Sarah Elizabeth Cox
@oispooky.bsky.social
👩🏻💻 PR @britsciassoc.bsky.social
🥊 1880s boxing + wrestling historian
📕 THE DEVIL'S DANCEFLOOR (Duckworth, Oct 2026)
✍🏻 Moscow, Munroe, Goodson, Wannop, Smith, Ball &c.
🤜🏻 Advisor #AThousandBlows
🏖️ Clacton-on-Sea 🖤
www.grapplingwithhistory.com
🥊 1880s boxing + wrestling historian
📕 THE DEVIL'S DANCEFLOOR (Duckworth, Oct 2026)
✍🏻 Moscow, Munroe, Goodson, Wannop, Smith, Ball &c.
🤜🏻 Advisor #AThousandBlows
🏖️ Clacton-on-Sea 🖤
www.grapplingwithhistory.com
Pinned
Seconds out! Round one!
THE DEVIL'S DANCE FLOOR
This isn't an official announcement from Duckworth. It's a page from my agent's newsletter and book fair rights catalogue, which is public. So, a tiny-text soft launch? Details subject to change.
A lot of thank yous and less Disney, to come.
🐻🥊👊🏾👊🏻🦁🍺
THE DEVIL'S DANCE FLOOR
This isn't an official announcement from Duckworth. It's a page from my agent's newsletter and book fair rights catalogue, which is public. So, a tiny-text soft launch? Details subject to change.
A lot of thank yous and less Disney, to come.
🐻🥊👊🏾👊🏻🦁🍺
Reposted by Sarah Elizabeth Cox
Today I'm reading about the hardest motherfucker to ever live, French naval officer Aristide Aubert du Petit-Thouars. His enormous titanium balls are clearly exhibited by this sentence:
"After having lost both legs and an arm, he continued to command from a bucket filled with wheat until he died."
"After having lost both legs and an arm, he continued to command from a bucket filled with wheat until he died."
November 14, 2025 at 8:16 PM
Today I'm reading about the hardest motherfucker to ever live, French naval officer Aristide Aubert du Petit-Thouars. His enormous titanium balls are clearly exhibited by this sentence:
"After having lost both legs and an arm, he continued to command from a bucket filled with wheat until he died."
"After having lost both legs and an arm, he continued to command from a bucket filled with wheat until he died."
It's mine and my boyfriend's anniversary of meeting weekend and neither of us care much about such sentimentalities so he's inadvertently given me the greatest gift of all: going out in London with his mate so I can drink wine alone and watch 1880s men murder each other on TV 🙌🏻
November 14, 2025 at 8:01 PM
It's mine and my boyfriend's anniversary of meeting weekend and neither of us care much about such sentimentalities so he's inadvertently given me the greatest gift of all: going out in London with his mate so I can drink wine alone and watch 1880s men murder each other on TV 🙌🏻
Reposted by Sarah Elizabeth Cox
This man was trafficked into Britain, in ways which the government would now use to make him subject to deportation. According to a leading political pundit, he brought with him ancestral violence, which means that he *and his British-born children* should be expelled.
This man.
This man.
November 14, 2025 at 6:37 PM
This man was trafficked into Britain, in ways which the government would now use to make him subject to deportation. According to a leading political pundit, he brought with him ancestral violence, which means that he *and his British-born children* should be expelled.
This man.
This man.
Reposted by Sarah Elizabeth Cox
As a piece of academic phrasing, it is genuinely impressive that we have developed "they were, no doubt..." as meaning "I have no actual evidence but I am asserting it strongly anyway"
November 14, 2025 at 10:39 AM
As a piece of academic phrasing, it is genuinely impressive that we have developed "they were, no doubt..." as meaning "I have no actual evidence but I am asserting it strongly anyway"
One of the best bands I've ever seen live - March 2005, Birmingham NEC, Retribution Tour for Angel of Retribution, an album that finishes with a 13 and a half minute track about the Loch Ness Monster. How the hell that was more than 20 years ago though, I do not understand 🔥
Was reminded earlier this week of just how much Judas Priest rips, a fact one would do well to remember: youtu.be/yMVV_HsHcX0?...
Judas Priest - Electric Eye (Official Video)
YouTube video by JudasPriestVEVO
youtu.be
November 14, 2025 at 2:38 PM
One of the best bands I've ever seen live - March 2005, Birmingham NEC, Retribution Tour for Angel of Retribution, an album that finishes with a 13 and a half minute track about the Loch Ness Monster. How the hell that was more than 20 years ago though, I do not understand 🔥
Interesting and timely - there was an expression in the 1880s and later: a top tier boxer had to have "the devil in him" - it's one of the explanations for my forthcoming book's title, The Devil's Dancefloor.
Looking forward to Saturday, the last match was great...
www.bbc.co.uk/sport/boxing...
Looking forward to Saturday, the last match was great...
www.bbc.co.uk/sport/boxing...
Eubank vs Benn 2: Church told me I was possessed by demons aged 12 - Conor Benn
Conor Benn tells BBC Sport about growing up in an
www.bbc.co.uk
November 14, 2025 at 1:38 PM
Interesting and timely - there was an expression in the 1880s and later: a top tier boxer had to have "the devil in him" - it's one of the explanations for my forthcoming book's title, The Devil's Dancefloor.
Looking forward to Saturday, the last match was great...
www.bbc.co.uk/sport/boxing...
Looking forward to Saturday, the last match was great...
www.bbc.co.uk/sport/boxing...
Reposted by Sarah Elizabeth Cox
Many of the 1880s boxers and wrestlers I research were of an age to have sons who served in WWI.
Wrestling Champion Jack Wannop and wife Miriam had 10 children, two dying as babies. All four adult sons served.
This is Miriam with little Hilda, May and Sidney.
Both May and Sidney died in 1918.
Wrestling Champion Jack Wannop and wife Miriam had 10 children, two dying as babies. All four adult sons served.
This is Miriam with little Hilda, May and Sidney.
Both May and Sidney died in 1918.
November 7, 2025 at 12:55 PM
Many of the 1880s boxers and wrestlers I research were of an age to have sons who served in WWI.
Wrestling Champion Jack Wannop and wife Miriam had 10 children, two dying as babies. All four adult sons served.
This is Miriam with little Hilda, May and Sidney.
Both May and Sidney died in 1918.
Wrestling Champion Jack Wannop and wife Miriam had 10 children, two dying as babies. All four adult sons served.
This is Miriam with little Hilda, May and Sidney.
Both May and Sidney died in 1918.
As an aside, local newspaper reporting and headline writing used to be so damn good 😭
Geoff Cox was only 23yrs old as well, and already on his sixth year as a journalist!
Geoff Cox was only 23yrs old as well, and already on his sixth year as a journalist!
My dad was a crime reporter on the Luton News in 1975.
Just a couple of the highlights from just one page of a British Newspaper Archive search 😆
Just a couple of the highlights from just one page of a British Newspaper Archive search 😆
November 14, 2025 at 11:40 AM
As an aside, local newspaper reporting and headline writing used to be so damn good 😭
Geoff Cox was only 23yrs old as well, and already on his sixth year as a journalist!
Geoff Cox was only 23yrs old as well, and already on his sixth year as a journalist!
Reposted by Sarah Elizabeth Cox
Simpler, more peaceful times right?
My dad was reporting in Northern Ireland back then, it was… a bit grim.
My dad was reporting in Northern Ireland back then, it was… a bit grim.
November 14, 2025 at 10:14 AM
Simpler, more peaceful times right?
My dad was reporting in Northern Ireland back then, it was… a bit grim.
My dad was reporting in Northern Ireland back then, it was… a bit grim.
My dad was a crime reporter on the Luton News in 1975.
Just a couple of the highlights from just one page of a British Newspaper Archive search 😆
Just a couple of the highlights from just one page of a British Newspaper Archive search 😆
November 14, 2025 at 9:42 AM
My dad was a crime reporter on the Luton News in 1975.
Just a couple of the highlights from just one page of a British Newspaper Archive search 😆
Just a couple of the highlights from just one page of a British Newspaper Archive search 😆
How wrestling was described by a Pall Mall Gazette writer in 1912. Or 1972. Or last week, who can really be sure.
November 13, 2025 at 2:22 PM
How wrestling was described by a Pall Mall Gazette writer in 1912. Or 1972. Or last week, who can really be sure.
First time I've ever been compared to Bob Hoskins 👊🏻
This has the same energy as this interview with Bob Hoskins (0:50) youtu.be/BLRKGGseMEs?...
Cringe Super Mario Brothers VH1 Clip - Bob Hoskins "...I used to play King Lear."
YouTube video by Mikey Gesus
youtu.be
November 13, 2025 at 10:19 AM
First time I've ever been compared to Bob Hoskins 👊🏻
I used to hang out with rock bands. Now I put on the Baby Shark in six different languages playlist just to change up the morning a bit.
November 13, 2025 at 8:59 AM
I used to hang out with rock bands. Now I put on the Baby Shark in six different languages playlist just to change up the morning a bit.
Reposted by Sarah Elizabeth Cox
'New Threats. New Era. New Season.'
(New Poster)
Season II of A Thousand Blows streams 9 Jan 2026.
The completely unaffiliated, unconnected, in no way endorsed by Disney, book with the true stories of Hezekiah Moscow, Alec Munroe, Sugar Goodson - THE DEVIL'S DANCEFLOOR - is published in Oct 😅👊🏻
(New Poster)
Season II of A Thousand Blows streams 9 Jan 2026.
The completely unaffiliated, unconnected, in no way endorsed by Disney, book with the true stories of Hezekiah Moscow, Alec Munroe, Sugar Goodson - THE DEVIL'S DANCEFLOOR - is published in Oct 😅👊🏻
November 12, 2025 at 6:11 PM
'New Threats. New Era. New Season.'
(New Poster)
Season II of A Thousand Blows streams 9 Jan 2026.
The completely unaffiliated, unconnected, in no way endorsed by Disney, book with the true stories of Hezekiah Moscow, Alec Munroe, Sugar Goodson - THE DEVIL'S DANCEFLOOR - is published in Oct 😅👊🏻
(New Poster)
Season II of A Thousand Blows streams 9 Jan 2026.
The completely unaffiliated, unconnected, in no way endorsed by Disney, book with the true stories of Hezekiah Moscow, Alec Munroe, Sugar Goodson - THE DEVIL'S DANCEFLOOR - is published in Oct 😅👊🏻
Reposted by Sarah Elizabeth Cox
did not expect the site of Thomas Beckett’s murder to be memorialized in a fashion that is quite so fucking metal
November 12, 2025 at 3:12 PM
did not expect the site of Thomas Beckett’s murder to be memorialized in a fashion that is quite so fucking metal
Reposted by Sarah Elizabeth Cox
I'm doing some walking tours of Seven Dials with @stanfordstravel.bsky.social on Saturday Nov 15.
Come for coffee, cheese, & overpriced street food, stay for overexcited historian, whistle stop tour of the Dials, & sideways look at 1920s and 1930s London.
www.stanfords.co.uk/event-songs-...
Come for coffee, cheese, & overpriced street food, stay for overexcited historian, whistle stop tour of the Dials, & sideways look at 1920s and 1930s London.
www.stanfords.co.uk/event-songs-...
November 12, 2025 at 8:37 PM
I'm doing some walking tours of Seven Dials with @stanfordstravel.bsky.social on Saturday Nov 15.
Come for coffee, cheese, & overpriced street food, stay for overexcited historian, whistle stop tour of the Dials, & sideways look at 1920s and 1930s London.
www.stanfords.co.uk/event-songs-...
Come for coffee, cheese, & overpriced street food, stay for overexcited historian, whistle stop tour of the Dials, & sideways look at 1920s and 1930s London.
www.stanfords.co.uk/event-songs-...
At risk of sounding desperate (also, WHY ARE ALL THE JOURNOS STILL ON X) - if you're a TV / history writer or podcaster and fancy doing something on Season II of #AThousandBlows and the true history of 1880s boxing and boxers, get in touch. Disney PR aren't likely to put me forward for things again.
'New Threats. New Era. New Season.'
(New Poster)
Season II of A Thousand Blows streams 9 Jan 2026.
The completely unaffiliated, unconnected, in no way endorsed by Disney, book with the true stories of Hezekiah Moscow, Alec Munroe, Sugar Goodson - THE DEVIL'S DANCEFLOOR - is published in Oct 😅👊🏻
(New Poster)
Season II of A Thousand Blows streams 9 Jan 2026.
The completely unaffiliated, unconnected, in no way endorsed by Disney, book with the true stories of Hezekiah Moscow, Alec Munroe, Sugar Goodson - THE DEVIL'S DANCEFLOOR - is published in Oct 😅👊🏻
November 12, 2025 at 6:52 PM
At risk of sounding desperate (also, WHY ARE ALL THE JOURNOS STILL ON X) - if you're a TV / history writer or podcaster and fancy doing something on Season II of #AThousandBlows and the true history of 1880s boxing and boxers, get in touch. Disney PR aren't likely to put me forward for things again.
'New Threats. New Era. New Season.'
(New Poster)
Season II of A Thousand Blows streams 9 Jan 2026.
The completely unaffiliated, unconnected, in no way endorsed by Disney, book with the true stories of Hezekiah Moscow, Alec Munroe, Sugar Goodson - THE DEVIL'S DANCEFLOOR - is published in Oct 😅👊🏻
(New Poster)
Season II of A Thousand Blows streams 9 Jan 2026.
The completely unaffiliated, unconnected, in no way endorsed by Disney, book with the true stories of Hezekiah Moscow, Alec Munroe, Sugar Goodson - THE DEVIL'S DANCEFLOOR - is published in Oct 😅👊🏻
November 12, 2025 at 6:11 PM
'New Threats. New Era. New Season.'
(New Poster)
Season II of A Thousand Blows streams 9 Jan 2026.
The completely unaffiliated, unconnected, in no way endorsed by Disney, book with the true stories of Hezekiah Moscow, Alec Munroe, Sugar Goodson - THE DEVIL'S DANCEFLOOR - is published in Oct 😅👊🏻
(New Poster)
Season II of A Thousand Blows streams 9 Jan 2026.
The completely unaffiliated, unconnected, in no way endorsed by Disney, book with the true stories of Hezekiah Moscow, Alec Munroe, Sugar Goodson - THE DEVIL'S DANCEFLOOR - is published in Oct 😅👊🏻
Reposted by Sarah Elizabeth Cox
WHO IS THE TERRIBLE GREEK?
Antonio Pierri - find out his REAL name in a book chapter I'm writing - and Greek George both used the nom de plume as wrestlers in 1892. Greek George was upset about it, and turned up at the Sporting Life with a pile of newspapers as 'proof'. A classic match set-up!
Antonio Pierri - find out his REAL name in a book chapter I'm writing - and Greek George both used the nom de plume as wrestlers in 1892. Greek George was upset about it, and turned up at the Sporting Life with a pile of newspapers as 'proof'. A classic match set-up!
November 12, 2025 at 10:07 AM
WHO IS THE TERRIBLE GREEK?
Antonio Pierri - find out his REAL name in a book chapter I'm writing - and Greek George both used the nom de plume as wrestlers in 1892. Greek George was upset about it, and turned up at the Sporting Life with a pile of newspapers as 'proof'. A classic match set-up!
Antonio Pierri - find out his REAL name in a book chapter I'm writing - and Greek George both used the nom de plume as wrestlers in 1892. Greek George was upset about it, and turned up at the Sporting Life with a pile of newspapers as 'proof'. A classic match set-up!
Reposted by Sarah Elizabeth Cox
Top work from the boffins at Exeter University’s Department of the Bloody Obvious.
Shout at seagulls to stop them taking your food, research suggests
Researchers tested 61 gulls by playing recordings of a male voice shouting, speaking and the neutral birdsong of a robin.
news.sky.com
November 12, 2025 at 2:45 PM
Top work from the boffins at Exeter University’s Department of the Bloody Obvious.
Reposted by Sarah Elizabeth Cox
Someone read one of my books and said to me, "Fucking hell, how did you manage to keep ALL THAT in your head?" I told them it's actually extremely simple and anyone can do it. You just need to forget everything else important in your life and totally stop functioning as a human for a year or so.
November 12, 2025 at 8:16 AM
Someone read one of my books and said to me, "Fucking hell, how did you manage to keep ALL THAT in your head?" I told them it's actually extremely simple and anyone can do it. You just need to forget everything else important in your life and totally stop functioning as a human for a year or so.
WHO IS THE TERRIBLE GREEK?
Antonio Pierri - find out his REAL name in a book chapter I'm writing - and Greek George both used the nom de plume as wrestlers in 1892. Greek George was upset about it, and turned up at the Sporting Life with a pile of newspapers as 'proof'. A classic match set-up!
Antonio Pierri - find out his REAL name in a book chapter I'm writing - and Greek George both used the nom de plume as wrestlers in 1892. Greek George was upset about it, and turned up at the Sporting Life with a pile of newspapers as 'proof'. A classic match set-up!
November 12, 2025 at 10:07 AM
WHO IS THE TERRIBLE GREEK?
Antonio Pierri - find out his REAL name in a book chapter I'm writing - and Greek George both used the nom de plume as wrestlers in 1892. Greek George was upset about it, and turned up at the Sporting Life with a pile of newspapers as 'proof'. A classic match set-up!
Antonio Pierri - find out his REAL name in a book chapter I'm writing - and Greek George both used the nom de plume as wrestlers in 1892. Greek George was upset about it, and turned up at the Sporting Life with a pile of newspapers as 'proof'. A classic match set-up!
Reposted by Sarah Elizabeth Cox
“I tell you that a man is of no use to this world, of no use to society or the neighborhood in which he lives, who has no other object in view than making a fortune for himself and his family, little caring what becomes of those around him.”—Samuel Fielden, sentence commuted to life in prison.
November 11, 2025 at 3:10 PM
“I tell you that a man is of no use to this world, of no use to society or the neighborhood in which he lives, who has no other object in view than making a fortune for himself and his family, little caring what becomes of those around him.”—Samuel Fielden, sentence commuted to life in prison.
Reposted by Sarah Elizabeth Cox
Buried news of the day IMO
"Government vows to phase out animal tests as alternative methods come on stream with new strategy welcomed as ‘ambitious’ and ‘timely’ by animal welfare & life sciences organisations."
Plus new £75 million funding to bring forward new testing methods for health products
"Government vows to phase out animal tests as alternative methods come on stream with new strategy welcomed as ‘ambitious’ and ‘timely’ by animal welfare & life sciences organisations."
Plus new £75 million funding to bring forward new testing methods for health products
Animal testing to be phased out faster as UK unveils roadmap for alternative methods
New plan backs researchers to seize on new and developing opportunities to phase out animal tests with specific commitments for the coming years.
www.gov.uk
November 11, 2025 at 10:50 PM
Buried news of the day IMO
"Government vows to phase out animal tests as alternative methods come on stream with new strategy welcomed as ‘ambitious’ and ‘timely’ by animal welfare & life sciences organisations."
Plus new £75 million funding to bring forward new testing methods for health products
"Government vows to phase out animal tests as alternative methods come on stream with new strategy welcomed as ‘ambitious’ and ‘timely’ by animal welfare & life sciences organisations."
Plus new £75 million funding to bring forward new testing methods for health products
Reposted by Sarah Elizabeth Cox
News Chronicle, December 1936. Those were the days...
November 11, 2025 at 2:23 PM
News Chronicle, December 1936. Those were the days...