We are Study Day MAD: 'The Victorian Short Story: Influence, Innovation, and Legacy'. 🌏 Online 📅 19th April 2026 💰 Fee for non-members Full CfP: victorianpopularfiction.org/the-victoria... Send abstracts (250-300) for 20-min papers and bio (50) to [email protected] by 20/12/25

I’m truly honoured to be on this list and looking forward to meeting the other authors on 2nd December. Yale UP has a 50% off sale this November, so the pbk of my book’s a snip at just under £6. A good stocking filler, & I’m v happy to sign & send! @bavs-uk.bsky.social @vpfa.bsky.social

MEMBER SPOTLIGHT: Helena Esser. Helena's book, Ouida, was a runner up in our Second Book Prize. It has recently been reviewed by Professor Sara Murphy on The Victorian Web: www.victorianweb.org/authors/ouid... Esser runs VPFA Blog, and she serves on the committee for VPFA's Third Sex Reading Group

I'm thrilled to be co-organising this study day next year. Please consider submitting an abstract and joining us in this important and fascinating conversation about women's (peri-) menopause in Victorian literature

Another VPFA Study Day: 'The Critical Age in Victorian Popular Literature' ❓literary representations of the (peri-) menopause 🌏 online 📅 19th May 2026 💰 free for VPFA Members/ £5 for non-members Send proposals (250) to [email protected] and [email protected] by 19th February 2026

Send me your abstracts for Sensation Fiction and the Health Humanities #VPFA #HealthHumsLboro

A reminder to get your abstracts in for VPFA's next upcoming Study Day, organised by Anne-Marie Beller: 'Sensation Fiction and the Health Humanities: A VPFA Study Day'. Email [email protected] for any additional information.

@exacteditions.bsky.social has expanded its illustrated archives with six newly digitised titles, two of which are C19 and of interest to our members: - The Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic News (1874-1970) - The Sketch (1893-1959) For more information, please visit: publisher.exacteditions.com

Due to technical difficulties, we had to postpone our last Tea Salon. Never to fear, because we have another one coming next month! Members: check emails for 'Upcoming VPFA Events'. If you aren't a member, sign up here and you will be sent the event links: victorianpopularfiction.org/membership-j...

Are you looking for spooky Gothic things to watch for Halloween? Here's a bunch of spoktacular Victorian films, TV series, and RPG campaigns for you! 🎃🎃🎃

Another new VPFA blog post from our very own Social Media Secrerary (yes, it is Rebecca shamelessly reposting this). Read about my experience as a Chawton House Visiting Fellow at the link below! Chawton offers so much to VPFA members, but particularly scholars of women's writing 🪶

Final reminder to sign up for our Virtual Tea Salon! You don't want to miss this one - Halloween costumes welcome!! 👻🎃

Less than one week left to sign up for the Poison Parlour! Come along and form some new connections with people in the 19th century research community!

Don't forget to sign up to the Third Sex Reading Group's next session on 29th October! Just [email protected] with FAO: Third Sex to request the reading pack when we send it out next week :) 🐙

Join us for a Halloween themed tea salon! Brew your favourite blend and engage in a lively evening of discussion, creativity, and Victorian charm. If you are a member, check your emails for event links. If you're not, sign up and you'll be sent all links: victorianpopularfiction.org/membership-j...

New Blog post alert- 'Neo-Victorian Gothtober 2025' by Helena Esser. Some spooky neo-Vic gothic films and tv series recommendations for your Halloween watching pleasure! Read here: victorianpopularfiction.org/neo-victoria...

We are so glad that our writing retreat was able to bring you together with people in your field, who are also going through some of the same struggles you are! We will definitely be doing more of these retreats, so keep your eyes peeled for announcements - and for our upcoming tea salons! 🍵

Got so much done during today's @vpfa.bsky.social virtual writing retreat and met some really nice people. Being a PhD student, esp a long-distance one, can be very lonely, but connecting with people online and chatting about research almost gives the impression of having 'course mates'.

Your final reminder to sign up for our Virtual Writing retreat tomorrow! Members only. If you're already a member, check your emails for the sign-up link, if you want to attend, the link is on the original post to become a member 😀

Don't miss my account of what it was like for a first-timer at this summer's #vpfaextremes conference. A very exciting read indeed ;-)

Do you want to start reading Ouida but don't know where to start? Find my handy #Ouida Starter Guide on the official VPFA blog: @vpfa.bsky.social victorianpopularfiction.org/the-official...

Submissions for the VPFA First Book Prize are now OPEN! Deadline is 31st December 2025. For full eligibility criteria and submission guidelines, go to: victorianpopularfiction.org/vpfa-book-pr...

Sign up to attend the VPFA's Third Sex Reading group's October session on Natasha Pulley's The Watchmaker of Filigree Street, a neo-Victorian novel To sign up this month, please email [email protected] with 'FAO: Third Sex No. 43' and ask to be added to the attendees list.

CFP 📣 Join us in Loughborough 📍 for a day of Sensation fiction and health humanities organised by our very own @braddonite.bsky.social. ✨ See post below for details 👇

🚨Call for Papers! ❓Sensation Fiction and the Health Humanities: A VPFA Study Day 🗺️Loughborough University 📅27 March 2026 💷 FREE For full CfP: victorianpopularfiction.org/studyday/for... Contact the organiser Anne-Marie Beller (@braddonite.bsky.social) at [email protected] for more information

I'm grateful to @bavs-uk.bsky.social @vpfa.bsky.social @issegyptomania.bsky.social bsls.ac.uk @incsa.bsky.social @thebsls.bsky.social & so many individuals within the #Victorian #Gothic #Egyptomania #LitSci #PreRaphaeilite communities for friendship & support during my Research Fellowships.

What a joy it was getting this page ready to go! All the thanks to @helenaesser.bsky.social for the material! Here we'll have reflections, contemplations, speculations and more (all of a Victorian/neo-Victorian nature, of course). Interested in contributing? Follow the link below & get in touch!

Excited to announce that the VPFA blog has launched! Thanks to Emma Butler-Way for her hard work in getting it ready for today, for more information check out the blog at the link below: victorianpopularfiction.org/the-vpfa-blog/

Don't forget to sign up for our Virtual Writing retreat - the perfect opportunity for dedicated Writing time for those upcoming winter deadlines ❄️

CURRAN FELLOWSHIPS awarded by The Research Society for Victorian Periodicals Applications due: 15 October 2025. Open to researchers of any age exploring the British periodical press of long C19. More information can be found here: rs4vp.org/awards/curra...

Exciting new Digital tool for Victorian scholars with @exacteditions.bsky.social ,providing a new, fully searchable window into The Illustrated London News, The Illustrated War News, The Graphic & The Sphere. For more information: For more information: publisher.exacteditions.com

The reading packs produced by the @vpfa.bsky.social's third sex reading group are always gorgeous, and the discussions are always great. What's not to love! Join us Wed 17th Sept @ 5.30pm UK time to discuss the highly problematic "Lodore". Everybody welcome... message for more details.

RSVP 2026 Conference Call for Papers: 'Movements and Migrations', to be held at Trinity College, Dublin, 23-25th July 2026. Share widely! @rs4vp.org

Join us for a virtual writing retreat designed for VPFA members! Working on a conference paper, article, thesis, or admin tasks? this structured retreat offers dedicated time, body doubling, and proven productivity techniques inspired by Rowena Murray. Drop in or stay the full day!

COMING SOON for VPFA Third Sex Reading Group. Email [email protected] to be added to our mailing list to find out how to sign up for future sessions 📖

🚨FINAL REMINDER🚨 What better way to spend your Saturday afternoon (especially with the terrible weather we've been having) than with a nice warm cuppa ☕️ and some great conversation with people in your field? Become a member to get your sign up link! victorianpopularfiction.org/membership-j...

📢 Just a few weeks left to submit your abstracts for our exciting conference at the University of Stirling in January! 🗓 Deadline: 22 Sept 📩 Email: [email protected]

Read about the projects and experiences of previous Mary Eliza Root prize winners (Anne Chapman, Lin Young, Jon Potter, Asma Char, Adele Guyton, Helen McKenzie, and Joanne Knowles) here: victorianpopularfiction.org/mer-prize-re... Apply by 30th September for your chance to visit Gladstone's Library

The 2025 prize is now open! (deadline: 30th September 2025). The prize offers the winning scholar two nights' accommodation (with breakfast and dinner) for up to three days' research at Gladstone's Library. To find out more about eligibility and process: victorianpopularfiction.org/mary-eliza-r...

Your reminder to become a VPFA member so you can attend our Virtual Tea Salon next month! ☕️✨️

VPFA Third Sex reading group will be returning for their first session of Season 6 on 17th September, 5.30-7pm. The topic will be Mary Shelley's Lodore, co-hosted with Susan Civale and Siobhan-Michelle Smith! Sign up here: www.eventbrite.com/e/lodore-tic...

The Editors of Victorian Popular Fictions are looking for guest editors for autumn special issues from 2027 - 2030. Please see the attached CFP. The deadline for proposals is 30th September 2025, and we are very happy to take any queries, please just email us at [email protected].

Step into the world of steam, scandal, and storytelling at our Virtual Victorian Tea Salon. Brew your favourite blend and join fellow members online for a lively afternoon discussion, creativity, and Victorian charm. All are welcome at our virtual tea table, whether sharing, reading, or sipping!

Following our successful annual conference at the Birmingham and Midlands Institute, the VPFA is pleased to announce it is now affiliated with the Birmingham & Midlands Institute (www.bmi.org.uk) [1/2]

Add to your reading list!

Please allow me to recommend some summer reading, followed with an invitation to join our book discussion. Everybody is welcome so please share widely (this poster has the correct start time of 5.30pm!) The text and audiobook are available on Internet Archive/Gutenberg. @vpfa.bsky.social

Delivered a paper at our conference this week? Why not turn it into a full article for the next general issue of Victorian Popular Fictions? Our latest issue is out now and is open access: victorianpopularfiction.org/publications...

Had such a fab time at #VPFAExtremes (as usual) and met so many lovely people (also as usual). Saw this cool window, too (less usual).

Well, #VPFAExtremes has been wonderful - the height of my summer so far, as ever! I am deeply grateful to be part such a fantastic, extremely warm and collegiate association. Thoroughly enjoyed the last few days - diolch pawb!