Victoria Moul
@victoriamoul.bsky.social
Critic, scholar, translator and poet in Paris. Recent reviews in the TLS and The Friday Poem. Most recent books from CUP & Palgrave. Poems in various places. Weekly substack on poetry & translation https://vamoul.substack.com/ https://www.victoriamoul.com
Very interesting to see Penguin venturing back into the waters of parallel text. (They used to do this a lot but I haven't seen one for ages.)
I'm not on here much, but I am so excited to share the cover of my forthcoming Catullus translation, featuring an amazing painting by Eduardo Mata Icasa (called "Nature of Emptiness"). As soon as I saw the painting, I knew no other work of art could more perfectly capture how I think about Catullus.
November 28, 2025 at 3:23 PM
Very interesting to see Penguin venturing back into the waters of parallel text. (They used to do this a lot but I haven't seen one for ages.)
Reposted by Victoria Moul
I'm not on here much, but I am so excited to share the cover of my forthcoming Catullus translation, featuring an amazing painting by Eduardo Mata Icasa (called "Nature of Emptiness"). As soon as I saw the painting, I knew no other work of art could more perfectly capture how I think about Catullus.
November 28, 2025 at 2:51 PM
I'm not on here much, but I am so excited to share the cover of my forthcoming Catullus translation, featuring an amazing painting by Eduardo Mata Icasa (called "Nature of Emptiness"). As soon as I saw the painting, I knew no other work of art could more perfectly capture how I think about Catullus.
This week I’ve written about e. e. cummings and Horace’s least fashionable poem.
Love is a deeper season: e. e. cummings and Horace the fascist
Writing the piece about anthologies last week reminded me how much I like e.
open.substack.com
November 27, 2025 at 3:04 PM
This week I’ve written about e. e. cummings and Horace’s least fashionable poem.
Reposted by Victoria Moul
2/3 @robin-gow-poet.bsky.social @victoriamoul.bsky.social @clareshawpoet.bsky.social @jntod.bsky.social @annettemakino.bsky.social @writtenbyallison.bsky.social @victoriaspires.bsky.social @kelliagodon.bsky.social @kristybowen.bsky.social
www.vianegativa.us/2025/11/poet...
www.vianegativa.us/2025/11/poet...
Poetry Blog Digest 2025, Week 47
A personal selection of posts from the Poetry Blogging Network and beyond.
www.vianegativa.us
November 25, 2025 at 1:15 AM
This week I have written about two big anthologies of love poetry, published originally in the 70s, how they were redone for the new century, and what makes an anthology really stand out.
Love in revision
How anthologies change
open.substack.com
November 20, 2025 at 3:05 PM
This week I have written about two big anthologies of love poetry, published originally in the 70s, how they were redone for the new century, and what makes an anthology really stand out.
Reposted by Victoria Moul
This week in the poetry blogs with @roguestrands.bsky.social @robmclennan.bsky.social @mcrucefix.bsky.social @emmalee1.bsky.social @chaucercameron.bsky.social @kent-nj.bsky.social @robin-gow-poet.bsky.social @victoriamoul.bsky.social 1/3
www.vianegativa.us/2025/11/poet...
www.vianegativa.us/2025/11/poet...
Poetry Blog Digest 2025, Week 46
A personal selection of posts from the Poetry Blogging Network and beyond.
www.vianegativa.us
November 17, 2025 at 10:44 PM
Today I have written about Pound's first canto and Homer in Latin.
Ezra Pound and Homer's Latin
Bearing the golden bough of Argicida
open.substack.com
November 13, 2025 at 3:17 PM
Today I have written about Pound's first canto and Homer in Latin.
Reposted by Victoria Moul
A commitment to express the inexpressible from @alinaetc.bsky.social @victoriamoul.bsky.social @shawnalemay.bsky.social @annettemakino.bsky.social @myheadtheforest.bsky.social @pi-and-anne.bsky.social @vanopticon.bsky.social @jamesmcconachie1.bsky.social 2/4
www.vianegativa.us/2025/11/poet...
www.vianegativa.us/2025/11/poet...
Poetry Blog Digest 2025, Week 45
A personal selection of posts from the Poetry Blogging Network and beyond.
www.vianegativa.us
November 11, 2025 at 12:34 AM
Some readers of my substack might be interested in this interview I did with Greg Allum as part of the launch of his new Ink and Ribbon press:
Bound Voices #001: A Conversation with Victoria Moul
Where Pindar meets the nursery — poetry’s past and present in conversation.
theinkwell.inkandribbon.org
November 11, 2025 at 9:45 AM
Some readers of my substack might be interested in this interview I did with Greg Allum as part of the launch of his new Ink and Ribbon press:
Reposted by Victoria Moul
My comment, for @pnreview.bsky.social, on the Len Pennie & Sarah Doyle affair - or Canongagegate, as I like to think of it. Honourable mentions: @naush.bsky.social, @thetimes.com.
Feel free to share, to attack me with your little jelly pitchforks, or to ignore.
www.pnreview.co.uk/archive/rema...
Feel free to share, to attack me with your little jelly pitchforks, or to ignore.
www.pnreview.co.uk/archive/rema...
PN Review Print and Online Poetry Magazine - Remarkable Coincidences - Rory Waterman - PN Review 286
One of the outstanding poetry journals of our time.
www.pnreview.co.uk
November 7, 2025 at 2:43 PM
My comment, for @pnreview.bsky.social, on the Len Pennie & Sarah Doyle affair - or Canongagegate, as I like to think of it. Honourable mentions: @naush.bsky.social, @thetimes.com.
Feel free to share, to attack me with your little jelly pitchforks, or to ignore.
www.pnreview.co.uk/archive/rema...
Feel free to share, to attack me with your little jelly pitchforks, or to ignore.
www.pnreview.co.uk/archive/rema...
Today I’ve written more about a fun Gunpowder Plot play from the 1680s. (A day late -- it was Guy Fawkes' in the UK yesterday.) Intrepid adventurer in early modern Latin that I am, I actually read the whole thing this morning and this is my field report. TLDR: surprisingly good.
Beware the moles!
I was going to write today about a series of poems on stealing fruit — a result of free-associating from the particularly delicious pear tart I had at lunch earlier this week.
open.substack.com
November 6, 2025 at 3:24 PM
Today I’ve written more about a fun Gunpowder Plot play from the 1680s. (A day late -- it was Guy Fawkes' in the UK yesterday.) Intrepid adventurer in early modern Latin that I am, I actually read the whole thing this morning and this is my field report. TLDR: surprisingly good.
Reposted by Victoria Moul
A book mess, the ancient netherworld & more w/ @robin-gow-poet.bsky.social @victoriamoul.bsky.social @shawnalemay.bsky.social @myheadtheforest.bsky.social @kathleenjamie.bsky.social @writtenbyallison.bsky.social @vanopticon.bsky.social @kent-nj.bsky.social 2/3 www.vianegativa.us/2025/11/poet...
Poetry Blog Digest 2025, Week 44
A personal selection of posts from the Poetry Blogging Network and beyond.
www.vianegativa.us
November 4, 2025 at 1:40 AM
A book mess, the ancient netherworld & more w/ @robin-gow-poet.bsky.social @victoriamoul.bsky.social @shawnalemay.bsky.social @myheadtheforest.bsky.social @kathleenjamie.bsky.social @writtenbyallison.bsky.social @vanopticon.bsky.social @kent-nj.bsky.social 2/3 www.vianegativa.us/2025/11/poet...
For paid subscribers to my substack (but everyone can read the first few paras) here’s a fairly long review essay about the great but rebarbative American poet Anthony Hecht, which I wrote originally for “The Dark Horse”. There’ll be a free piece as usual on Thursday.
Anthony Hecht: a review essay
Who could have called their slow creation rage?
open.substack.com
November 3, 2025 at 1:50 PM
For paid subscribers to my substack (but everyone can read the first few paras) here’s a fairly long review essay about the great but rebarbative American poet Anthony Hecht, which I wrote originally for “The Dark Horse”. There’ll be a free piece as usual on Thursday.
Today I’ve written about poetic harvests in Housman, Virgil, Homer, Marvell, Fisher, Rosenberg and Davies.
Harvesting in time of war
Housman, Virgil, Homer, Marvell, Fisher, Rosenberg and Davies
open.substack.com
October 30, 2025 at 1:50 PM
Today I’ve written about poetic harvests in Housman, Virgil, Homer, Marvell, Fisher, Rosenberg and Davies.
Reposted by Victoria Moul
Fluff under pressure, a man in a shattered house & more with @victoriamoul.bsky.social @suefinch.bsky.social @alinaetc.bsky.social @clareshawpoet.bsky.social @pi-and-anne.bsky.social @dharmabam.bsky.social @victoriaspires.bsky.social @velveteenrabbi.bsky.social 2/3
www.vianegativa.us/2025/10/poet...
www.vianegativa.us/2025/10/poet...
Poetry Blog Digest 2025, Week 43
A personal selection of posts from the Poetry Blogging Network and beyond.
www.vianegativa.us
October 28, 2025 at 12:03 AM
Fluff under pressure, a man in a shattered house & more with @victoriamoul.bsky.social @suefinch.bsky.social @alinaetc.bsky.social @clareshawpoet.bsky.social @pi-and-anne.bsky.social @dharmabam.bsky.social @victoriaspires.bsky.social @velveteenrabbi.bsky.social 2/3
www.vianegativa.us/2025/10/poet...
www.vianegativa.us/2025/10/poet...
Today a review of a huge new book on the translation of Virgil - written for the TLS, here on substack available in full to paid subscribers only. (Free subscribers can read the first part.)
Review of Susanna Morton Braund, "Translating Virgil: A Cultural History of the Western Tradition from the Eleventh Century to the Present" (CUP, 2025)
First published in the TLS, October 2025
open.substack.com
October 27, 2025 at 3:30 PM
Today a review of a huge new book on the translation of Virgil - written for the TLS, here on substack available in full to paid subscribers only. (Free subscribers can read the first part.)
Today I’ve written about the enduring popularity and stimulating ambiguity of a little poem about a naughty monk.
The evergreen obscenity
One rude poem (which no-one quite understands)
open.substack.com
October 23, 2025 at 1:13 PM
Today I’ve written about the enduring popularity and stimulating ambiguity of a little poem about a naughty monk.
Reposted by Victoria Moul
this is very very nice and I am still not sure I read the email accurately - big thanks to @leverhulme.ac.uk, without whom, incidentally, I could not have written A FLAT PLACE
Dr @noreenmasud.bsky.social, Associate Professor in Creative and Critical Writing from the Department of English, has been awarded a prestigious Philip Leverhulme Prize, awarded by the @leverhulme.ac.uk - one of only 30 recipients from across the UK who will receive £100,000.
October 21, 2025 at 9:53 AM
this is very very nice and I am still not sure I read the email accurately - big thanks to @leverhulme.ac.uk, without whom, incidentally, I could not have written A FLAT PLACE
I have belatedly noticed that my review of Susanna Morton Braund’s giant new book on the translation of Virgil was in the TLS last week. Paid substack subscribers will have access to a copy on there fairly soon.
Translating Virgil across continents
Emily Wilson’s translation of the Iliad, published last year, provoked widespread coverage and passionate discussion: many readers still care about how
www.the-tls.com
October 21, 2025 at 7:12 AM
I have belatedly noticed that my review of Susanna Morton Braund’s giant new book on the translation of Virgil was in the TLS last week. Paid substack subscribers will have access to a copy on there fairly soon.
Reposted by Victoria Moul
A covert translation, how to bake a foole & more with @robin-gow-poet.bsky.social @victoriamoul.bsky.social @wendypratt.bsky.social @suefinch.bsky.social @myheadtheforest.bsky.social @vanopticon.bsky.social @webbish6.bsky.social @velveteenrabbi.bsky.social 2/3
www.vianegativa.us/2025/10/poet...
www.vianegativa.us/2025/10/poet...
Poetry Blog Digest 2025, Week 42
A personal selection of posts from the Poetry Blogging Network and beyond.
www.vianegativa.us
October 20, 2025 at 11:52 PM
A covert translation, how to bake a foole & more with @robin-gow-poet.bsky.social @victoriamoul.bsky.social @wendypratt.bsky.social @suefinch.bsky.social @myheadtheforest.bsky.social @vanopticon.bsky.social @webbish6.bsky.social @velveteenrabbi.bsky.social 2/3
www.vianegativa.us/2025/10/poet...
www.vianegativa.us/2025/10/poet...
Reposted by Victoria Moul
When does eccentricity become dangerous? The Campaign Requiring Obliteration Of Pillboxes (C.R.O.O.P) believe pillboxes are portals to an England invaded by Nazis. Normally this would just be thought of a bit mad, but C.R.O.O.P. also believe in bombs. – Bob Wellings, BBC Nationwide
October 20, 2025 at 11:08 AM
When does eccentricity become dangerous? The Campaign Requiring Obliteration Of Pillboxes (C.R.O.O.P) believe pillboxes are portals to an England invaded by Nazis. Normally this would just be thought of a bit mad, but C.R.O.O.P. also believe in bombs. – Bob Wellings, BBC Nationwide
Hardly an earth-shattering observation, but I am very moved by Marcus Aurelius's "Meditations", and the Greek is lovely. (Though text quite messy.) Good option for anyone interested in reading some koine Greek which is a bit more literary/rhetorical in flavour than most of the NT.
October 20, 2025 at 9:16 AM
Hardly an earth-shattering observation, but I am very moved by Marcus Aurelius's "Meditations", and the Greek is lovely. (Though text quite messy.) Good option for anyone interested in reading some koine Greek which is a bit more literary/rhetorical in flavour than most of the NT.
Reposted by Victoria Moul
Under Over Over - West Hampstead
So it's taken a while, but I've finally found a location where you can clearly see London Underground trains traveling over London Overground trains.
The vantage point is at West Hampstead Overground station at the end of the platform.
So it's taken a while, but I've finally found a location where you can clearly see London Underground trains traveling over London Overground trains.
The vantage point is at West Hampstead Overground station at the end of the platform.
October 20, 2025 at 6:54 AM
Under Over Over - West Hampstead
So it's taken a while, but I've finally found a location where you can clearly see London Underground trains traveling over London Overground trains.
The vantage point is at West Hampstead Overground station at the end of the platform.
So it's taken a while, but I've finally found a location where you can clearly see London Underground trains traveling over London Overground trains.
The vantage point is at West Hampstead Overground station at the end of the platform.
Reposted by Victoria Moul
'Her singular blend of severity and skittishness is unrivalled in the poetry of her peers.'
Anthony Lane for @newyorker.com on The Miraculous Season, by V. R. Lang, edited by Rosa Campbell.
Read the review:
www.newyorker.com/magazine/202...
Browse the book:
www.carcanet.co.uk/978180017337...
Anthony Lane for @newyorker.com on The Miraculous Season, by V. R. Lang, edited by Rosa Campbell.
Read the review:
www.newyorker.com/magazine/202...
Browse the book:
www.carcanet.co.uk/978180017337...
V. R. Lang, a Forgotten Queen Bee of Modern Poetry
A débutante, a burlesque dancer, and a poet, the shape-shifting Lang—who died at thirty-two—wrote some of the most aching, entrancing poetry of the twentieth century.
www.newyorker.com
October 15, 2025 at 1:30 PM
'Her singular blend of severity and skittishness is unrivalled in the poetry of her peers.'
Anthony Lane for @newyorker.com on The Miraculous Season, by V. R. Lang, edited by Rosa Campbell.
Read the review:
www.newyorker.com/magazine/202...
Browse the book:
www.carcanet.co.uk/978180017337...
Anthony Lane for @newyorker.com on The Miraculous Season, by V. R. Lang, edited by Rosa Campbell.
Read the review:
www.newyorker.com/magazine/202...
Browse the book:
www.carcanet.co.uk/978180017337...
Today I’ve written about a poem by Michael Longley and the questions it raises about obscurity, in-jokes and what makes a poem work.
The poet's joke
Does it matter if we don't get it?
open.substack.com
October 16, 2025 at 1:21 PM
Today I’ve written about a poem by Michael Longley and the questions it raises about obscurity, in-jokes and what makes a poem work.