This morning I’ve seen Olly Robbins’s appearance before the select committee described as ‘box office’, while a commentator flagged up another key political moment with the words ‘bring the popcorn’. That’s one of our main problems right there.

Yesterday was so confusing. At times I genuinely couldn't tell which articles were April Fools jokes & which were simply more rambling dispatches from an increasingly mad world.

My next free talk for the Charles Dickens Museum is on 7 May, about my great great great aunt, Mamie Dickens. You can register to come along in person (limited places) or to watch online from anywhere in the world. And did I mention it is free….? dickensmuseum.com/blogs/all-ev...?

Finally, some dream blurbs from the likes of @luketurner.bsky.social, @poetclare.bsky.social, @jennashworth.bsky.social, @sophiehaydock.bsky.social and @lucindahawksley.bsky.social 🐈‍⬛

Our public services aren’t for a secretive profit-hungry US tech firm. Sign the petition to tell the Government to scrap all contracts with secretive US tech firm Palantir. you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/st...

Crockett: "What if someone from another country said 'We're gonna bomb America bc we have a warrant for the president's arrest bc of the child sex trafficking in the Epstein files.' Every single one of you sticking up for him right now would be screaming. The analysis has to be the same."

I'm doing a free hybrid talk on Katey Dickens / the artist Kate Perugini tomorrow. You can join from anywhere (you just need to register in advance). dickensmuseum.com/blogs/all-ev...

How much did you get for your soul, Pam?

Happy International Women's Day! Thinking of all the fabulous women I've written about as well as all those I'm lucky enough to know. Here are some of my #books in several different incarnations! #iwd2026 www.instagram.com/reel/DVnrooE...

On my way to Manchester to talk about Dickens and his Manchester Connections this afternoon at the Portico Library. www.theportico.org.uk/event-calend...

What is happening to women and girls in Afghanistan is beyond belief. World leaders HAVE to act now. This vile violation of human rights has to be ended!!! Why is so much of the world staying silent on this? www.independent.co.uk/asia/south-a...

In beautiful - albeit rainy - Worcester for the Script Haven bookshop's lit fest over Charles Dickens's birthday weekend. Please note his blue plaque just outside the shop. In Dickens's time this building was part of the Swan Hotel.

Great to see so many people at The Charterhouse this evening for a fabulous talk by our President, @lucindahawksley.bsky.social, on CD’s youngest brother, the original ‘Boz’ - a brilliant way to start our year 😊

My latest #substack open.substack.com/pub/lucindah...

Workwise 2026 has started well (I cannot even think about what is happening in the outside world). So I’m hunkering down and writing with these two fabulous little beings slumbering beside me. #Dogs really do make everything feel better. Happy #writing to all my #author friends out there.

In an Egyptian marsh, 3300 years ago ~ a tawny cat hunts birds among papyrus stems, as butterflies flutter about / and a young girl grabs the leg of her hunter father (Nebamun Tomb Chapel, Thebes, 1350 BC, British Museum) artinsociety.com/lost-masterp...

In celebration of Southwark’s literary heritage: www.dickensfellowship.org/index.php/ce...

A wonderful man who I miss a great deal. Dickens scholarship has lost its leading light. Plus we’ve all lost a lovely friend. RIP Michael Slater.

Dame Louisa Aldrich-Blake died in London 100 years ago #OTD 28 Dec 1925. Born at Chingford Rectory in 1865, she was the first British woman to qualify as Master of Surgery. She was lead surgeon at Royal Free Hospital & a pioneer of surgery for cervical cancer. Her statue is in Tavistock Square WC1.

Merry Christmas! Just in case there’s not enough to watch on TV, at 12pm today I’ll be on Talking Pictures TV (channel 82 on Freeview) with the super-talented musician Kate Garner. The filming took place at the Charles Dickens Museum in London.

The Winter 2025 issue of 'The Dickensian' has been published and will be with subscribers shortly.

This is happening today! www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/virtual-wa...

I found this incredibly moving, and very clever. This wins my favourite Christmas ad for 2025. youtu.be/QkODyQxltzs?... @savethechildren.org

Spooky stories in the shadow of St Paul’s Cathedral on my “#Dickens and #Christmas” walking tour last night. What an absolutely LOVELY group of people. If you’d like to do the walk but can’t get to #London, I’m doing a virtual event on Tuesday, 9 Dec, 7pm UK time. www.eventbrite.com/o/9464508019

DF Central Christmas celebrations in London today, with a wonderful guided walk, led by our President, @lucindahawksley.bsky.social, followed by a delicious lunch at the beautifully Pickwickian tavern The George and Vulture 🎄

I had an absolutely wonderful time this afternoon - it’s the perfect festive literary walk, and I can’t recommend it highly enough!

At 7pm UK time on Tuesday 9 December, I am doing an online event, a #virtual walking tour of #London about #Dickens and #Christmas. You can join from anywhere in the world www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/virtual-wa...

My first #Dickens and #Christmas walking tour of the season is taking place tomorrow (1 Dec) in #London, at 2.30pm www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/dickens-ch...

On 3 Dec (which I can’t believe is next week!), I’m doing a “Victorian Christmas” event at Crocus Books in Gerrards across, Bucks. Come along if you’re free & start to get festive! #Christmas #VictorianChristmas www.crocusbooksgx.co.uk/events-1

Hello World 😀 A bit late for 2025, but we're setting up here on Bluesky as we know there are quite a few writers here! We'd love to connect. For those who don't know us, Whitby Lit Fest launched in 2025, bringing a wonderful array of literary stars to Whitby. #literature #litfest #whitby #authors

My new Substack: ‘“This is not the Republic of my Imagination” Charles Dickens and The Changing Face of America’ lucindahawksley.substack.com/p/this-is-no...

The original Black Friday (nothing to do with shopping…), on my Substack open.substack.com/pub/lucindah... #BlackFriday #history #suffrage

For any Londoners with a winter coat to spare, you can take it to the Actors’ Church (St Paul’s in Covent Garden) to be given to someone who needs one.

❤️

So very sad today to hear about the death of the wonderful Professor Michael Slater. The world - especially the Dickensian world - is a much poorer place without him. RIP you dear, lovely man.

Join me on Mon 1 Dec (2.30pm) for my #Dickens and #Christmas walking tour of London (FYI if you can't make midweek, I'm doing it again on Sun 7 Dec). Find me on Eventbrite & follow to find all upcoming events. www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/dickens-ch...

Join me on 1 December for my #Dickens & #Christmas walking tour of London. Tickets are on sale now on Eventbrite. www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/dickens-ch...

Members of the Society of Authors have newly elected four of their peers to represent authors’ views on the Management Committee (the Board). SoA members @ajwestauthor.bsky.social, @iangiles.bsky.social, @pollyrowena.bsky.social, and @lucindahawksley.bsky.social now join the committee.

Join me at the historic #Whitby pub The White Horse and Griffin this Saturday night (8 November) for a very special Dickens-and Whitby themed evening whitbylitfest.org.uk/event/what-t...

“The Fate of #Ophelia: Taylor Swift and Lizzie #Siddal” is my latest #Substack article. Discover the Victorian supermodel who has inspired generations of creators including #TaylorSwift. open.substack.com/pub/lucindah...

I'm so looking forward to this event on Friday. Shaun Usher's new book "Diaries of Note" is so compelling, I was late for our zoom prep chat because I was reading it ! I don't think he minded, when I explained ;) Come and join us in #Whitby if you can. whitbylitfest.org.uk/events/ #LitFest

If you’re a #Swiftie, discover the woman who helped inspire Taylor Swift’s ‘The fate of #Ophelia’ – Lizzie Siddal, the Victorian supermodel who posed for the iconic painting 'Ophelia'. www.amazon.co.uk/Lizzie-Sidda...

This #Halloween discover on my #Substack the story of how #arsenic insinuated itself into Victorian homes, and why William Morris thought doctors had been "bitten by #witch fever". #book #Victorian #history #BittenByWitchFever #WilliamMorris lucindahawksley.substack.com/p/bitten-by-...

Happy Hallowe’en! It's amazing how many people thought the wallpaper reproductions in my book ‘Bitten By Witch Fever’ actually contained #arsenic! Look closely at the book jacket to find a hidden arsenic bottle…. www.lucindahawksley.com/books/bitten... #Halloween