I’ve been trying hard – so hard – to force a change of mentality in recent weeks. But it doesn’t half bring forth its challenges, and that was truly epitomised this week. Continue reading »
Filed under Leicester …
Time For A Change
This week marked the fourth anniversary of Writing Privacy. Time for a long-overdue makeover, I thought. And perhaps more importantly, time for a change. Continue reading »
The Fairfax 400 Anniversary Conference
The Fairfax 400 Conference took place at the Centre for English Local History, University of Leicester, on June 30th and July 1st, commemorating the 400th anniversary of the birth of Thomas, Lord Fairfax (1612-1671). Continue reading »
Shadow Seasons: An Epilogue, 2011
2011 was a story I don’t know how to tell. It’s a year that had so many structural positives, countered by surface negatives. Perhaps it’s best defined by what others have said. Continue reading »
Agency: Too Much Left Unsaid
What is said, matters. How it is said, matters. To whom it is said, matters. When it is said, matters. The little nuances of our communication are more intricate and powerful than we often care to believe. Continue reading »
New Horizons
Ideally, we want our lives to lead upwards trajectories. When somebody hits particular heights for themselves, they struggle to contemplate living within or below that potential. That’s the intricate psychology of accomplishment. Continue reading »
Behind Closed Doors
As a theme, privacy remains a dark and complex subject. Our latest episode on KUSP Radio was generously dedicated to my favourite poems, and featured ‘Sestina’ by Elizabeth Bishop and ‘Porphyria’s Lover’ by Robert Browning: tragedies behind closed doors. Continue reading »
Brands of Solitude: Poets and their Nature
The highlight of this year has been participating in recordings for The Poetry Show on KUSP Radio, California. This post is indebted to a discussion of Andrew Marvell’s ‘The Garden’ and Christina Rossetti’s ‘In the Willow Shade’ for our fourth installment which aired on 8th May. Continue reading »
East Midlands Early Modern Colloquium
Delegates from Leicester, Loughborough, Nottingham, and Nottingham Trent convened at De Montfort University for the second East Midlands Early Modern Colloquium. Continue reading »
A Long Winter’s Tale
A summary of research activity from January-March 2011. This features a lecture by Nigel Smith at the Andrew Marvell Centre in Hull; a teaching event at the University of York; and the biannual British Milton Seminar at Birmingham Central Library.
