In the 14th century, Sundays were particularly deadly.

Six leading Austen experts have made their case for her ultimate novel, but the winner is down to you.

Statues continue to emerge, offering clues as to the physical appearance of the ancient city.

The final Jane Austen Fight Club is upon us 🥊 This time we're debating Austen's best novel. Does Northanger Abbey's gothic satire have you in stitches? Or does Persuasion's rumination on regret have your vote? Read our expert opinions, then let us know yours: theconversation.com/what-was-jan...

We’re pitting her much-loved heroines against each other in a battle of wit, charm and sass

The first rule of #JaneAusten #FightClub is.... They are all winners! But pick my entry on Elinor Dashwood, please!

The second instalment of Jane Austen Fight Club is now published 🥊 Does sharp-tongued Lizzie Bennet make you laugh? Are you cheering on the mistreated Fanny Price? Or does long-suffering Anne Elliot get your vote? Let us know your fave Austen heroine here: theconversation.com/who-was-jane...

Do you like Jane Austen? Do you like period dramas? Do you like scenes of men in wet shirts clambering out of lakes? If yes to any of the above, pls vote in our first instalment of Jane Austen Fight Club. Who is her best leading man?

Each of these songs is a masterpiece in brevity.

Jane Austen’s novels work a romantic alchemy, and travel is their catalyst.

Introducing Jane Austen Fight Club! Over the next few weeks, academic experts will go head to head arguing for Austen's best leading man, heroine and novel. But the winner is up to you. Check out our first instalment and vote for your fave Austen heartthrob here: theconversation.com/jane-austen-...

The sequel successfully recaptures the unapologetic girlish silliness that made the first film so beloved.

In the security of the Love is Blind pods, people may begin to reveal more intimate information about themselves at a faster rate than normal.

Romanticism centred on the idealisation of human freedom in all its forms.

With AI wingmen and algorithmic echo chambers, the dating world is more confusing than ever. That's why our latest Quarter Life series is Love IRL – a toolkit of research-backed articles that will help you to find more meaningful connection, offline and on. theconversation.com/love-irl-a-n...

Medieval people would have interacted with the embroidered players, giving them voice and enabling them to join the conversation.

Winn may have broken the ‘autobiographical pact’ – a ‘contract’ of truth between the author and the reader.

The initial version of Superman was a more flawed character.

Loved working on this analysis of the art history influences on Lorde's new album, Virgin. Written by Dr Lillian Hingley ‪@hingleytheory.bsky.social‬

Coming up this week! This looks set to be a fascinating discussion. Grab tickets if you’ll be in Newcastle 🖤🤍

Nineteen Eighty-Four filled with references to sinking ships, drowning people and the dread of oceanic engulfment

I gave him Scottish smoked salmon as a gift. He ripped the packet open and devoured it on the spot.

The Dark Knight trilogy explores the discomforting idea that institutions may be flawed but necessary – and that stability sometimes requires myth, not truth.

Like many, I read the news of Brian Wilson passing with a heavy heart. So I was glad to work on this story by David Scott of @uniwestscotland.bsky.social, who met Wilson many times. It includes a smoked salmon incident that is perfectly, absurdly Brian 💙 theconversation.com/brian-wilson...

Ed was never afraid to speak or to write about his own queer life, and the queer lives of others.

On the eve of Damien Hirst’s 60th birthday, two philosophers of art explore the true value of the ‘world’s richest artist’.

There are stories about family, sex, history, death and fundamentalism.

Damien Hirst turns 60 this week 🦈 The art world’s bad boy made his name – and a reported £700m – by challenging the very idea of art. But his legacy is now clouded by controversy. Was a treat to work with ‪@daisydixon.bsky.social‬ & Elisabeth Schellekens on this. theconversation.com/damien-hirst...

Dorcey’s poetry funnelled her activism into a charged critique of traditional Irish life.

The poem reveals the mind-numbing conditions and physically exhausting jobs that were relentlessly inflicted on prisoners in Wilde’s day.

Thoroughly enjoyed editing my first long read for @uk.theconversation.com, a great piece of storytelling by @edarmstonsheret.bsky.social showcasing his research on the forgotten Black, Asian and working class labourers who made some of history’s most famous expeditions possible.

The five canons of classical rhetoric – invention, arrangement, style, memory and delivery – can be very helpful when writing a speech.

One week to go until The Conversation throws an 80th birthday party for the Moomins at @picturevillecinema.bsky.social Bradford. We'd love to see you there! More information and tickets here: www.scienceandmediamuseum.org.uk/cinema/moomi...

A century on, Mrs Dalloway speaks in so many ways to our own moment of militarisation, neo-imperialism and political crisis.

Despite its central role in human history, pregnancy has often been overlooked in archaeology.

It was pleasure to co-write a piece on Orwell & Huxley with @atasoyemrah.bsky.social & see the piece get improved over time by the smart edits by @annalouwalker.bsky.social of @uk.theconversation.com --the results of this collaborative effort up now here theconversation.com/nineteen-eig...

Both art forms encourage us, the listeners, to react, reflect and ultimately select with which speaker to side.

From a longlist of nine, five novels have been shortlisted for the 2025 Climate Fiction Prize. Our academics review the finalists.

I'm looking for contributors for a "Jane Austen fight club" series where academics argue for their fave Austen heroine/leading man in 150 words. If you're keen & an academic at one of The Conversation's member institutions (theconversation.com/uk/partners) pls email: [email protected]

The #Moomins are turning 80 and we're celebrating! We'll be screening Moomins on the Riviera at the Pictureville Cinema in #Bradford on May 23. We'd love you to join us. Get an exclusive 25% off the ticket price - use code Moomins25 here 👉 tcnv.link/48FoWpx

The Moomins turn 80 this year & I'm throwing a party! Celebrate with @uk.theconversation.com at @picturevillecinema.bsky.social Bradford on May 23. We'll be screening Moomins on the Riviera & discussing the refugee experience in Tove Jansson’s work www.scienceandmediamuseum.org.uk/cinema/moomi...

Lots of terrific stuff to keep you entertained this Easter weekend.

The show’s satire of super-wealth is framed through many of Sheakeapre’s great tragedies: Hamlet, Othello, Romeo and Juliet, and King Lear.

Suitable for readers from infancy to late adolescence, these books aim to teach boys what it means to be responsible, compassionate and confident men

The artefacts in focus are a set of four clay trays, plain in design and apparently quite utilitarian.

This woman might have been a priestess of the goddess Ceres.

Based on organic residues – imperceptible to the naked eye and detectable only at a molecular level – bronze age wine consumption must be fundamentally reconsidered.

Ahead of International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade tomorrow, @drdomdavies.bsky.social shares three graphic novels that commemorate acts of resistance led by enslaved people themselves. theconversation.com/three-graphi... @versobooks.bsky.social

Even with the best of intentions, restitution is not a fast process.

This was a fun one! For the latest story in our Rethinking the Classics series, Dr Frankie Dytor interprets the Mona Lisa as a vampire 🧛‍♀️ theconversation.com/the-mona-lis... @frankiedytor.bsky.social