I'm happy to announce that the final book I'll write about Francis of Assisi will publish next January, from Monkfish Publishing, in time for the 800th anniversary of the saint's death. Here's the cover!

Zelenskyy said Ukraine is closer than ever to ending the war but warned: “Russia does not end its wars on its own.” No more “Budapest paper,” no “Minsk trap” — only real security. “My signature will be under a strong agreement.” euromaidanpress.com/2026/01/01/u...

Some celebrate the Feast of All Saints on November 1. Others every day.

Another masterpiece publication from @thamesandhudson.bsky.social #ArtOfTravel #Italy Following In The Footsteps Of The Great Artists by #NickTrend A beautifully produced book, with excellent text....👏👏👏

We'll be covering all the latest developments from France today on thelocal.fr - parliamentary session due to start at 3pm, vote expected around 7pm - but in the meantime, here's a look at what it actually means when a government falls in France (guillotine = very unlikely, I just liked the photo)

Elon Musk has *personally*posted in favour of the racist remigration agenda of the maximalist racist abusing the Home Secretary with this on X & endlessly posting racist harassment on X This should be a story. It should be a scandal. Musk should have to account for this, in person, in parliament

Back for another week in France . . . 🇫🇷 With more and more September strikes and the PM apparently doomed, is France now ungovernable? 💰 France's €1 homes (yes, there is a catch. Several in fact) 🧀 France's smelliest cheeses, ranked

Excellent evening @regentstcinema.bsky.social for a screening of #Rope, followed by @ppfideas.bsky.social live podcast recording with #DavidRunciman and @niccifrench.bsky.social 👏

🇺🇦SPECIAL BONUS 🇺🇦 In Ukraine’s most crucial week, Kyiv’s former foreign minister @dmytrokuleba.bsky.social discusses the talks, the war and the future with @ozkaterji.bsky.social 🇺🇦 Listen linktr.ee/DrillPod

Vance pretends to be ignorant about basic history ("all wars end in negotiation") and lies about things we all witnessed a week ago ("Ru made serious concessions") to promote Ukr surrender. One can hold his political position for wtv utilitarian reasons but pushing it w such lies is moral turpitude.

🎬Meet French director Emmanuel Mouret at the screening of Three Friends on 3 June at Ciné Lumière A tangled, tender romcom of love, friendship & secrets, starring Camille Cottin and Vincent Macaigne. 🗓️ Exclusive release from 3 June at Ciné Lumière 🎟️ www.institut-francais.org.uk/cinema/three...

Very much looking forward to this tomorrow @frenchinstituteuk.bsky.social with @peterfrankopan.bsky.social and #PatrickBoucheron....Am then staying on for new French film #TheMarchingBand... #FrenchDoubleHeader

Brilliant analysis from my friend Austen Ivereigh: www.commonwealmagazine.org/ivereigh-pre...

Ten years of Laudato Si': from @lsrioxford.bsky.social lsri.campion.ox.ac.uk/news/24-may-...

"Warm and sure-footed, the film has the feel of a richly satisfying meal in an excellent neighbourhood bistro" @financialtimes.com 📅 Watch The Marching Band at Ciné Lumière 🎟️ www.institut-francais.org.uk/cinema/the-m... www.ft.com/content/c9f7...

🗣️2 leading historians @peterfrankopan.bsky.social & Patrick Boucheron (@collegedefrance.bsky.social) come together to challenge the past and shape the future of history. Talk on 27 May @frenchinstituteuk.bsky.social 🎟️ www.institut-francais.org.uk/events-agend...

Also appropriate today for different reasons, Jessica Wärnberg's lively account of the history of Rome & the Vatican through the ages: bookshop.org/p/books/city... (Worth noting I first read both this book & On Savage Shores from my local public library before deciding I also needed my own copy.)

Magnifique from @ubbrugby.bsky.social.....!!! #Chapeau 👏👏👏

In France protest is also art, and often references Delacroix's famous 'Liberty leading the people' painting

This film is excellent and lovely, definitely see it if you get the chance. You'll learn some rural French drinking songs . . .

Weird, that link didn’t work, try this uk.bookshop.org/p/books/amus...

Absolutely loved this episode on historic restaurants! @carolynboyd.bsky.social covering Paris, #RichardCorrigan on Bentley's, #JeremyKing explaining why London does not have that many historic restaurants comparatively, but why they are important, #Veeraswamy impending closure, plus so much more.

Startling, beautiful, transformational - never seen a show like this before! Siena at National Gallery. GO ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ www.theguardian.com/artanddesign...

Full text of Cardinal Re’s homily at Pope Francis’s Funeral Mass. press.vatican.va/content/sala...

Thank you, Pope Francis. The world is less bright without you, Thank you for your witness and inspiration.❤️

Cardinal Re’s masterpiece homily at Francis’ funeral was largely a promotion of the “Francis Style.” As these days move on toward conclave, Re has given the College its first set of marching orders in the run up to a papal election. Re’s term as Dean was renewed by Francis…for a specific reason.

Excellent @cheesetastingco.bsky.social book and cheese tasting event this evening @booksinthepark.bsky.social #BeckenhamPlaceMansion Tasted 5 great French cheeses and learnt their history - #Brie #Crottin #OssauIrtay #Salers #Roquefort 👏

At #PopeFrancis' funeral, thousands mourn a pontiff 'who touched hearts and minds' religionnews.com/2025/04/26/a... @clairegiangrave.bsky.social

Francis, the simple pope from the end of the world who broke the mold and opened the Church as never before. www.lanacion.com.ar/el-mundo/fra...

After death of Pope Francis, how will the new pope be elected?

Just booked for this @cheesetastingco.bsky.social event @booksinthepark.bsky.social next Saturday evening at 6.30pm...It's a great book on French cheeses, combined with a cheese tasting and a glass of wine....What's not to love?! 👏 #Magnifique

Praise for #Cheesemonger'sTour from the Standard, 27th March. Monomaniacal.' Yep. 'Big cheese' eh? I'll have that too.

Hard to imagine a better podcast guest than @anneapplebaum.bsky.social right now. Something about the combination of spontaneous eloquence, a keen intellect, and a knowledge base as wide as the Urals. podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/t...

Pope Francis has set the architect Antoni Gaudí on the path to sainthood, but if the Sagrada Família is anything to go by, we could be in for a long wait

Very interesting and helpful stuff 👇 As well as a full report to get stuck into… assets.lnr.fr/2/2/2/5/9/3/...

🎧: Writer and human rights lawyer @philippesands.bsky.social joins @ellenhalliday.bsky.social and @aloner.bsky.social on the Prospect Podcast to discuss the ‘age of impunity'. Are international systems crumbling, or will they stand the test of time? podfollow.com/the-pr...

I am also the author of a history of concentration camps in the Soviet Union, and I concur

Excellent evening at #InstitutFrancais with @atahualpavasari.bsky.social discussing his new novel #Perspectives 👏 #chapeau #Florence #Renaissance #GiorgioVasari #Michelangelo

Excellent @ukrinstitute.bsky.social event tonight at #EuropeHouse. A very good discussion between @keirgiles.bsky.social and @edwardlucas.bsky.social on #Ukraine, #Europe, #defencestrategy, #geopolitics etc,. It was really sobering and cut through the diplomatic platitudes we hear far too often 👏👏👏

Sunday Listen: The Ukraine Shelf Episode 2: Identity and Culture under Attack In this episode, we unpack the roots of Russia’s imperial violence with historian Eugene Finkel and writer Dr Sasha Dovzhyk, curator of London Ukrainian Review. 🔗https://youtu.be/tQBMrMlcUXM

NEW EPISODE OUT NOW! A special live ep recorded at the Regent St Cinema in London. David talks to writer & journalist @helenlewis.bsky.social about Network (1976), a film best remembered for its catchphrase: ‘I’m mad as hell and I’m not going to take this anymore!’ Find us at...🎧 ppfideas.com

‘[A] timely book … on Estonia’s transformation into a thriving tech hub.’ Read the review of @joelburke.bsky.social ’s Rebooting a Nation: The Incredible Rise of Estonia, E-Government and the Startup Revolution in the @financialtimes.com👇 www.ft.com/content/5628...

Am absolutely gripped by #Baltic by #OliverMoody Read it in conjunction with #WhoWillDefendEurope by @keirgiles.bsky.social and you will be very well equipped to understand what is at stake currently in the geopolitics of Russia and Europe....👏👏👏

Great night with the Mooch @scaramucci.bsky.social at the Duchess Theatre....His commentary on the current state of America is spot in...👏 He has a good knowledge of history as well, which helps....

France’s institutions defended its democracy, upholding the law. South Korea’s institutions defended its democracy, upholding the law. Brazil’s institutions defended its democracy, upholding the law. Only America’s decided a criminal must be allowed to break its laws and destroy its democracy.

Millions of you, around the world, have put the lessons I wrote in #OnTyranny in late 2016 to good use. It has been humbling to learn how from courageous and creative dissenters, protestors, and oppositionists. I was honored when John Lithgow volunteered to read them aloud.

"I get tired of all this talk about Ukraine giving up territory to end the war." Military analyst @anderspucknielsen.dk explains why Russia's war aims go far beyond the territory they currently occupy

@timothysnyder.bsky.social absolutely on point as usual...👏