Mathew Lyons
@mathewlyons.bsky.social
Writer, historian. FRHistS. Recent work: History Today, The Spectator, Slightly Foxed, New Humanist, Engelsberg Ideas.
Thoroughly enjoyed reviewing Rigby’s Encyclopaedia of Herring for @engelsbergideas.bsky.social engelsbergideas.com/reviews/an-o...
An ode to the humble herring
Who knows what tomorrow holds for herrings and the fleets that chase them, but what a bright trail the silver darlings have cut through history.
engelsbergideas.com
Who knows what tomorrow holds for the herring, a fish that has cut such a bright trail through history? An ode to the humble herring | @mathewlyons.bsky.social engelsbergideas.com/reviews/an-o...
An ode to the humble herring
Who knows what tomorrow holds for herrings and the fleets that chase them, but what a bright trail the silver darlings have cut through history.
engelsbergideas.com
I had lots of fun answering @historylauren.bsky.social‘s questions about where I like to work! open.substack.com/pub/historyl...
The Writer's Nook: Mathew Lyons
In the latest instalment of this series exploring where writers write, this historian and writer par excellence gives us a peek inside his actually-not-a-nook...
open.substack.com
U.S. publication day for A History of England in Twenty-Five Poems, with Pegasus Books. 🎉🎉 They picked a different author photo - looking suitably studious... www.simonandschuster.com/books/A-Hist...
So it's farewell to the History subject area at the University of Hertfordshire, not the first nor the last to go. One of the best departments in the country, just extinguished like a snap of the fingers. Think of the waste. (1/2)
There’s nothing like waiting 161 years to leave a bad review
This morning’s guest on the Writer’s Bookshelf is the incomparable @misterslang.bsky.social open.substack.com/pub/mathewly...
The writer's bookshelf: Jonathon Green
Eight questions about writers, books, and reading…
open.substack.com
This morning’s guest on the Writer’s Bookshelf is the incomparable @misterslang.bsky.social open.substack.com/pub/mathewly...
The writer's bookshelf: Jonathon Green
Eight questions about writers, books, and reading…
open.substack.com
Absolutely stone cold dedication to a work of popular history
Morning all. Why not start your day by throwing some money this way? Cancer is awful but also REALLY HARD WORK and @maggiescentres.bsky.social make such a difference. ajbellgreatnorthrun2026.enthuse.com/pf/richard-s...
So a whole lot of my talented Humanities colleagues are now unemployed as of today. A lot of understandable concern over Exeter. But for over two decades my Hums colleagues were in the top quartile for their research contribution to society. History top 10. Now gone with only a national whisper.
Some weekend reading from me. First up, a terrific edition of the Writer's Bookshelf with @danigaravelli.bsky.social, featuring Muriel Spark, Kathleen Jamie, Peter Ross, Jean Rhys, and more! mathewlyons.substack.com/p/the-writer...
The writer's bookshelf: Dani Garavelli
Eight questions about writers, books, and reading…
mathewlyons.substack.com
Has anyone come across the verb “to audit” used to mean, I think, “to listen to”? Is it an American usage @bcdreyer.social? It’s new to me.
A really lively and fun RHLSTP Book Club with Martin Fitzgerald about my favourite book of the year so far "The Umbrella Man" looking at the people who witnessed the JFK assassination shows.acast.com/rhlstp/episo... Clip www.youtube.com/watch?v=W1_q... Buy the book! uk.bookshop.org/p/books/the-...
Martin Fitzgerald on The Umbrella Man and Other Stories - Book Club | Richard Herring's Leicester Square Theatre Podcast (RHLSTP)
RHLSTP Book Club 190
shows.acast.com
A long post on the landscape and mythology of the Berkshire Downs and its intersections with the work of Tolkien. mathewlyons.substack.com/p/tolkiens-e...
Tolkien's England: walking the Berkshire Downs
Where English landscape and myth intersect with Tolkien's writing and thought
mathewlyons.substack.com
A long post on the landscape and mythology of the Berkshire Downs and its intersections with the work of Tolkien. mathewlyons.substack.com/p/tolkiens-e...
Tolkien's England: walking the Berkshire Downs
Where English landscape and myth intersect with Tolkien's writing and thought
mathewlyons.substack.com
Garry's online launch for 'Firth' is THIS WEEK! Free to attend, 7.30pm on Thursday, book here: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/online-lau... Chaired by wonderful poet and musician @rebeccasharp.bsky.social #BookSky #Poetry
Online Launch: Firth by Garry MacKenzie
Join us to celebrate the online launch of Garry MacKenzie's ambitious new poetry collection Firth.
eventbrite.co.uk
The Irish Pages Press@irishpages.bsky.social · last wk.The count-down is on! Please join us this Thursday for the online launch of Garry MacKenzie’s superb new #poetry collection, ‘Firth’ 🌊 Full details below 📚 @vickymackenzie.bsky.social
Fellow historians: I regret to inform you that the fabulous British Newspaper Archive has changed its website and search facility. It is now impossible to find anything... (I suppose we'll get the hang of it eventually, as the dinosaur said of the asteroid).
Cat Changing The Clock Time
ALT: Cat Changing The Clock Time
static.klipy.com
There’s currently 20% off the paperback edition of ‘Twilight of the Godlings’ if you order from @universitypress.cambridge.org using the code HISBG26 🧚📚
Dr Francis Young@drfrancisyoung.bsky.social · last mo.I’m thrilled that the PAPERBACK edition of ‘Twilight of the Godlings’, my book about the origins of British fairies, is now available from @universitypress.cambridge.org! 🧚📚 www.cambridge.org/core/books/t...
Mathew’s Writer’s Bookshelf is one of my favourite substack reads (I mean all of Mathew’s pieces are brilliant) so it was an honour to be asked to take part and a delight to have the chance to talk about books I love.
Mathew Lyons@mathewlyons.bsky.social · last wk.This week’s guest on the Writer’s Bookshelf is the wonderful @danigaravelli.bsky.social.
This week’s guest on the Writer’s Bookshelf is the wonderful @danigaravelli.bsky.social.
The writer's bookshelf: Dani Garavelli
Eight questions about writers, books, and reading…
mathewlyons.substack.com
Some weekend reading from me: first up the brilliant @amwilson.bsky.social on the Writer's Bookshelf talking Clare Chambers, Tina Brown, Evelyn Waugh, Dorothy Whipple and more! mathewlyons.substack.com/p/the-writer...
The writer's bookshelf: Alexandra Wilson
Eight questions about writers, books, and reading…
mathewlyons.substack.com
Some weekend reading from me: first up the brilliant @amwilson.bsky.social on the Writer's Bookshelf talking Clare Chambers, Tina Brown, Evelyn Waugh, Dorothy Whipple and more! mathewlyons.substack.com/p/the-writer...
The writer's bookshelf: Alexandra Wilson
Eight questions about writers, books, and reading…
mathewlyons.substack.com
From the archive: four Anglo-Saxon churches to visit in Kent and Essex dating back to the sixth century. mathewlyons.substack.com/p/history-in...
History in plain sight: four Anglo-Saxon churches to visit
Remarkable survivals in Kent and Essex dating from as far back as the sixth century
mathewlyons.substack.com
Get your short stories ready for @galleybeggars.bsky.social Short Story Prize 2026/27! Deadline 8th Nov, with a 1st prize of £3k! I'm really thrilled to be one of the judges this year, alongside Timna Fibert and Gonzalo C Garcia (and there are 200 free entries for low earners if you're quick!)✒️📚
@Galleybeggars@galleybeggars.bsky.social · 2w agoThe Galley Beggar Press Short Story Prize 2026-2027 is now open for submissions: www.galleybeggar.co.uk/prize
