I’m a happy camper to have @zugenia.bsky.social ‘s new book A Funny Thing to look forward to reading!

/2 Lela Harris’s portrait is part of the exhibition Austen and Turner: A Country House Encounter and like Austen’s novel, is unfinished. Harris pieces together found writing paper from Harewood, seaming the edges together into a whole. Miss Lambe is a reader and a powerful viewer.

It was such a joy this morning to see Lela Harris’s extraordinary portrait of Miss Lambe, Jane Austen’s only character explicitly of African heritage, from the last novel she worked on. She died at age 41 without being able to finish Miss Lambe’s story. 1/

Off to an exciting and fascinating start to a day on Women’s Worlds, on global spaces in 17th and 18th century Britain. Thank you to @susannah-lw.bsky.social & @laurenworking.bsky.social for bringing together so many interesting perspectives and research from universities, museums & heritage sites.

How exciting to be part of this impressive group of finalists for the 26th Susanne M. Glasscock book prize for my @yalepress.bsky.social This prize recognizes “outstanding, original interdisciplinary research in the humanities that appeals to both academic and wider audiences.”

I feel so fortunate to be in such excellent company on the shortlist for the Kenshur prize, awarded by the Center for Eighteenth-Century Studies at Indiana University for the best book in eighteenth-century studies.

📣 now out in paperback 📚 Small Things in the Eighteenth Century: The Personal and Political Value of the Miniature, co-edited by yours truly and the amazing Beth Fowkes Tobin from @cambridgeup.bsky.social

On my way to the Birmingham Eighteenth Century Centre for a book club discussion about my recent book from @yalebooks.bsky.social and I forgot how patchy the WiFi is on cross country…at the least the sun is now shining as we near Leeds.

For everyone in your life, I mean those in the US and Canada, with academic monographs on their holiday wish lists, Yale UP is running the 30% sale code HOL30 until December 6th. This includes my book, too.

I had the most magical evening last night at Paterson Joseph’s performance of Sancho & Me. There was a book signing after the performance and he was extraordinarily kind to everyone, including my students.

Gorgeous scenes at King’s Manor earlier this week at York’s Centre for Eighteenth Century Studies

Really enjoying the HECAA at 30 conference so far, such a friendly and welcoming group of scholars. They might be stuck with me. #18thcentury

From the other place. English degrees in the Great British Bake Off tent!

Last week I attended the opening of the Inspired by Italy show at #18th c Beningbrough Hall. Literature students at York contributed brilliant creative responses and magnetic poetry prompts to Kate Somervell’s photographs of Venice. A real treat to see their work in such a gorgeous exhibition!

Big deadlines are looming, but I’m so excited to get started on this new book by Emma Donoghue, set at King’s Manor in York (where my office is), and featuring Anne Lister #18thc

The #18thc is here with me at the boygenius show at Piece Hall in Halifax, West Yorkshire