Constance Bantman
@constancebantman.bsky.social
Associate Prof. in French, U.of Surrey, UK.
Transnational anarchism & print culture (19thC); Anglo-French exile & migration; women & feminism. Posts in 🇫🇷&🇬🇧. Views own.
"Un premier exil libertaire" (Libertalia, 2024); “Femmes de révolution” (Seuil, 2025)
Transnational anarchism & print culture (19thC); Anglo-French exile & migration; women & feminism. Posts in 🇫🇷&🇬🇧. Views own.
"Un premier exil libertaire" (Libertalia, 2024); “Femmes de révolution” (Seuil, 2025)
#BeingHuman2025 is almost here.
Looking forward to this landmark performance of music by Holocaust survivors at the Menuhin Hall in Cobham, Surrey, on 13 November. My short introduction will explore how storytelling can unravel traumatic histories.
Free event and open to all.
Info & booking:
Looking forward to this landmark performance of music by Holocaust survivors at the Menuhin Hall in Cobham, Surrey, on 13 November. My short introduction will explore how storytelling can unravel traumatic histories.
Free event and open to all.
Info & booking:
October 29, 2025 at 2:23 PM
#BeingHuman2025 is almost here.
Looking forward to this landmark performance of music by Holocaust survivors at the Menuhin Hall in Cobham, Surrey, on 13 November. My short introduction will explore how storytelling can unravel traumatic histories.
Free event and open to all.
Info & booking:
Looking forward to this landmark performance of music by Holocaust survivors at the Menuhin Hall in Cobham, Surrey, on 13 November. My short introduction will explore how storytelling can unravel traumatic histories.
Free event and open to all.
Info & booking:
What an absolutely stunning autumn this year (even though the 4pm sunset doesn’t get easier year on year).
October 27, 2025 at 4:50 PM
What an absolutely stunning autumn this year (even though the 4pm sunset doesn’t get easier year on year).
Obligatory photo of Stonehenge (looking quite ominous) from the obligatory traffic line.
October 25, 2025 at 10:08 AM
Obligatory photo of Stonehenge (looking quite ominous) from the obligatory traffic line.
Sans aucune actu, mais juste pour rappeler la richesse et la beauté de la presse et de la culture de l’imprimé anarchistes.
October 24, 2025 at 10:39 AM
Sans aucune actu, mais juste pour rappeler la richesse et la beauté de la presse et de la culture de l’imprimé anarchistes.
I think the best thing about this film may actually be Julia Roberts' shoes (and general academic wardrobe) and the bossa nova soundtrack.
(in reality, I think it was Andrew Garfield's acting, but it pains me to say this for a film with two strong female leads).
(in reality, I think it was Andrew Garfield's acting, but it pains me to say this for a film with two strong female leads).
October 23, 2025 at 11:59 AM
I think the best thing about this film may actually be Julia Roberts' shoes (and general academic wardrobe) and the bossa nova soundtrack.
(in reality, I think it was Andrew Garfield's acting, but it pains me to say this for a film with two strong female leads).
(in reality, I think it was Andrew Garfield's acting, but it pains me to say this for a film with two strong female leads).
Le 13 octobre 1909, le grand pédagogue libertaire catalan Francisco Ferrer était exécuté, après avoir été condamné à mort par un tribunal militaire.
Quatre jours plus tard, une foule monstre se pressait à Paris en protestation, comme en témoigne l'image ci-dessous.
Quatre jours plus tard, une foule monstre se pressait à Paris en protestation, comme en témoigne l'image ci-dessous.
October 13, 2025 at 3:13 PM
Le 13 octobre 1909, le grand pédagogue libertaire catalan Francisco Ferrer était exécuté, après avoir été condamné à mort par un tribunal militaire.
Quatre jours plus tard, une foule monstre se pressait à Paris en protestation, comme en témoigne l'image ci-dessous.
Quatre jours plus tard, une foule monstre se pressait à Paris en protestation, comme en témoigne l'image ci-dessous.
And incidentally, here is a great study on Ferrer, his pedagogical work, syndicalism and the global wave of protests triggered by his execution.
October 13, 2025 at 9:30 AM
And incidentally, here is a great study on Ferrer, his pedagogical work, syndicalism and the global wave of protests triggered by his execution.
Beautiful autumn vibes on October 1st.
October 1, 2025 at 4:35 PM
Beautiful autumn vibes on October 1st.
Oh yes it is - and I found it literally as I was thinking I needed a bookmark.
‘Socialist federal republic of Yugoslavia’
‘Socialist federal republic of Yugoslavia’
September 20, 2025 at 1:13 PM
Oh yes it is - and I found it literally as I was thinking I needed a bookmark.
‘Socialist federal republic of Yugoslavia’
‘Socialist federal republic of Yugoslavia’
Serendipitous find in a charity shop book purchase.
Am I correct that this is an old Yugoslavian note?
Am I correct that this is an old Yugoslavian note?
September 20, 2025 at 1:07 PM
Serendipitous find in a charity shop book purchase.
Am I correct that this is an old Yugoslavian note?
Am I correct that this is an old Yugoslavian note?
Unfortunately it feels like the surrender already happened some time ago (and long before Starmer himself became PM).
Even the ‘surrender the flag’ rhetoric is couched in nationalistic discourse.
Even the ‘surrender the flag’ rhetoric is couched in nationalistic discourse.
September 14, 2025 at 2:58 PM
Unfortunately it feels like the surrender already happened some time ago (and long before Starmer himself became PM).
Even the ‘surrender the flag’ rhetoric is couched in nationalistic discourse.
Even the ‘surrender the flag’ rhetoric is couched in nationalistic discourse.
Top placard for today’s counter protest.
(From the Guardian coverage)
(From the Guardian coverage)
September 13, 2025 at 1:09 PM
Top placard for today’s counter protest.
(From the Guardian coverage)
(From the Guardian coverage)
A timeline cleanser to hold on to the summer... French neoimpressionist (and anarchist sympathiser) Paul Signac paints Saint-Tropez in 1895.
For yes, back in the day, St Trop' was the epitome of the anarchist idyll.
For yes, back in the day, St Trop' was the epitome of the anarchist idyll.
September 12, 2025 at 11:30 AM
A timeline cleanser to hold on to the summer... French neoimpressionist (and anarchist sympathiser) Paul Signac paints Saint-Tropez in 1895.
For yes, back in the day, St Trop' was the epitome of the anarchist idyll.
For yes, back in the day, St Trop' was the epitome of the anarchist idyll.
Le bonheur c’est simple comme un roman de Pierre Lemaitre pas encore lu.
September 6, 2025 at 8:50 AM
Le bonheur c’est simple comme un roman de Pierre Lemaitre pas encore lu.
Focus sur Mabel Holland Thomas, autrice/ traductrice/ dessinatrice galloise de très bonne famille, et accessoirement seconde épouse de l’anarchiste Jean Grave.
Ci-dessous, son illustration des Nouveaux habits de l’empereur pour le recueil de contes Le Coin des enfants, édité avec Grave.
Ci-dessous, son illustration des Nouveaux habits de l’empereur pour le recueil de contes Le Coin des enfants, édité avec Grave.
August 31, 2025 at 3:52 PM
Focus sur Mabel Holland Thomas, autrice/ traductrice/ dessinatrice galloise de très bonne famille, et accessoirement seconde épouse de l’anarchiste Jean Grave.
Ci-dessous, son illustration des Nouveaux habits de l’empereur pour le recueil de contes Le Coin des enfants, édité avec Grave.
Ci-dessous, son illustration des Nouveaux habits de l’empereur pour le recueil de contes Le Coin des enfants, édité avec Grave.
A lovely colleague has sent me rare diary entries recounting the last days of French anarchist Jean Grave in 1939, and it is quite poignant to read about his prostate problems and ongoing tax issues (after a life of tax-dodging, in good anarchist fashion).
I will write about this... eventually!
I will write about this... eventually!
August 27, 2025 at 12:09 PM
A lovely colleague has sent me rare diary entries recounting the last days of French anarchist Jean Grave in 1939, and it is quite poignant to read about his prostate problems and ongoing tax issues (after a life of tax-dodging, in good anarchist fashion).
I will write about this... eventually!
I will write about this... eventually!
Une exposition foisonnante et solidement argumentée (limite aride!) à la Vieille Charité à Marseille, notamment de par son ancrage dans l’espace méditerranéen.
Petit regret d’avoir dû passer trop rapidement sur la salle “Mauvais garçons” évoquant les criminels et déserteurs.
Petit regret d’avoir dû passer trop rapidement sur la salle “Mauvais garçons” évoquant les criminels et déserteurs.
August 23, 2025 at 4:24 PM
Une exposition foisonnante et solidement argumentée (limite aride!) à la Vieille Charité à Marseille, notamment de par son ancrage dans l’espace méditerranéen.
Petit regret d’avoir dû passer trop rapidement sur la salle “Mauvais garçons” évoquant les criminels et déserteurs.
Petit regret d’avoir dû passer trop rapidement sur la salle “Mauvais garçons” évoquant les criminels et déserteurs.
Sublime expo “Lire le ciel” au Mucem, avec plein d’artefacts liés à l’astronomie et l’astrologie, évidemment… mais aussi la robe couleur de lune et la robe couleur de soleil de Peau d’Ane.
August 21, 2025 at 3:26 PM
Sublime expo “Lire le ciel” au Mucem, avec plein d’artefacts liés à l’astronomie et l’astrologie, évidemment… mais aussi la robe couleur de lune et la robe couleur de soleil de Peau d’Ane.
Staying in a converted Maharaja’s palace/ Victorian-era hospital which is straight out of a Wes Anderson film.
August 4, 2025 at 8:40 AM
Staying in a converted Maharaja’s palace/ Victorian-era hospital which is straight out of a Wes Anderson film.
The memorial of the 1919 Jallianwala Bagh massacre in Amritsar, where British troops shot up to 1,500 civilians, not mincing words - and why should they?
August 4, 2025 at 8:10 AM
The memorial of the 1919 Jallianwala Bagh massacre in Amritsar, where British troops shot up to 1,500 civilians, not mincing words - and why should they?
The iconic 1970s charm of Neelam’s restaurant in Amritsar.
August 4, 2025 at 7:41 AM
The iconic 1970s charm of Neelam’s restaurant in Amritsar.
The magnificent Golden Temple in Amritsar- even queueing to get inside was so nice and interesting.
In my son’s definitive words, ‘some of these aunties need to chill out’.
In my son’s definitive words, ‘some of these aunties need to chill out’.
August 4, 2025 at 7:32 AM
The magnificent Golden Temple in Amritsar- even queueing to get inside was so nice and interesting.
In my son’s definitive words, ‘some of these aunties need to chill out’.
In my son’s definitive words, ‘some of these aunties need to chill out’.
So on my travels across the Punjab, I actually drove past the Lovely Professional University today!
August 3, 2025 at 4:15 PM
So on my travels across the Punjab, I actually drove past the Lovely Professional University today!
Certes, on peut dire bcp de mal du Corbusier, mais Chandigarh, la ville qu’il a planifiée dans le nord de l’Inde, est tout bonnement visionnaire, notamment pour la circulation automobile de masse et les îlots de fraîcheur urbains.
Ci-dessous, le sublime lac Sukhna, un des “poumons” de la ville:
Ci-dessous, le sublime lac Sukhna, un des “poumons” de la ville:
August 2, 2025 at 10:58 AM
Certes, on peut dire bcp de mal du Corbusier, mais Chandigarh, la ville qu’il a planifiée dans le nord de l’Inde, est tout bonnement visionnaire, notamment pour la circulation automobile de masse et les îlots de fraîcheur urbains.
Ci-dessous, le sublime lac Sukhna, un des “poumons” de la ville:
Ci-dessous, le sublime lac Sukhna, un des “poumons” de la ville:
Note academics do not seem to feature among the ‘fine gentlemen’ requiring elegant suits. 🤷🏻♀️
August 2, 2025 at 10:18 AM
Note academics do not seem to feature among the ‘fine gentlemen’ requiring elegant suits. 🤷🏻♀️