Jon Hughes
@riderjon.bsky.social
Academic in German + Cultural Studies, Royal Holloway Uni. of London, researching film, lit, history, sport. Books on Joseph Roth, Max Schmeling. Latest book: PEOPLE ON SUNDAY, out now with Bloomsbury/BFI Film Classics. Cyclist, cat person, European.
Radiohead at the O2 in London last night - a spectacular and generous show. I think the 8th time I’ve seen them live, going back to 1995, so I enjoyed experiencing an (almost) career-spanning set in front of an adoring (and surprisingly youthful) crowd.
November 22, 2025 at 7:05 AM
Radiohead at the O2 in London last night - a spectacular and generous show. I think the 8th time I’ve seen them live, going back to 1995, so I enjoyed experiencing an (almost) career-spanning set in front of an adoring (and surprisingly youthful) crowd.
A miserable day but at least someone is happy. NB I always put her ears back afterwards ;) #catsofbluesky
November 16, 2025 at 10:57 AM
A miserable day but at least someone is happy. NB I always put her ears back afterwards ;) #catsofbluesky
Peter Lorre in his first Hollywood film MAD LOVE (1935), directed by legendary German cinematographer Karl Freund. It's a remake of Robert Wiene's ORLACS HÄNDE (1924) starring Conrad Veidt.
October 31, 2025 at 3:34 PM
Peter Lorre in his first Hollywood film MAD LOVE (1935), directed by legendary German cinematographer Karl Freund. It's a remake of Robert Wiene's ORLACS HÄNDE (1924) starring Conrad Veidt.
Nice - my advance copy of WORLDS OF WONDER, a beautifully produced guide to children’s lit, ed. by Daniel Hahn + Julia Eccleshare. Includes my take on Kästner‘s EMIL AND THE DETECTIVES. Out soon with @princetonupress.bsky.social!
September 29, 2025 at 8:15 PM
Nice - my advance copy of WORLDS OF WONDER, a beautifully produced guide to children’s lit, ed. by Daniel Hahn + Julia Eccleshare. Includes my take on Kästner‘s EMIL AND THE DETECTIVES. Out soon with @princetonupress.bsky.social!
Gosh, who’d have thought so many anti-racists would be attracted by a party whose whole shtick is racism and xenophobia? Labour really are pathetically timid.
September 29, 2025 at 9:45 AM
Gosh, who’d have thought so many anti-racists would be attracted by a party whose whole shtick is racism and xenophobia? Labour really are pathetically timid.
I recently received these lovely signed copies of recent books by Tom Cox @dj-acid-reflux.bsky.social after having my name drawn from Tom’s hat. Suki has given them the sniff test and approved - really looking forward to reading ‘1983’. Thanks Tom!
August 31, 2025 at 7:24 PM
I recently received these lovely signed copies of recent books by Tom Cox @dj-acid-reflux.bsky.social after having my name drawn from Tom’s hat. Suki has given them the sniff test and approved - really looking forward to reading ‘1983’. Thanks Tom!
Kind of reminds me of... :)
August 29, 2025 at 1:20 PM
Kind of reminds me of... :)
‘Bask’? Ffs, I wish the BBC would stop implying 30+ degrees is ‘good’ weather. It isn’t, it’s too hot, and homes in the UK aren’t designed for it. We’re not lizards.
August 23, 2025 at 4:43 PM
‘Bask’? Ffs, I wish the BBC would stop implying 30+ degrees is ‘good’ weather. It isn’t, it’s too hot, and homes in the UK aren’t designed for it. We’re not lizards.
Found a dragonfly in the garden - deceased, but at least that meant I got to admire those wings up close!
August 17, 2025 at 5:07 PM
Found a dragonfly in the garden - deceased, but at least that meant I got to admire those wings up close!
Reminds me a little of the Atlas Film posters for imported films in Germany, which are nearly always superior to the originals.
August 13, 2025 at 12:23 PM
Reminds me a little of the Atlas Film posters for imported films in Germany, which are nearly always superior to the originals.
Ronald Searle's fabulously evocative drawings of the building of the Berlin Wall in August 1961 and the months afterwards. Originally published in Punch magazine; in the collection of the Imperial War Museum.
![A drawing by Searle with the caption 'Vopo [Volkpolizei] guards watch the West as a further section of the Wall goes up.'](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:gs23rym6nenazrmkxwnolnbl/bafkreid76azqot6vdvwftlab3cyud3k5muej3fdhn5kvadq2sce73mnkqa@jpeg)
August 13, 2025 at 9:32 AM
Ronald Searle's fabulously evocative drawings of the building of the Berlin Wall in August 1961 and the months afterwards. Originally published in Punch magazine; in the collection of the Imperial War Museum.
Our cat Billy is another big fan. This is not an uncommon breakfast sight in our household 🙄 His sister is behind him, somewhat disgusted as she doesn’t like cereal.
August 11, 2025 at 1:39 PM
Our cat Billy is another big fan. This is not an uncommon breakfast sight in our household 🙄 His sister is behind him, somewhat disgusted as she doesn’t like cereal.
A first visit to the new Goodwood Art Foundation in West Sussex today. Art (by Rachel Whiteread and others) interacting with landscape to great effect. Plus a great restaurant.
August 8, 2025 at 3:47 PM
A first visit to the new Goodwood Art Foundation in West Sussex today. Art (by Rachel Whiteread and others) interacting with landscape to great effect. Plus a great restaurant.
BOTD 1900 - Robert Siodmak, a pioneering film director first in his native Germany, then in exile in France and the USA. Co-director and instigator of PEOPLE ON SUNDAY (1930), and also known for brilliant films noir such as THE SUSPECT (1944), THE SPIRAL STAIRCASE (1946) and THE KILLERS (1946).
August 8, 2025 at 7:47 AM
BOTD 1900 - Robert Siodmak, a pioneering film director first in his native Germany, then in exile in France and the USA. Co-director and instigator of PEOPLE ON SUNDAY (1930), and also known for brilliant films noir such as THE SUSPECT (1944), THE SPIRAL STAIRCASE (1946) and THE KILLERS (1946).
Current home office POV. He stopped doing this a while ago but has clearly decided I’d got way too used to working without loud purring, clumps of cat fur, and a head knocking against my wrist. #catsofbluesky
August 7, 2025 at 9:05 AM
Current home office POV. He stopped doing this a while ago but has clearly decided I’d got way too used to working without loud purring, clumps of cat fur, and a head knocking against my wrist. #catsofbluesky
Infuriating BBC ‘impartiality’ in this push notification - phrased as though some experts think RFK might ‘have a point’, even though the article confirms that none do - the consensus is that it is a ‘stupid’ move.
August 6, 2025 at 6:49 PM
Infuriating BBC ‘impartiality’ in this push notification - phrased as though some experts think RFK might ‘have a point’, even though the article confirms that none do - the consensus is that it is a ‘stupid’ move.
First pumpkin (‘Midnight’) from the garden, way earlier than expected but at nearly 1.8kg it was threatening to break the plant! Hopefully it’s good to eat. Suki however was sceptical 😼 🎃
August 5, 2025 at 7:07 PM
First pumpkin (‘Midnight’) from the garden, way earlier than expected but at nearly 1.8kg it was threatening to break the plant! Hopefully it’s good to eat. Suki however was sceptical 😼 🎃
Canna lily showing off in the sunlight this morning.
July 24, 2025 at 7:34 PM
Canna lily showing off in the sunlight this morning.
Nothing says '2025' like an online news article about the devastating impacts of AI, accompanied by a prominent advert for AI implying you can get rid of human staff.
July 24, 2025 at 9:35 AM
Nothing says '2025' like an online news article about the devastating impacts of AI, accompanied by a prominent advert for AI implying you can get rid of human staff.
One of my favourites:
Lotte Laserstein, 'Self Portait with Cat', 1928.
Leicester Museum & Art Gallery.
Lotte Laserstein, 'Self Portait with Cat', 1928.
Leicester Museum & Art Gallery.
July 17, 2025 at 9:37 AM
One of my favourites:
Lotte Laserstein, 'Self Portait with Cat', 1928.
Leicester Museum & Art Gallery.
Lotte Laserstein, 'Self Portait with Cat', 1928.
Leicester Museum & Art Gallery.
When you’re already struggling with the tiny font in a 1980s paperback, and then you’re hit with footnotes like this… I wonder if can claim a magnifying glass as research expenses…
July 16, 2025 at 10:16 AM
When you’re already struggling with the tiny font in a 1980s paperback, and then you’re hit with footnotes like this… I wonder if can claim a magnifying glass as research expenses…