Ian Rapley
@irapley.bsky.social
Historian of modern Japan, part time shepherd, clueless beekeeper, forensic cricket scorer.
New favourite podcast. Also, on a one day streak of writing every day.
New! I talked with Tyler Anbinder about his approach to writing and revising--plus, you'll learn about the person who told this celebrated historian he would never write trade book! We dug into his newest book, PLENTIFUL COUNTRY (@littlebrown.bsky.social). Listen: draftingthepast.com/podcast-epis...
November 11, 2025 at 4:51 PM
New favourite podcast. Also, on a one day streak of writing every day.
I listened to The Rest Is Politics for the first time in ages to listen to Michael Gove's interview. He's a fascinating mix: thoughtful reasoned ideas, very polite & urbane, and then absolute lunacy.
November 8, 2025 at 3:04 PM
I listened to The Rest Is Politics for the first time in ages to listen to Michael Gove's interview. He's a fascinating mix: thoughtful reasoned ideas, very polite & urbane, and then absolute lunacy.
We had a weekend trip to Hereford. Nice town, nice cathedral, the mappa mundi was really really fabulous. It was in such good condition, I had to double check it was actually the real one.
November 3, 2025 at 4:37 PM
We had a weekend trip to Hereford. Nice town, nice cathedral, the mappa mundi was really really fabulous. It was in such good condition, I had to double check it was actually the real one.
Reposted by Ian Rapley
Our next Exploring the Past public lecture is taking place soon. This fascinating and free talk will be online.
Title: Caribbean and West African Lives in British Ports
Date: 12.11.25
Time: 19:00
bit.ly/4hubwQH @webstermedieval.bsky.social @cuhistarchrel.bsky.social
Title: Caribbean and West African Lives in British Ports
Date: 12.11.25
Time: 19:00
bit.ly/4hubwQH @webstermedieval.bsky.social @cuhistarchrel.bsky.social
Exploring the Past/Historical Association free lecture, 12 Nov 2025, 7pm
Our next online free lecture takes place on Weds 12 Nov 2025 at 7pm. Please sign up to book a place.
bit.ly
October 27, 2025 at 2:33 PM
Our next Exploring the Past public lecture is taking place soon. This fascinating and free talk will be online.
Title: Caribbean and West African Lives in British Ports
Date: 12.11.25
Time: 19:00
bit.ly/4hubwQH @webstermedieval.bsky.social @cuhistarchrel.bsky.social
Title: Caribbean and West African Lives in British Ports
Date: 12.11.25
Time: 19:00
bit.ly/4hubwQH @webstermedieval.bsky.social @cuhistarchrel.bsky.social
Reposted by Ian Rapley
Fantasy would be a better genre if the Earthsea books were its foundational texts, not LoTR.
Tell me your most unhinged literary opinion, as a little treat
October 14, 2025 at 10:30 AM
Fantasy would be a better genre if the Earthsea books were its foundational texts, not LoTR.
Also, there is nothing interesting at all about 'there's a character in this novel with the author's name, who is and is not the author'
Tell me your most unhinged literary opinion, as a little treat
October 14, 2025 at 8:27 AM
Also, there is nothing interesting at all about 'there's a character in this novel with the author's name, who is and is not the author'
World war two was the final death blow to the novel as a genre, and we're still living in the shattered remains, hunting for a replacement.
Tell me your most unhinged literary opinion, as a little treat
October 14, 2025 at 8:26 AM
World war two was the final death blow to the novel as a genre, and we're still living in the shattered remains, hunting for a replacement.
Reposted by Ian Rapley
This (fascinating) audiobook thread reminding me of the hardest choices you have to make as a parent, “how many characters in this book are getting funny voices?” b/w “can I actually do the accent I am attempting?”
“May your favourite authors get big enough that their audiobooks get a cast of more than one actor.” - ancient Cockney curse.
October 13, 2025 at 10:18 AM
This (fascinating) audiobook thread reminding me of the hardest choices you have to make as a parent, “how many characters in this book are getting funny voices?” b/w “can I actually do the accent I am attempting?”
Five wickets for Kuldeep Yadav, but the West Indies mounting a rearguard action against the Indian men, plus what looks like a fascinating game in the women's world cup between India and Australia.
Plus a test in Pakistan.
In retrospect, my love of cricket always used to be quite parochial.
Plus a test in Pakistan.
In retrospect, my love of cricket always used to be quite parochial.
I want an alert whenever there's a wrist spinner bowling in international cricket.
Today: ✅
Alana King has to be one of the funnest bowlers in the world to watch. Just a shame Georgia Wareham is on the bench.
#cricket
Today: ✅
Alana King has to be one of the funnest bowlers in the world to watch. Just a shame Georgia Wareham is on the bench.
#cricket
October 12, 2025 at 3:35 PM
Five wickets for Kuldeep Yadav, but the West Indies mounting a rearguard action against the Indian men, plus what looks like a fascinating game in the women's world cup between India and Australia.
Plus a test in Pakistan.
In retrospect, my love of cricket always used to be quite parochial.
Plus a test in Pakistan.
In retrospect, my love of cricket always used to be quite parochial.
*Academic lecturing voice*: history reveals to us that many of the things we take for granted, as natural or timeless, are in fact, contingent, mutable, and have in the past been very different. Take, for example, the flap jack.
We are realizing that we have no idea what British people think a “flapjack” is.
October 11, 2025 at 7:54 AM
*Academic lecturing voice*: history reveals to us that many of the things we take for granted, as natural or timeless, are in fact, contingent, mutable, and have in the past been very different. Take, for example, the flap jack.
Reposted by Ian Rapley
Thread
We are realizing that we have no idea what British people think a “flapjack” is.
October 11, 2025 at 7:45 AM
Thread
The photographer here has clearly had an absolute whale of a time.
Charles Amos is the legalise incest guy. Insane they didn't do due diligence. www.thetimes.com/article/8c9a...
Meet the young Tories dreaming of a bright blue future
The Conservatives know they have a problem with Gen Z voters. At the party conference, The Times met a new breed of activists who are embracing the challenge
www.thetimes.com
October 9, 2025 at 6:54 PM
The photographer here has clearly had an absolute whale of a time.
This #womensworldcup could really use one of these near-upsets turning into an actual upset. England, Australia, and now (from a lesser point of jeopardy) India have dug themselves out of holes.
October 9, 2025 at 5:15 PM
This #womensworldcup could really use one of these near-upsets turning into an actual upset. England, Australia, and now (from a lesser point of jeopardy) India have dug themselves out of holes.
According to online stores, Green Star Japan is coming out in paperback at the end of the month. That's a nice surprise, and just in time for Christmas.
www.foyles.co.uk/author/81753...
www.foyles.co.uk/author/81753...
October 5, 2025 at 9:47 AM
According to online stores, Green Star Japan is coming out in paperback at the end of the month. That's a nice surprise, and just in time for Christmas.
www.foyles.co.uk/author/81753...
www.foyles.co.uk/author/81753...
I want an alert whenever there's a wrist spinner bowling in international cricket.
Today: ✅
Alana King has to be one of the funnest bowlers in the world to watch. Just a shame Georgia Wareham is on the bench.
#cricket
Today: ✅
Alana King has to be one of the funnest bowlers in the world to watch. Just a shame Georgia Wareham is on the bench.
#cricket
October 1, 2025 at 2:41 PM
I want an alert whenever there's a wrist spinner bowling in international cricket.
Today: ✅
Alana King has to be one of the funnest bowlers in the world to watch. Just a shame Georgia Wareham is on the bench.
#cricket
Today: ✅
Alana King has to be one of the funnest bowlers in the world to watch. Just a shame Georgia Wareham is on the bench.
#cricket
I profoundly do not want to have to have a bloody app for every shop I go into.
Restaurants are increasingly relying on loyalty apps. As one diner told me, “you’d be insane to eat at Pizza Express without the app”
My long read on £100 ‘bill shock’ at high street restaurants. For @telegraphnews.bsky.social:
www.telegraph.co.uk/food-and-dri...
My long read on £100 ‘bill shock’ at high street restaurants. For @telegraphnews.bsky.social:
www.telegraph.co.uk/food-and-dri...
Middle-class families are choking on the £100 ‘casual meal out’
A table for four hitting triple digits is triggering ‘bill shock’, to the detriment of Britain’s best-known restaurants
www.telegraph.co.uk
September 29, 2025 at 7:34 AM
I profoundly do not want to have to have a bloody app for every shop I go into.
Ok, I'm pretty sure these ones are Do Not Eat.
September 28, 2025 at 5:33 PM
Ok, I'm pretty sure these ones are Do Not Eat.
A good horticultural show
A decent Windsor knot in a cutaway collar.
A decent Windsor knot in a cutaway collar.
What’s the most Tory-coded thing you actively love?
Me: Essex. Elgar. Country pubs.
Me: Essex. Elgar. Country pubs.
September 27, 2025 at 7:24 PM
A good horticultural show
A decent Windsor knot in a cutaway collar.
A decent Windsor knot in a cutaway collar.
Fascinating article, featuring biodiversity, u-turns/j-turns, Peter Matanle's work on depopulation, and areas the size of Wales as a bonus.
[1/3] La dépopulation transforme les campagnes japonaises. +9 millions de maisons vides et 4,1 millions d’ha abandonnés fragilisent les paysages agricoles. Loin d’aider la nature ces friches favorisent souvent espèces invasives et perte de biodiversité. #geography #demography #Japan
Depopulation is reshaping Japan’s countryside and threatening biodiversity
Study finds Japan’s abandoned land is harming wildlife instead of helping it
geographical.co.uk
September 27, 2025 at 7:48 AM
Fascinating article, featuring biodiversity, u-turns/j-turns, Peter Matanle's work on depopulation, and areas the size of Wales as a bonus.
Reposted by Ian Rapley
Starship Troopers (2025)
September 22, 2025 at 1:21 PM
Starship Troopers (2025)
Reposted by Ian Rapley
indifferent and went to see another woman instead. Everyone, even people who were not directly concerned, felt indignant about this callous behavior, and the woman’s family was much grieved. The man himself, however, showed not the slightest pity.
September 22, 2025 at 4:45 AM
indifferent and went to see another woman instead. Everyone, even people who were not directly concerned, felt indignant about this callous behavior, and the woman’s family was much grieved. The man himself, however, showed not the slightest pity.
Reposted by Ian Rapley
I remember a certain woman who was both attractive and good-natured and who furthermore had excellent hand-writing. Yet when she sent a beautifully written poem to the man of her choice, he replied with some pretentious jottings and did not even bother to visit her. She wept endearingly, but he was
September 22, 2025 at 4:45 AM
I remember a certain woman who was both attractive and good-natured and who furthermore had excellent hand-writing. Yet when she sent a beautifully written poem to the man of her choice, he replied with some pretentious jottings and did not even bother to visit her. She wept endearingly, but he was
Reposted by Ian Rapley
Went to see the wonderful Dauntsey Doom painting. Hell looks fantastically delightful. And a skull friend!
September 21, 2025 at 1:52 PM
Went to see the wonderful Dauntsey Doom painting. Hell looks fantastically delightful. And a skull friend!
To the park, where we indulged in Park Run amid much moaning and complaining.
To the Park, where by appointment I met my brother Tom and Mr. Cooke, and there spoke about Tom’s business, and to good satisfaction.
September 21, 2025 at 8:50 AM
To the park, where we indulged in Park Run amid much moaning and complaining.