Gary Rawnsley
@garydrawnsley.bsky.social
Head of the School of Social & Political Sciences, University of Lincoln. Research on propaganda, public diplomacy, cultural diplomacy & soft power. Lover of all things literary. Living with Crohn’s Disease. Views expressed here are mine alone.
I’m never happier than when reading literary biographies. Two favourites sit side by side on my shelves: Norman Sherry’s three-volume life of Graham Greene and Michael Reynolds’s magnificent five-volume biography of #Hemingway #Booksky
I don’t think any writer comes close to James Baldwin- born today in 1924 - in capturing the spirit of places he obviously adored. Looking for a perfect description of New York in the 1950s? Read Another Country. How about Paris? No novel beats Giovanni’s Room #Booksky
James Baldwin, born on this day in 1924. One of my favourite writers, his was a unique & powerful voice. I recommend this wonderful heart-wrenching new biography by Nicholas Boggs #booksky
Earlier today I posted a photo of #Tiananmen Square in 2007. Here are two photos from my last visit to #Beijing, #China in August 2020 after the first wave of Covid. #Photography
“Welcome to mid-career,” said Vik, “where everyone cares just that little bit less about anything you say or do.” - Gwendoline Riley, The Palm House, longlisted for the 2026 #Booker Prize
Happy #Yorkshire Day to all my fellow Tykes across the world. This is the view of the magnificent City Hall in my hometown #Bradford as seen from the famous Alhambra Theatre #photography
Visiting Tiananmen Square, Beijing, 2007, during the 17th Congress of the Communist Party of #China #photography
In her Booker Prize longlisted novel The Palm House, Gwendoline Riley sends her main character’s mother & boyfriend to #Saltaire village near my hometown #Bradford. It is a #UNESCO World Heritage Site & famous for its connection to David Hockney. Well worth a visit. #Booksky saltairevillage.info
Saltaire, World Heritage Site
Everything you need to know about Saltaire. History, research, tourist information.
saltairevillage.info
“The world is to be observed, and observing for its own sake is a life worth living” - Makenna Goodman, Helen of Nowhere, included on the Booker Prize longlist. Not an easy read but certainly a very unique approach to narrative #Booksky @thebookerprizes.com
The sec of state who has seen at least 15000 academics lose their jobs just said this. Out loud. Mercy me. www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
‘It hurts to lose a job you love’: Starmer loyalist Bridget Phillipson fights on despite cabinet demotion
Exclusive: The former education secretary on her new role as Labour chair and continuing as the minister for women and equalities
theguardian.com
Soft power is a key element of hard power. The BBC World Service and the British Council really matter.
Gary Rawnsley@garydrawnsley.bsky.social · last wk.A compelling argument for the the UK's new PM, Andy Burnham, to take soft power more seriously than previous PMs. By Meryem Nur Küçük via @labourlist.bsky.social labourlist.org/2026/07/burn.... @labouruk.bsky.social #softpower
A compelling argument for the the UK's new PM, Andy Burnham, to take soft power more seriously than previous PMs. By Meryem Nur Küçük via @labourlist.bsky.social labourlist.org/2026/07/burn.... @labouruk.bsky.social #softpower
'Burnham must treat soft power as part of Britain's defence' - LabourList
Andy Burnham has a chance to restore the aid budget and restore the aid and institutions that make Britain influential abroad.
labourlist.org
Thanks to @backlisted.bsky.social for discussing Laurie Lee whom I discovered only in my 40s via his beautiful description of a Village Christmas. Then devoured Cider with Rosie. Expecting a children’s book I was drawn to its poetic, often dark portrait of rural life. An author worth rediscovering
Just finished reading The Shadow of the Object by Chloe Aridjis. A beautifully written book; savoured every crafted sentence #Booksky
The Booker Prizes@thebookerprizes.com · last wk.The Shadow of the Object by Chloe Aridjis is a magnificent meditation on desire, metamorphosis and mortality. Find out more about this Booker Prize 2026-longlisted book: thebookerprizes.com/the-booker-l... @vintagebooks.bsky.social
“We should each have our own swerve in life, that moment when we defy our nature & deviate from the path we find ourselves on, a cleavage between before & after. Everything comes into being as a result of the swerve” - Chloe Aridjis, The Shadow of the Object #Booksky @thebookerprizes.com
Congratulations to all authors on the Booker Prize 2026 longlist. I’ve already read the stunning May We Feed the King: deserves inclusion. So that’s one down, just 12 more to go … @thebookerprizes.com
The Booker Prizes@thebookerprizes.com · last wk.Presenting the Booker Prize 2026 longlist. Find out more about the books and authors that make up this year's Booker Dozen: thebookerprizes.com/bp2026
Inevitably some will claim the success of K-drama Teach You A Lesson an example of Korean soft power. I disagree. Rather it demonstrates the power of social media. I watched only because clips, cast interviews & mash-ups flooded my feeds. Social media can create global hits @netflix.com
kdrama news@kdramanews.bsky.social · 2w agoAccording to Netflix’s data, the kdrama #TeachYouALesson is one of the Top 10 most watched tv shows in their streaming service. The kdrama is at No 6 in the list work a whopping 48.2 million views. app.netflix.com/title/819473...
I felt very sad when Tim died & now we’ve lost Bill. Loved watching him on The Goodies as a child & (re)discovering him on repeats of I’m Sorry I’ll Read That Again. Thanks @samiraahmeduk.bsky.social for this interview & for your obvious affection for The Goodies via Through the Square Window
Samira Ahmed@samiraahmeduk.bsky.social · last wk.Such sad news about Bill Oddie, a Renaissance Man genius, but here's the lovely conversation we had about his amazing comedic musical contribution to The Goodies on Front Row back in 2018. www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b...
Absolutely appalling news today. Jodrell Bank is not only vital for world-leading research, but has inspired generations of children - including me - to discover science, especially astronomy. It’s a national treasure & must be protected @jodrellbank.bsky.social www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Jodrell Bank's Lovell telescope faces axe in science cuts, BBC understands
Astronomers warn it would tear the heart out of UK science, and leave a generation untrained.
bbc.co.uk
#Taiwan’s soft power is based on its liberal democratic values & political culture: “Taiwan is now the only place in the Chinese-speaking world where people can openly express their feelings about repression by the Chinese government.” #softpower
‘A statement of freedom’: T-shirt slogan goes viral and book sales rocket in Taiwan after Hong Kong raids
Taiwanese people look on with concern at fate of Hong Kong’s independent booksellers, after series of arrests in recent months
theguardian.com
