Imogen Hermes Gowar
@girlhermes.bsky.social
Author of The Mermaid and Mrs Hancock, and more. Currently working on a novel about Lady Eleanor Talbot. Here for history and the stories we tell about it. Click for courses, mentoring, and etc: https://linktr.ee/imogenhermes
Reposted by Imogen Hermes Gowar
An amazing opportunity to work with wonderful writer and teacher of historical fiction, @girlhermes.bsky.social! ✒️📚📖 #HistFic #BookSky
I'm teaching a 12 week course for the amazing @writerscentre.bsky.social - do join me in September if that's your jam: nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/events/how-t...
How to Write Historical Fiction (12-week course)
Bring the past to life and receive personalised feedback to write compelling historical fiction in this online tutored course.
nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk
September 8, 2025 at 6:36 PM
An amazing opportunity to work with wonderful writer and teacher of historical fiction, @girlhermes.bsky.social! ✒️📚📖 #HistFic #BookSky
Reposted by Imogen Hermes Gowar
I'm teaching a 12 week course for the amazing @writerscentre.bsky.social - do join me in September if that's your jam: nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/events/how-t...
How to Write Historical Fiction (12-week course)
Bring the past to life and receive personalised feedback to write compelling historical fiction in this online tutored course.
nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk
June 3, 2025 at 12:27 PM
I'm teaching a 12 week course for the amazing @writerscentre.bsky.social - do join me in September if that's your jam: nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/events/how-t...
Reposted by Imogen Hermes Gowar
Pleased to say @oxlifelonglearning.bsky.social have commissioned a new live online course from me for summer 2026 onward! Medieval Chivalry for 10 weeks! Chat with me weekly! lifelong-learning.ox.ac.uk/courses/medi... Please share.
Medieval Chivalry
Chivalry was more than medieval knights in shining armour jousting for the love of fair ladies. This course explores how chivalric values profoundly shaped political, literary and artistic cultures fr...
lifelong-learning.ox.ac.uk
July 5, 2025 at 7:13 PM
Pleased to say @oxlifelonglearning.bsky.social have commissioned a new live online course from me for summer 2026 onward! Medieval Chivalry for 10 weeks! Chat with me weekly! lifelong-learning.ox.ac.uk/courses/medi... Please share.
Reposted by Imogen Hermes Gowar
Just putting this out there… books.google.co.uk/books?id=UVk...
July 2, 2025 at 7:18 PM
Just putting this out there… books.google.co.uk/books?id=UVk...
Reposted by Imogen Hermes Gowar
Lots of commentary on this piece already, all of which I agree with.
For historians, research is a fundamental part of writing.
To farm it out to AI changes the nature of this intellectual process in fundamental ways.
And as Stacy Schiff points out, it also takes all the fun out of it.
For historians, research is a fundamental part of writing.
To farm it out to AI changes the nature of this intellectual process in fundamental ways.
And as Stacy Schiff points out, it also takes all the fun out of it.
A.I. Is Poised to Rewrite History. Literally.
www.nytimes.com
June 16, 2025 at 11:19 AM
Lots of commentary on this piece already, all of which I agree with.
For historians, research is a fundamental part of writing.
To farm it out to AI changes the nature of this intellectual process in fundamental ways.
And as Stacy Schiff points out, it also takes all the fun out of it.
For historians, research is a fundamental part of writing.
To farm it out to AI changes the nature of this intellectual process in fundamental ways.
And as Stacy Schiff points out, it also takes all the fun out of it.
Reposted by Imogen Hermes Gowar
ON TOP of the ethical reasons to not use AI, it's also
1) bad at what it does
2) literally makes you stupider
3) has HUGE environmental costs: every search is equivalent to pouring out an entire bottle of water. It's not worth it to generate a cutesy emoji or have it write an error-riddled draft.
1) bad at what it does
2) literally makes you stupider
3) has HUGE environmental costs: every search is equivalent to pouring out an entire bottle of water. It's not worth it to generate a cutesy emoji or have it write an error-riddled draft.
AI was trained on my books (without my permission and against my will) so this annoys me. I never use AI. Not for research, not for images, not for writing. AI used me.
I keep seeing reports of non-AI users being told that an AI detector has dubbed their work AI generated, and it makes me insane because:
1) AI detection tools *are themselves AI* and thus entirely bullshit; and
2) if an AI was trained on your works, of COURSE it’ll flag you as sounding “like” AI!
1) AI detection tools *are themselves AI* and thus entirely bullshit; and
2) if an AI was trained on your works, of COURSE it’ll flag you as sounding “like” AI!
June 15, 2025 at 2:32 PM
ON TOP of the ethical reasons to not use AI, it's also
1) bad at what it does
2) literally makes you stupider
3) has HUGE environmental costs: every search is equivalent to pouring out an entire bottle of water. It's not worth it to generate a cutesy emoji or have it write an error-riddled draft.
1) bad at what it does
2) literally makes you stupider
3) has HUGE environmental costs: every search is equivalent to pouring out an entire bottle of water. It's not worth it to generate a cutesy emoji or have it write an error-riddled draft.
Reposted by Imogen Hermes Gowar
It is deeply hilarious that the Hudson's Bay Company was founded in 1670 and chugged along for three and a half centuries and Private Equity finished it off in like five years.
After 355 years, the Hudson’s Bay Company has closed its doors.
Remembering The Bay
After 355 years, the Hudson’s Bay Company has closed its doors.
www.winnipegfreepress.com
June 2, 2025 at 10:53 PM
It is deeply hilarious that the Hudson's Bay Company was founded in 1670 and chugged along for three and a half centuries and Private Equity finished it off in like five years.
I'm teaching a 12 week course for the amazing @writerscentre.bsky.social - do join me in September if that's your jam: nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/events/how-t...
How to Write Historical Fiction (12-week course)
Bring the past to life and receive personalised feedback to write compelling historical fiction in this online tutored course.
nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk
June 3, 2025 at 12:27 PM
I'm teaching a 12 week course for the amazing @writerscentre.bsky.social - do join me in September if that's your jam: nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/events/how-t...
Reposted by Imogen Hermes Gowar
Seriously, FUCK Boundless.
Writers, do not publish with them.
Agents, do not submit to them.
Bookstores, do not carry their books.
Any company that thinks torching this many authors will result in being able to “continue publishing and rebuild trust” is delusional and deserves to die.
Writers, do not publish with them.
Agents, do not submit to them.
Bookstores, do not carry their books.
Any company that thinks torching this many authors will result in being able to “continue publishing and rebuild trust” is delusional and deserves to die.
May 30, 2025 at 12:44 PM
Seriously, FUCK Boundless.
Writers, do not publish with them.
Agents, do not submit to them.
Bookstores, do not carry their books.
Any company that thinks torching this many authors will result in being able to “continue publishing and rebuild trust” is delusional and deserves to die.
Writers, do not publish with them.
Agents, do not submit to them.
Bookstores, do not carry their books.
Any company that thinks torching this many authors will result in being able to “continue publishing and rebuild trust” is delusional and deserves to die.
Reposted by Imogen Hermes Gowar
Outrageously spectacular illuminated manuscript from 1470 Siena Duomo
May 26, 2025 at 2:25 AM
Outrageously spectacular illuminated manuscript from 1470 Siena Duomo
Reposted by Imogen Hermes Gowar
Fantastic ending to Baroness Kidron's speech in the House of Lords yesterday, which led to the government's defeat on AI & copyright.
Speaking the UK's creators: "Their property, their labour, is worthy of your protection - because apart from anything else, it is not ours to give away."
Speaking the UK's creators: "Their property, their labour, is worthy of your protection - because apart from anything else, it is not ours to give away."
May 13, 2025 at 4:41 PM
Fantastic ending to Baroness Kidron's speech in the House of Lords yesterday, which led to the government's defeat on AI & copyright.
Speaking the UK's creators: "Their property, their labour, is worthy of your protection - because apart from anything else, it is not ours to give away."
Speaking the UK's creators: "Their property, their labour, is worthy of your protection - because apart from anything else, it is not ours to give away."
It's peony envy season!
May 5, 2025 at 6:47 PM
It's peony envy season!
I reviewed THE PRETENDER by Jo Harkin and found it dazzlingly brilliant. A true pleasure. www.theguardian.com/books/2025/m...
The Pretender by Jo Harkin review – a bold and brilliant comedy of royal intrigue
This fantasia on the life of Lambert Simnel, who finds himself a claimant to the English throne, is a romp through late-medieval identity and historical uncertainty
www.theguardian.com
May 1, 2025 at 8:11 PM
I reviewed THE PRETENDER by Jo Harkin and found it dazzlingly brilliant. A true pleasure. www.theguardian.com/books/2025/m...
Taking a moment to celebrate the iconic sartorial stylings of rural Hampshire in the late 80s.
April 22, 2025 at 11:47 AM
Taking a moment to celebrate the iconic sartorial stylings of rural Hampshire in the late 80s.
Reposted by Imogen Hermes Gowar
Wrong, wrong, and wrong. Just some basic fact-checking would be nice.
Anyway, I wrote about Eostre here:
florencehrs.substack.com/p/eostre-pag...
Anyway, I wrote about Eostre here:
florencehrs.substack.com/p/eostre-pag...
April 19, 2025 at 12:53 PM
Wrong, wrong, and wrong. Just some basic fact-checking would be nice.
Anyway, I wrote about Eostre here:
florencehrs.substack.com/p/eostre-pag...
Anyway, I wrote about Eostre here:
florencehrs.substack.com/p/eostre-pag...
Reposted by Imogen Hermes Gowar
Amazing scenes in the carpark today.
April 17, 2025 at 1:55 PM
Amazing scenes in the carpark today.
It's the anniversary of my grandfather's death today and also the anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic. I think he'd have enjoyed this fact if he could have known it. I can hear his chuckle. Missed and loved, dear Gaffer.
April 15, 2025 at 8:25 PM
It's the anniversary of my grandfather's death today and also the anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic. I think he'd have enjoyed this fact if he could have known it. I can hear his chuckle. Missed and loved, dear Gaffer.
Reposted by Imogen Hermes Gowar
On the anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic, we thought we'd answer a question that's often asked,
"If they raised the Mary Rose, why not raise the Titanic?"
Allow our scaled diagram to explain...
"If they raised the Mary Rose, why not raise the Titanic?"
Allow our scaled diagram to explain...
April 15, 2025 at 8:21 AM
On the anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic, we thought we'd answer a question that's often asked,
"If they raised the Mary Rose, why not raise the Titanic?"
Allow our scaled diagram to explain...
"If they raised the Mary Rose, why not raise the Titanic?"
Allow our scaled diagram to explain...
Love Sonja's thoughts here - as I so often do.
When I was lecturing today on books of hours as a book produced in large quantities, a student (understandably!) said she thought most people were illiterate in medieval Europe, so it’s not my fault we got behind because I had 20 minutes of Things to Say.
April 15, 2025 at 11:25 AM
Love Sonja's thoughts here - as I so often do.
Creative writing AND ancient object handling. My teenage self would have killed for such an experience.
Cool competition alert! Spotted this on Instagram. Tell your nearest 11-18 year old 🏛️📝
Details here: clasoutreach.web.ox.ac.uk/creativewrit...
Details here: clasoutreach.web.ox.ac.uk/creativewrit...
April 5, 2025 at 8:38 AM
Creative writing AND ancient object handling. My teenage self would have killed for such an experience.
Reposted by Imogen Hermes Gowar
Short story writers! I am running an 8-week online course, 'What can a short story do?', exploring the possibilities of this wonderful form. We'll read 8 contemporary short stories and use them as a launchpad for our own writing. #booksky #amwriting #shortstories More details ⬇️
March 11, 2025 at 10:43 AM
Short story writers! I am running an 8-week online course, 'What can a short story do?', exploring the possibilities of this wonderful form. We'll read 8 contemporary short stories and use them as a launchpad for our own writing. #booksky #amwriting #shortstories More details ⬇️
Reposted by Imogen Hermes Gowar
History as a university subject for all is in deep peril. By the end of this Parliament you might need a row of A*s to study it, in just a handful of elite institutions. Is that what you really want?
In a new episode of the BBC History Extra podcast, the Society's President, Lucy Noakes, considers the state of history in UK higher education today bit.ly/4cwSiaJ
Lucy discusses the impact of cuts, restoring a student numbers cap, and history's contribution to national culture #skystorians 1/2
Lucy discusses the impact of cuts, restoring a student numbers cap, and history's contribution to national culture #skystorians 1/2
April 1, 2025 at 7:21 PM
History as a university subject for all is in deep peril. By the end of this Parliament you might need a row of A*s to study it, in just a handful of elite institutions. Is that what you really want?
AGENTS, do not ghost your authors! I hear about this so often and it's horrible behaviour. Just end your relationship in a professional manner if that's what you want to do. Authors, if you've been treated like this, please know it says more about them than you. Please keep writing.
April 1, 2025 at 5:02 PM
AGENTS, do not ghost your authors! I hear about this so often and it's horrible behaviour. Just end your relationship in a professional manner if that's what you want to do. Authors, if you've been treated like this, please know it says more about them than you. Please keep writing.