BREAKING NEWS: Councillors 'unconvinced' of developer's sustainability claims

My contribution to the #NationalYearOfReading this month is a photograph of the stack of books (minus ebooks & audiobooks) I read in January (and some I'm still reading) because apparently I decided (unconsciously) that January was the month to see how many books I could read at once (topping 15)?!

We have two new book events coming up from @religionlit.bsky.social! 📚 In February, we'll take a look at 'Such Fragile Futures: An Artist and a Poet Reflect in a Garden', and in March we'll look at 'Theological Libraries in the UK & Ireland'. Check out our Eventbrite for tickets 👇 edin.ac/3QGHz2Z

Calling fantasy literature enthusiasts — whether you're a fan of Tolkien, earlier fantasy like Morris, MacDonald, or prefer contemporary fantasy writing: recordings from the @oxfordfantasylit.bsky.social 2025 Summer School are now available online! fantasyliteratureschool.web.ox.ac.uk/lectures-talks

Just added - interview with Samantha Shannon: podcasts.ox.ac.uk/interview-sa...

A delightful day spent attending the online @modernistudies.bsky.social #NWiMS15 conference. Many thanks to the organisers and speakers!

Looking forward to this!

Final call! 🔔 Register to attend New Work in Modernist Studies 15 by 5pm this evening - we have an exciting array of papers covering identities, ecologies, readerships, travel, gossip and silence. Sign up here: forms.gle/BjALZ5Ukapzu... Full programme here: docs.google.com/document/d/1...

Intrigued and excited for this forthcoming publication!

Important news: the deadline for the joint BAMS/MSA conference in Loughborough has been extended to December 29, 2025! You can review the CFP, and find links to the submission platform, here. www.moderniststudies.org/conference/M...

🔊 CfP: New Work in Modernist Studies 15 🗓️ Friday 9 January, online ⏰ Apply by 5pm (GMT) Friday 12 December bams.ac.uk/new-work-in-... A great opportunity for postgraduates & early career researchers to share work on modernist cultures in a supportive environment. See link above for full details.

On Saturday 8 Nov at 4pm we celebrate the new ‘Oxford Handbook of Scottish Theatre’ with editors Greg Walker and Randall Stevenson and literary legends Linda McLean and Donald Smith. Don't miss out and book your tickets now 🎟️👇 edin.ac/4oNJpOQ

On 7 November at 2:30pm we welcome Abi Millar to talk about ‘The Spirituality Gap: Searching for Meaning in a Secular Age’ (Duckworth Books). From ayahuasca to astrology, reiki to raves, Millar explores a desire for meaning in the modern world. Chaired by Suzanna Millar. Book now 🎟️👇 edin.ac/3Wq2pqu

‘Quiet as a whisper’: German firm launches campaign after lift was used in Louvre heist

We’re excited to launch Liz MacWhirter’s moving prose poem ‘Blue: A Lament for the Sea’, along with an underwater film by Jonathan Kearney, on 8 November, 2:30pm. MacWhirter will be joined by creative writing teacher Jane McKie. Book now 🎟️👇 edin.ac/3WNlZwV @scottishbooktrust.bsky.social

As the UK Nature’s Rights Bill is unveiled today in the House of Lords, explore how recognising nature as a legal entity could transform conservation. 🪶 Our Rights of Nature page offers blogs, context & resources: 🔗 naturerecovery.ox.ac.uk/toolkits/rig... #RightsOfNature #NatureRecovery

Delighted to see my blog post for @gladlib.bsky.social has been published today — wonderful to be reminded of that magical week I had back in August! One day I'll be back among the silent books 📚

#WritingCommunity! Submissions invited to NEW WRITING SCOTLAND 44! We want poetry & prose in English, #Gaelic, & #Scots from writers who are Scottish by residence, birth, or inclination. All successful contributors are paid – deadline 31 Oct! Submit free via Submittable 👇 nws.submittable.com/submit

Can't wait for this one! @scottishbooktrust.bsky.social

Hear from the award-winning poet and storyteller Nadine Aisha Jassat on 8 Nov, 1pm. Her poetry & fiction transforms young lives and expresses a heritage that can only be told in stories. This event is chaired by Emma Wild-Wood. Book now! 🎟️👇 edin.ac/46LtB92 Nadine Aisha Jassat Photo ©Danielle Watt

Limited tickets remain for our creative writing workshop, ‘Entangled Forest’, run by Liz MacWhirter as part of #NCFestival on 8 Nov, 11am ⌛ This guided, reflective space offers a chance to respond creatively to challenging times. Book now 🎟️👇 edin.ac/42FSO2d

Book launch: "Race and the Scottish Enlightenment: A Colonial History, 1750-1820" (Yale UP) Wed 29 Oct, 16:45-20:00, including drinks Featuring a host of IASH alumni, this event celebrates the new volume by Linda Andersson Burnett & Bruce Buchan. raceandthescottishenlightenment.eventbrite.co.uk

What are the ethical questions we should be asking at this tipping point in AI development? On 7 Nov, 7pm we welcome expert in AI ethics, robotics and data science Shannon Vallor to speak with Jeremy Carrette about her book, ‘The AI Mirror’. Book now 🎟️👇 edin.ac/4h1Eh72

New College Festival of Books and Belief, our annual book festival, takes place this year from 7-8 November! 📚🍂 Tickets are live so don't miss out and secure your place now 🎟️👇 edin.ac/3BCM6iW

In case you missed it: our latest report explores a growing crisis in universities. In many regions, students risk losing access to vital humanities, social science and arts subjects. Swipe to see our key findings and recommendations.

📣 Bookish Edinburgh event: I’m running a guest session of the Bookless Bookclub at Till’s Bookshop (off the Meadows) this Sunday at 10:30am! No reading required, and I’ll be introducing Persephone Books (“cult” UK publisher who re-issued Canfield Fisher!) and their idea of domestic feminism 📚

Out now! Our latest book, "Women Who Dared", is released today from Edinburgh University Press. You can purchase direct from @edinburghup.bsky.social via their website or at all good bookshops: edinburghuniversitypress.com/book-women-w...

Edinburgh-based bookish folk (or those looking for an excuse to visit) - another book festival is on the horizon! New College Festival of Books & Belief is happening 7-8 Nov—including talks on spirituality in the secular age with Abi Millar & Niamh Ní Mhaoileoin discussing her debut Ordinary Saints:

Just a few photos from my journey last week to Oxford and back for the @oxfordfantasylit.bsky.social Summer School - a delight to meet and chat with fantasy enthusiasts coming from varying backgrounds in academia, publishing, writing, and education 🐉📚 Some fascinating & thought-provoking talks, too!

From developing your PhD, adapting to UK higher education structures, or navigating LinkedIn – is there one right way to be an Early Career Researcher? Join Leonie Smith with @deseonu.bsky.social and Burcin Baskurt in Ep 1 of #ConfessionsOfAnECR podcast. www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk/audio-video/...

For National Translation Month, check out this list of 7 new queer books from around the globe. At Book Riot:

Gorgeous shout-out about the project from the fantastic folks in @iashedinburgh.bsky.social: www.iash.ed.ac.uk/news/ukri-aw... Feeling very lucky to be supported by and collaborating with such brilliant #interdisciplinary centres and institutes!

It’s a beautiful, chilly autumnal day in the Lothians this morning, with a stunning view across the Firth to start my journey south to Oxford! It may feel autumnal, but I’m off to speak at the Oxford Bloomsbury Fantasy Summer School & I’m looking forward to some fantastical discussions 🐉

The programme for this year's New College Festival of Books and Belief is now live! Book your tickets at divinity.ed.ac.uk/new-college-...

New free eBook: "Essays on Decoloniality: Volume 2" The second set of essays emerging from the Institute Project on Decoloniality 2021-24 is now available. Authors include Peter S. Henne, Asha Varadharajan, Anthony Neal, Erika De Vivo, Simon Buck and Emma Hill. www.iash.ed.ac.uk/news/essays-...

The #Edinburgh Womens Fiction Festival is coming soon, bookmarks just arrived! Fri 26th & Sat 27th at Christ Church on Holy Corner, #Bruntsfield www.edwomensficfest.co.uk #Edimbourg #books #livres

Join the free launch event for this brilliant book on Tuesday 7 October: register to hear from Hope and other discussants and enjoy a drinks reception at IASH! www.iash.ed.ac.uk/event/book-l...

🌞 🌞 On this incredibly sunny day, we are pleased to present issue #56 of The Modernist Review: 'New Work in Modernist Studies Part Two'. Explore a great variety of pieces below, all stemming from the NWiMS conference last year: modernistreviewcouk.wordpress.com/2025/06/13/t...

In 2026, the MSA Conference will look a bit different-- weird, even! That's because we're having a joint conference with BAMS @modernistudies.bsky.social in Loughborough, UK from July 1- 4, 2026. The CFP will be out soon! But in the meantime, please save the date.

"Today effective occupation is no longer acceptable when it comes to the government of human peoples, but it remains the default for nature. In fact, when it comes to the treatment of nature, [...] all take for granted that whoever controls the territory should also own what’s in it."

Amidst the wonders of Gladstone's Library, I have received confirmation that I can finally share some extremely exciting news that I have been waiting to share since June!

I am so very excited to share that today I arrived at @gladlib.bsky.social to stay for a week, as I was awarded The Canon Denys Ruddy Memorial Scholarship for study in Theology, Liturgy, Spirituality, or Christianity and The Arts!

The first issue of Theory & Social Inquiry is out via @openlibhums.bsky.social! Successor to Springer’s Theory & Society, the journal is now #DiamondOA / no APCs, no paywalls. Scholar-led & free from commercialisation, at a time when academic freedom needs defending: www.openlibhums.org/news/844/

Just a little reminder about this upcoming bookish event! A cosy, relaxed evening discussing Summer by Ali Smith at Till's Bookshop in Edinburgh, just off the Meadows. More details below 📚

Read our collection of articles published as part of the #OLHJournal “Utopian Art and Literature from Modern India” Special Collection, guest-edited by Barnita Bagchi: olh.openlibhums.org/...#OLHJournal#fromthearchives

Just a week away, the inimitable Rosie Garland with some fierce support acts! Janette Ayachi, Jane Goldman & Vik Shirley, a night not to be missed... lighthousebookshop.com/events/this-...

IN THE PARK   In the park, the tall trees are waving in the morning breeze.   I wave back only to realize they are waving at the person behind me.

It's time to vote for The Woodland Trust's Tree of the Year! Read about each of the nominated trees and cast your vote here www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/trees-woods-...

Looking forward to seeing lots of films at Edinburgh's newly reopened Filmhouse (@filmhouseedinburgh.bsky.social). Find out how to become a member here: www.filmhouse.org.uk/membership