David Veevers
@davidveevers.bsky.social
Lecturer in Early Modern History | ‘dazzling’ - BBC History | 'miasma enthusiast' - The Critic | 'belligerent academic' - The Daily Mail | tired dad | Stephen King aficionado | academia’s longest commute | writing my third book
Quite the view out of our bedroom window this morning. Glorious sun yesterday, overcast rainbow today. Nice contrast to constant rain.
November 9, 2025 at 8:02 AM
Quite the view out of our bedroom window this morning. Glorious sun yesterday, overcast rainbow today. Nice contrast to constant rain.
Basically a perfect late autumn afternoon here on the Sussex coast.
November 8, 2025 at 4:44 PM
Basically a perfect late autumn afternoon here on the Sussex coast.
Tucking into some of Ray Bradbury’s more earth-bound stories. This semi-autobiographical one is up next: his prose and descriptions are really exquisite. I’m hoping it rubs off as I write my new book.
November 1, 2025 at 9:25 PM
Tucking into some of Ray Bradbury’s more earth-bound stories. This semi-autobiographical one is up next: his prose and descriptions are really exquisite. I’m hoping it rubs off as I write my new book.
Had to do a semi professional photo for a thing which I totally forgot, so last minute I ran to the library, put my phone on timer, and did a series of ‘serious thinker reads book’ poses. And at that moment a bunch of my third year students walked past and burst into laughter. I have to quit now.
October 29, 2025 at 7:35 AM
Had to do a semi professional photo for a thing which I totally forgot, so last minute I ran to the library, put my phone on timer, and did a series of ‘serious thinker reads book’ poses. And at that moment a bunch of my third year students walked past and burst into laughter. I have to quit now.
Happy to have an article on the East India Company in a new special edition of @historytoday.com History Today on the British Empire, alongside some superb colleagues.
October 28, 2025 at 11:57 AM
Happy to have an article on the East India Company in a new special edition of @historytoday.com History Today on the British Empire, alongside some superb colleagues.
Marching around the forest and moors today bumping into beautiful animals.
October 27, 2025 at 6:32 PM
Marching around the forest and moors today bumping into beautiful animals.
Come away to a forest cabin for the half term. Reading a good book, got a wildlife documentary on the telly, and the fire is roaring. Almost perfect, except the family will be staying here whilst I have to leave on Tuesday and travel to campus to teach! 😡
October 25, 2025 at 3:53 PM
Come away to a forest cabin for the half term. Reading a good book, got a wildlife documentary on the telly, and the fire is roaring. Almost perfect, except the family will be staying here whilst I have to leave on Tuesday and travel to campus to teach! 😡
One of the problems of thinking History serves your nationalist agenda is the retrospective transplanting of WW2 war aims onto pre-modern conflicts.
October 22, 2025 at 12:35 PM
One of the problems of thinking History serves your nationalist agenda is the retrospective transplanting of WW2 war aims onto pre-modern conflicts.
Just walked into my office to be met with some amazing Diwali treats from my wonderful Masters students. And my god they taste divine.
October 22, 2025 at 9:06 AM
Just walked into my office to be met with some amazing Diwali treats from my wonderful Masters students. And my god they taste divine.
Even the British from 1812 would be like ‘that’s messed up’.
October 20, 2025 at 7:24 PM
Even the British from 1812 would be like ‘that’s messed up’.
Try and read this without even a little bit of vomit forming in your mouth. I dare you.
October 20, 2025 at 2:59 PM
Try and read this without even a little bit of vomit forming in your mouth. I dare you.
Meanwhile, British people 300 years ago be like...
October 18, 2025 at 6:44 PM
Meanwhile, British people 300 years ago be like...
This is still objectively the funniest thing I’ve ever read on the internet. ‘Do you want some Pwingys, for the room?’
October 17, 2025 at 9:02 PM
This is still objectively the funniest thing I’ve ever read on the internet. ‘Do you want some Pwingys, for the room?’
Unless it’s about Israel, of course.
October 16, 2025 at 10:32 AM
Unless it’s about Israel, of course.
It’s happening in the Veevers’ household.
October 12, 2025 at 3:59 PM
It’s happening in the Veevers’ household.
In good company in Waterstones @sathnam.bsky.social
October 11, 2025 at 1:56 PM
In good company in Waterstones @sathnam.bsky.social
There'll be lots of lauding and back patting as Trump and Israel celebrate the latest 'peace deal'. But remember the words of the giant Refaat Alareer before he was murdered by Israel:
October 9, 2025 at 8:01 AM
There'll be lots of lauding and back patting as Trump and Israel celebrate the latest 'peace deal'. But remember the words of the giant Refaat Alareer before he was murdered by Israel:
Next up on my quest to read beautifully written fiction to help with the writing of my own next book: Larry McMurtry’s Lonesome Dove. I’ve never actually read it, but it’s in so many peoples’ top ten, I’m excited to jump in. It’s a real door stopper too, my fave kind.
October 8, 2025 at 5:08 PM
Next up on my quest to read beautifully written fiction to help with the writing of my own next book: Larry McMurtry’s Lonesome Dove. I’ve never actually read it, but it’s in so many peoples’ top ten, I’m excited to jump in. It’s a real door stopper too, my fave kind.
Best chapter. Poor little Vardaman.
October 7, 2025 at 7:02 AM
Best chapter. Poor little Vardaman.
Long commute today, but with one of my all time fave books which I last read probably before Henry was born! How did I let that happen?! As I’m writing my new book I need some inspiring prose. And who better than Faulkner.
October 7, 2025 at 5:16 AM
Long commute today, but with one of my all time fave books which I last read probably before Henry was born! How did I let that happen?! As I’m writing my new book I need some inspiring prose. And who better than Faulkner.
Unbelievable juxtaposition of stories in the news: the continuation of the genocide in Gaza next to Starmer telling people not to protest the genocide.
October 4, 2025 at 2:33 PM
Unbelievable juxtaposition of stories in the news: the continuation of the genocide in Gaza next to Starmer telling people not to protest the genocide.
Going through boxes and came across my undergraduate dissertation, which would be published as my first ever article in the Journal of Imperial and Commonwealth History in 2013, for which I won the RHS’s Alexander Prize. That started my journey to becoming an academic! Lovely find. Good times.
October 4, 2025 at 8:10 AM
Going through boxes and came across my undergraduate dissertation, which would be published as my first ever article in the Journal of Imperial and Commonwealth History in 2013, for which I won the RHS’s Alexander Prize. That started my journey to becoming an academic! Lovely find. Good times.
What has it come to when I’m envious of the cat.
October 2, 2025 at 10:37 AM
What has it come to when I’m envious of the cat.
Timetable accidentally scheduled one of my seminars in a moot court room, so my students snapped a photo of me pretending to preside over a court case. I’ve just ordered a gavel off eBay and will be using it liberally during seminar discussions. Best. Room. Ever.
September 30, 2025 at 2:27 PM
Timetable accidentally scheduled one of my seminars in a moot court room, so my students snapped a photo of me pretending to preside over a court case. I’ve just ordered a gavel off eBay and will be using it liberally during seminar discussions. Best. Room. Ever.
Things are looking pretty autumnal outside my office window on campus today, the corridors are bustling with students, and I’m knocking the dad jokes out of the park in lectures. Nice to be reminded of why I fell in love with the job, even if things are grim AF.
September 30, 2025 at 11:39 AM
Things are looking pretty autumnal outside my office window on campus today, the corridors are bustling with students, and I’m knocking the dad jokes out of the park in lectures. Nice to be reminded of why I fell in love with the job, even if things are grim AF.