Sarah Drew
@sarah-drew.com
Writing about romance & red tape in 1819. Unbalanced accountant, voracious reader, few fixed opinions, slightly Scottish.
https://sarah-drew.com
Amazing cover art ©www.claremelinsky.co.uk
https://sarah-drew.com
Amazing cover art ©www.claremelinsky.co.uk
This is my favourite illustration from Hugh Thomson's Emma—Mr Knightley "walking away from William Larkins". The polished boots, Wm Larkins' bemusement, the detailing of the pegs on the haystacks and the shading of the trees.
November 26, 2025 at 12:24 AM
This is my favourite illustration from Hugh Thomson's Emma—Mr Knightley "walking away from William Larkins". The polished boots, Wm Larkins' bemusement, the detailing of the pegs on the haystacks and the shading of the trees.
I shall have to be buried with my e-reader, because if they filled my coffin with all the dead-tree books I love, there would be no room for me. A lot of them are illustrated with the delightful drawings of Charles & Henry Brock, Hugh Thomson, T.H. Robinson. Charming, appropriate & gently mocking.
November 25, 2025 at 11:54 PM
I shall have to be buried with my e-reader, because if they filled my coffin with all the dead-tree books I love, there would be no room for me. A lot of them are illustrated with the delightful drawings of Charles & Henry Brock, Hugh Thomson, T.H. Robinson. Charming, appropriate & gently mocking.
"Discover", indeed! The Scottish #accountants' organisation revealing their bias in their newsletter. As if their female members need to discover any of this. More to the point would be a headline that laid out what #ICAS is *doing* about it.
November 18, 2025 at 9:52 AM
"Discover", indeed! The Scottish #accountants' organisation revealing their bias in their newsletter. As if their female members need to discover any of this. More to the point would be a headline that laid out what #ICAS is *doing* about it.
Gotta admire #ViennaOpera for putting on #AlbanBerg 's #Wozzeck *every day* from April to October 2026—seven months.
This modernist #opera "depicts a soldier's tragic slide into madness and murder amid militarism and oppression". 200+ performances will do that to a chap.
This modernist #opera "depicts a soldier's tragic slide into madness and murder amid militarism and oppression". 200+ performances will do that to a chap.
November 17, 2025 at 12:10 AM
Gotta admire #ViennaOpera for putting on #AlbanBerg 's #Wozzeck *every day* from April to October 2026—seven months.
This modernist #opera "depicts a soldier's tragic slide into madness and murder amid militarism and oppression". 200+ performances will do that to a chap.
This modernist #opera "depicts a soldier's tragic slide into madness and murder amid militarism and oppression". 200+ performances will do that to a chap.
This is Sir Gregory Page-Turner. "Come on," he's saying, "come on, bring on de worms."
November 7, 2025 at 12:29 PM
This is Sir Gregory Page-Turner. "Come on," he's saying, "come on, bring on de worms."
The village had a bonfire. And fireworks. And a fire dancer.
A piper played the can-can, and we sort of danced, but holding fish & chips and a ginger beer, so more of a muddy shuffle, really.
A piper played the can-can, and we sort of danced, but holding fish & chips and a ginger beer, so more of a muddy shuffle, really.
November 3, 2025 at 12:31 AM
The village had a bonfire. And fireworks. And a fire dancer.
A piper played the can-can, and we sort of danced, but holding fish & chips and a ginger beer, so more of a muddy shuffle, really.
A piper played the can-can, and we sort of danced, but holding fish & chips and a ginger beer, so more of a muddy shuffle, really.
Talking of package tours, at lunch today
This chap was telling us about a queer
Experience in Tripoli last year.
It seems—or was it Tunis?—anyway
They took a longish trip inland, and they
Were somewhat puzzled when the coach stopped near
This massive concrete tower, tier on tier
Of crumbling arches.
This chap was telling us about a queer
Experience in Tripoli last year.
It seems—or was it Tunis?—anyway
They took a longish trip inland, and they
Were somewhat puzzled when the coach stopped near
This massive concrete tower, tier on tier
Of crumbling arches.
October 30, 2025 at 2:18 PM
Talking of package tours, at lunch today
This chap was telling us about a queer
Experience in Tripoli last year.
It seems—or was it Tunis?—anyway
They took a longish trip inland, and they
Were somewhat puzzled when the coach stopped near
This massive concrete tower, tier on tier
Of crumbling arches.
This chap was telling us about a queer
Experience in Tripoli last year.
It seems—or was it Tunis?—anyway
They took a longish trip inland, and they
Were somewhat puzzled when the coach stopped near
This massive concrete tower, tier on tier
Of crumbling arches.
Just seen La Sonnambula in a live screening from the #MetOpera. Interesting anti-GOP pre-opera political message from the Met's General Manager #PeterGelb. Singing was stratospherically accomplished (if not especially subtle); standout performance by an appropriately louche Alexander Vinogradov.
October 21, 2025 at 11:47 PM
Just seen La Sonnambula in a live screening from the #MetOpera. Interesting anti-GOP pre-opera political message from the Met's General Manager #PeterGelb. Singing was stratospherically accomplished (if not especially subtle); standout performance by an appropriately louche Alexander Vinogradov.
"Leave It To Psmith", P.G. Wodehouse.
October 20, 2025 at 12:40 PM
"Leave It To Psmith", P.G. Wodehouse.
Blazing performance tonight from #NicolaBenedetti and friends.
Foyer full of awe-struck audience, many demonstrating the air violin.
Foyer full of awe-struck audience, many demonstrating the air violin.
October 17, 2025 at 11:45 PM
Blazing performance tonight from #NicolaBenedetti and friends.
Foyer full of awe-struck audience, many demonstrating the air violin.
Foyer full of awe-struck audience, many demonstrating the air violin.
I don't often look to #BertrandRussell for comfort, but he laid down that daft claims had to be proved by the claimant, not disproved by the sensible. The assertion that an undetectable #teapot orbits the Sun somewhere between the Earth and Mars should not be accepted, although not proven wrong.
September 18, 2025 at 5:36 PM
I don't often look to #BertrandRussell for comfort, but he laid down that daft claims had to be proved by the claimant, not disproved by the sensible. The assertion that an undetectable #teapot orbits the Sun somewhere between the Earth and Mars should not be accepted, although not proven wrong.
My bro & I are executors of my aunt's many undated #wills, written on used envelopes, with cheery messages: "You'll find it's all very simple, ducks!"
I've spent days wrestling with ALL the taxes, we can't find 3 legatees, HMRC wants to interrogate the witnesses, & how I wish she were still here.
I've spent days wrestling with ALL the taxes, we can't find 3 legatees, HMRC wants to interrogate the witnesses, & how I wish she were still here.
September 16, 2025 at 10:08 PM
My bro & I are executors of my aunt's many undated #wills, written on used envelopes, with cheery messages: "You'll find it's all very simple, ducks!"
I've spent days wrestling with ALL the taxes, we can't find 3 legatees, HMRC wants to interrogate the witnesses, & how I wish she were still here.
I've spent days wrestling with ALL the taxes, we can't find 3 legatees, HMRC wants to interrogate the witnesses, & how I wish she were still here.
@bcdreyer.social's 'Dreyer's English' has arrived.
I'm in the middle of Chapter 3, beset by dry humour, common sense, and all the advice I didn't know I desperately needed.
I'm on the point of asking my editor to send my damned book back, for me to comb out all the tangles from its fur.
#AmWriting
I'm in the middle of Chapter 3, beset by dry humour, common sense, and all the advice I didn't know I desperately needed.
I'm on the point of asking my editor to send my damned book back, for me to comb out all the tangles from its fur.
#AmWriting
![Image shows the back-cover of the book, with the following text:
Step 1—The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up (Your Prose)
Go a week without writing:
• very
• rather
• really
• quite
• in fact
It's hard, right? But if you can last a week, you will be a considerably better writer than when you started.
Whether you write emails, blogs, books, or more emails, this witty and
enlightening guide to writing is here to help. Written by Benjamin Dreyer,
chief copy editor of the prestigious book publisher Random House and one of Twitter's leading language gurus, your sentences might never
be the same again.*
[Endorsements from authors and newspapers.]
* See page 94 for what's wrong with this sentence.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:oektws3bgz4ywza572uhj5og/bafkreid3zhyw6gcylrcu3dyxeccnf7emsz7gywcuta5vho7ufsoyzhh37m@jpeg)
September 12, 2025 at 10:52 AM
@bcdreyer.social's 'Dreyer's English' has arrived.
I'm in the middle of Chapter 3, beset by dry humour, common sense, and all the advice I didn't know I desperately needed.
I'm on the point of asking my editor to send my damned book back, for me to comb out all the tangles from its fur.
#AmWriting
I'm in the middle of Chapter 3, beset by dry humour, common sense, and all the advice I didn't know I desperately needed.
I'm on the point of asking my editor to send my damned book back, for me to comb out all the tangles from its fur.
#AmWriting
Doctor Strabismus (whom God preserve) of Utrecht.
September 7, 2025 at 12:46 PM
Doctor Strabismus (whom God preserve) of Utrecht.
I'm waiting for news. I'm calm as a calm thing, waiting for news.
I don't know why I dreamt of having ham & blue cheese chocolates thrust at me while unseen people tore apart carefully woven baskets.
Symbolism is for wimps. Not calm people.
I don't know why I dreamt of having ham & blue cheese chocolates thrust at me while unseen people tore apart carefully woven baskets.
Symbolism is for wimps. Not calm people.
September 2, 2025 at 2:00 PM
I'm waiting for news. I'm calm as a calm thing, waiting for news.
I don't know why I dreamt of having ham & blue cheese chocolates thrust at me while unseen people tore apart carefully woven baskets.
Symbolism is for wimps. Not calm people.
I don't know why I dreamt of having ham & blue cheese chocolates thrust at me while unseen people tore apart carefully woven baskets.
Symbolism is for wimps. Not calm people.
Took all the loose change from FIL's chairs / sock drawer etc to a CoinStar m/c.
List of items *not* to convert incl—
acorns, bullets, contact lenses, earthworms, finger nails, French fries, gold fish, miniature dice, mud, nails, pine cone parts, quilt squares, soap.
Tho' oddly nothing about tea...
List of items *not* to convert incl—
acorns, bullets, contact lenses, earthworms, finger nails, French fries, gold fish, miniature dice, mud, nails, pine cone parts, quilt squares, soap.
Tho' oddly nothing about tea...
August 28, 2025 at 5:02 PM
Took all the loose change from FIL's chairs / sock drawer etc to a CoinStar m/c.
List of items *not* to convert incl—
acorns, bullets, contact lenses, earthworms, finger nails, French fries, gold fish, miniature dice, mud, nails, pine cone parts, quilt squares, soap.
Tho' oddly nothing about tea...
List of items *not* to convert incl—
acorns, bullets, contact lenses, earthworms, finger nails, French fries, gold fish, miniature dice, mud, nails, pine cone parts, quilt squares, soap.
Tho' oddly nothing about tea...
#Historians, help me. A guide @ #ApsleyHouse told me the 400+ piece Prussian dinner service came to London protected in cases of melted & resolidified butter. I've loved & retold this story but an ex-A-Hse curator friend says it ain't so.
Any advance on melted butter?
#C19 #Wellington #Waterloo
Any advance on melted butter?
#C19 #Wellington #Waterloo
August 21, 2025 at 1:30 PM
#Historians, help me. A guide @ #ApsleyHouse told me the 400+ piece Prussian dinner service came to London protected in cases of melted & resolidified butter. I've loved & retold this story but an ex-A-Hse curator friend says it ain't so.
Any advance on melted butter?
#C19 #Wellington #Waterloo
Any advance on melted butter?
#C19 #Wellington #Waterloo
I bring you Ellis Martin, the #OrdnanceSurvey #map cover artist 1919-1940.
So successful were his designs that the Ordnance Survey maps out-sold the competition, appealing to the (comparatively) new markets of walkers, cyclists, motorists and tourists.
I do like a nice bit of commercial art.
So successful were his designs that the Ordnance Survey maps out-sold the competition, appealing to the (comparatively) new markets of walkers, cyclists, motorists and tourists.
I do like a nice bit of commercial art.
August 18, 2025 at 2:32 PM
I bring you Ellis Martin, the #OrdnanceSurvey #map cover artist 1919-1940.
So successful were his designs that the Ordnance Survey maps out-sold the competition, appealing to the (comparatively) new markets of walkers, cyclists, motorists and tourists.
I do like a nice bit of commercial art.
So successful were his designs that the Ordnance Survey maps out-sold the competition, appealing to the (comparatively) new markets of walkers, cyclists, motorists and tourists.
I do like a nice bit of commercial art.
Show me your getaway vehicle.
August 13, 2025 at 6:17 PM
Show me your getaway vehicle.
Not sure how seriously to take this, given it hasn't tracked a single "a" so far. I shall follow its future career with a singular interest.
#Language #Dictionaries
#Language #Dictionaries
August 7, 2025 at 1:30 PM
Not sure how seriously to take this, given it hasn't tracked a single "a" so far. I shall follow its future career with a singular interest.
#Language #Dictionaries
#Language #Dictionaries
Half-past midnight & I'm listening to #CornellMacNeil lamenting over his dying daughter for the 3rd time this evening. #Rigoletto is the greatest #baritone role bar none, & CMacN's rich voice is giving it laldy.
There seems no good reason not to play the whole thing all over again, really.
There seems no good reason not to play the whole thing all over again, really.
August 4, 2025 at 11:54 PM
Half-past midnight & I'm listening to #CornellMacNeil lamenting over his dying daughter for the 3rd time this evening. #Rigoletto is the greatest #baritone role bar none, & CMacN's rich voice is giving it laldy.
There seems no good reason not to play the whole thing all over again, really.
There seems no good reason not to play the whole thing all over again, really.
Waiting for the Merry Wives of Windsor in South-West Scotland.
July 22, 2025 at 5:11 PM
Waiting for the Merry Wives of Windsor in South-West Scotland.
Two autobiographies published in 1959-62.
One book I shall read. The other, I won't.
#ForensicPathology #Memoirs #Royalty
One book I shall read. The other, I won't.
#ForensicPathology #Memoirs #Royalty
![Cover image is of forensic pathologist Sir Sydney Smith's Autobiography, Mostly Murder. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mostly_Murder
“The[se three bones] are the bones of a young woman,” I reported. “She was short and slim. Aged between twenty-three and twenty-five when she died, which was at least three months ago. She had probably had at least one pregnancy, perhaps more. Her left leg was shorter than her right, and she walked with a pronounced limp. Probably she had polio when a child. She was killed by a shotgun loaded with home-made slugs, fired in an upward direction from a range of about three yards. The killer was standing, or sitting, in front of her, and slightly to her left. She was not killed outright, but died about seven to ten days later, probably from septic peritonitis due to the shooting.”](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:oektws3bgz4ywza572uhj5og/bafkreicby5sg7t5omq3nny5b2uapdi3wp4vqetokfi22y3w2lrelrphkd4@jpeg)
July 19, 2025 at 6:49 PM
Two autobiographies published in 1959-62.
One book I shall read. The other, I won't.
#ForensicPathology #Memoirs #Royalty
One book I shall read. The other, I won't.
#ForensicPathology #Memoirs #Royalty