in SKETCHES BY BOZ. The meeting begins at 1pm.
June 7, 2025 at 2:34 AM
I'm begging you to come out to the Kips Bay Branch of the New York Public library on Saturday, June 7th, as the Friends of Dickens New York discusses the final tales in SKETCHES BY BOZ. The meeting begins at 1pm.
Yup, my book was on the list of works illegally stolen by LibGen and being used to train AI for profit. A review I wrote for #TheatreJournal was on there, too.
March 23, 2025 at 7:53 PM
Yup, my book was on the list of works illegally stolen by LibGen and being used to train AI for profit. A review I wrote for #TheatreJournal was on there, too.
"Mr Calton was a superannuated beau -- an old boy. He used to say of himself that although his features were not regularly handsome, they were striking."
--Charles Dickens
SKETCHES BY BOZ
"The Boarding-house"
--Charles Dickens
SKETCHES BY BOZ
"The Boarding-house"
March 2, 2025 at 4:06 PM
"Mr Calton was a superannuated beau -- an old boy. He used to say of himself that although his features were not regularly handsome, they were striking."
--Charles Dickens
SKETCHES BY BOZ
"The Boarding-house"
--Charles Dickens
SKETCHES BY BOZ
"The Boarding-house"
"Of all the dancing academies that ever were established, there never was one more popular in its immediate vicinity than Signor Billsmethi's of the 'King's Theatre'."
--Charles Dickens
SKETCHES BY BOZ
"The Dancing Academy"
--Charles Dickens
SKETCHES BY BOZ
"The Dancing Academy"
February 28, 2025 at 2:42 AM
"Of all the dancing academies that ever were established, there never was one more popular in its immediate vicinity than Signor Billsmethi's of the 'King's Theatre'."
--Charles Dickens
SKETCHES BY BOZ
"The Dancing Academy"
--Charles Dickens
SKETCHES BY BOZ
"The Dancing Academy"
So I was reading some Victorian newspapers online (as ya do) and came across this review of Sarah Bernhardt in LA TOSCA from the London WEEKLY DISPATCH in 1899. It calls the play "one of the splendid infamies of the dramatic stage" that provokes "absolute nausea" due to its "revolting theme."
February 23, 2025 at 6:42 PM
So I was reading some Victorian newspapers online (as ya do) and came across this review of Sarah Bernhardt in LA TOSCA from the London WEEKLY DISPATCH in 1899. It calls the play "one of the splendid infamies of the dramatic stage" that provokes "absolute nausea" due to its "revolting theme."
Thanks to everyone who came out for the Dickens Birthday Luncheon today!
February 9, 2025 at 12:28 AM
Thanks to everyone who came out for the Dickens Birthday Luncheon today!
St. Agnes' Eve--Ah, bitter chill it was!
The owl, for all his feathers, was a-cold;
The hare limp'd trembling through the frozen grass,
And silent was the flock in woolly fold...
--John Keats
The owl, for all his feathers, was a-cold;
The hare limp'd trembling through the frozen grass,
And silent was the flock in woolly fold...
--John Keats
January 20, 2025 at 8:32 PM
St. Agnes' Eve--Ah, bitter chill it was!
The owl, for all his feathers, was a-cold;
The hare limp'd trembling through the frozen grass,
And silent was the flock in woolly fold...
--John Keats
The owl, for all his feathers, was a-cold;
The hare limp'd trembling through the frozen grass,
And silent was the flock in woolly fold...
--John Keats
Quite a number of people showed up to hear recitations of his work.
January 20, 2025 at 12:55 AM
Quite a number of people showed up to hear recitations of his work.
Happy Birthday to Edgar Allan Poe, born on this day in 1809. I visited his last residence today, Poe Cottage in the Bronx. Here's a picture of his kitchen.
January 20, 2025 at 12:52 AM
Happy Birthday to Edgar Allan Poe, born on this day in 1809. I visited his last residence today, Poe Cottage in the Bronx. Here's a picture of his kitchen.
My play BURNS NIGHT has been named a semifinalist in a holiday-themed playwriting contest.
November 28, 2024 at 4:42 AM
My play BURNS NIGHT has been named a semifinalist in a holiday-themed playwriting contest.
"There are strange chords in the human heart, which will lie dormant through years of depravity and wickedness, but which will vibrate at last to some slight circumstance apparently trivial in itself, but connected by some undefined and indistinct association, with past days..."
--Charles Dickens
--Charles Dickens
November 15, 2024 at 9:18 PM
"There are strange chords in the human heart, which will lie dormant through years of depravity and wickedness, but which will vibrate at last to some slight circumstance apparently trivial in itself, but connected by some undefined and indistinct association, with past days..."
--Charles Dickens
--Charles Dickens
Just finished my last episode of Pickwick Monthly. Here's to holding forth on some of my favorite things!
October 19, 2024 at 9:03 PM
Just finished my last episode of Pickwick Monthly. Here's to holding forth on some of my favorite things!
"Mr. Pickwick is somewhat infirm now; but he retains all his former juvenility of spirit, and may still be frequently seen contemplating the pictures in the Dulwich Gallery or enjoying a walk about the pleasant neighbourhood on a fine day."
--Charles Dickens
PICKWICK PAPERS
Chapter 57
--Charles Dickens
PICKWICK PAPERS
Chapter 57
October 19, 2024 at 3:14 AM
"Mr. Pickwick is somewhat infirm now; but he retains all his former juvenility of spirit, and may still be frequently seen contemplating the pictures in the Dulwich Gallery or enjoying a walk about the pleasant neighbourhood on a fine day."
--Charles Dickens
PICKWICK PAPERS
Chapter 57
--Charles Dickens
PICKWICK PAPERS
Chapter 57
"What is Nathaniel's address, Mr. Pickwick?"
"The George and Vulture, at present," replied the gentleman.
"George and Vulture. Where is that?"
"George Yard, Lombard Street."
"In the city?"
"Yes."
--Charles Dickens
The Pickwick Papers, Chapter 50
"The George and Vulture, at present," replied the gentleman.
"George and Vulture. Where is that?"
"George Yard, Lombard Street."
"In the city?"
"Yes."
--Charles Dickens
The Pickwick Papers, Chapter 50
September 18, 2024 at 7:01 PM
"What is Nathaniel's address, Mr. Pickwick?"
"The George and Vulture, at present," replied the gentleman.
"George and Vulture. Where is that?"
"George Yard, Lombard Street."
"In the city?"
"Yes."
--Charles Dickens
The Pickwick Papers, Chapter 50
"The George and Vulture, at present," replied the gentleman.
"George and Vulture. Where is that?"
"George Yard, Lombard Street."
"In the city?"
"Yes."
--Charles Dickens
The Pickwick Papers, Chapter 50
Thanks to Michael Pelczar @mkpelczar and Historic Richmond Town @historicrichmondtown for making these available.
September 12, 2024 at 10:37 PM
Thanks to Michael Pelczar @mkpelczar and Historic Richmond Town @historicrichmondtown for making these available.
Here's some more...
September 12, 2024 at 10:35 PM
Here's some more...
Some familiar faces appeared in the photos of the Lafayette Ball earlier this year...
September 12, 2024 at 10:33 PM
Some familiar faces appeared in the photos of the Lafayette Ball earlier this year...
From SKETCHES BY BOZ: "How pompously he marshals the children into their places! and how demurely the little urchins look at him askance as he surveys them..." Notice how all the urchins look very demure, very mindful. (Maybe?)
August 31, 2024 at 10:05 PM
From SKETCHES BY BOZ: "How pompously he marshals the children into their places! and how demurely the little urchins look at him askance as he surveys them..." Notice how all the urchins look very demure, very mindful. (Maybe?)
Probably best not to trust her...
July 29, 2024 at 10:56 PM
Probably best not to trust her...
She looks like she knows something the rest of us don't...
July 29, 2024 at 10:50 PM
She looks like she knows something the rest of us don't...
Who is that mysterious woman in the graveyard?
July 29, 2024 at 10:48 PM
Who is that mysterious woman in the graveyard?