August is here, & with it my 287th #ScholarSunday thread of great public scholarly writing & work, podcast episodes, new & forthcoming books from the past week. Add more below, please share as widely as possible, & enjoy, all! 🗃️ + blackwhiteandread.com/scholarsunda...

#ScholarSunday Thread 287 (8/2/26) – Black and White and Read All Over

August is here, & with it my 287th #ScholarSunday thread of great public scholarly writing & work, podcast episodes, new & forthcoming books from the past week. Add more below, please share as widely ...

blackwhiteandread.com

There's nothing like holding a physical book, especially when it's your first to be published. A privilege to be able to write about this great lady's wartime contribution with her godson, Adam Fairclough. Madam V: Virginia Vernon's War will be on sale from 13 August from all the usual places.

#histbookchat

Dr Paul Huddie@paulhuddie.bsky.social · last wk.

20% off the new MWHN Edited Volume from Palgrave! Fourteen case studies and a new definition of 'military welfare history'. Full details at link.springer.com/book/9783032... #milwelfhist #histmed #histnursing #disabilityhist #military #veterans #skystorians

82 years ago, the first ENSA mobile column landed in Normandy led by George Formby. Continuing my series looking at troop entertainment around D-Day, I write about a very different perspective of the breakout from Caen! newsletter.mattheweaton.co.uk/p/the-ensata... #skystorians

The ENSAtainment Has Landed

Or Carry on Camping (in Bayeux)

newsletter.mattheweaton.co.uk

Bloody hell - double page centre spead in The Mirror today! An article about Virginia Vernon and my new book. www.waterstones.com/book/madam-v...

Very sad to hear of Ed Stourtons death this morning on BBC R4. As well as a great broadcaster, he wrote this little gem of a book. #histbookchat

Enjoying the sunshine on a village green.

Blooming roses!

Here's my latest article covering great talks at Bentley Priory yesterday for Dowding System Day, including @danellin.bsky.social and @spitfirefilly.bsky.social! newsletter.mattheweaton.co.uk/p/bentley-pr...

Bentley Priory Museum: Dowding System Day 2026

Per ardua ad astra

newsletter.mattheweaton.co.uk

Well, this is all rather pleasant. Bentley Priory Dowding System Day with excellent talks so far.

For a complete change of pace, I'm really enjoying the history of women and alcohol by Mallory O'Meara. Don't be misled by the cover and title. This author writes with wit and a piercing insight into gender politics through the ages. #histbookchat #photofriday

Enjoyed your thought for the day on BBC R4 @revrachelmann.bsky.social!

This weeks new addition and #histbookchat is the autobiography of Michael Howard. Looking forward to getting stuck into this one.

Chris Ruddy, CEO Newsmax on R4 Today saying, "Thanks [Britain] for giving us independence." I'm not sure that Britain GAVE the US independence - didnt the US WIN independence?

Doubletake | Reaction Images

ALT: Doubletake | Reaction Images

static.klipy.com

It's been a busy few weeks, but I wanted to pause and recognise the importance of history communities in my latest post. Especially the wehaveways and military welfare network folks. newsletter.mattheweaton.co.uk/p/2026-mid-y...

2026 Mid-Year Update

A reflection on an incredible historical community

newsletter.mattheweaton.co.uk

Now this is a venue! Attended a friend's 50th last night in the middle of a field of wild flowers yesterday. Wonderful evening, although this tested even the Fexofenadine hay fever remedy!

Reading Atkinson's second volume of the War for America trilogy, The Fate of the Day. This one is on the electronic gizmo - annoying not to have it on my shelf but easier for reading on the move. #histbookchat #photofriday (nearly)

Presenting a keynote in London today on change with the CTO of the History Channel. Don't get distracted by the AI - it's all about the people: storytelling, changing mindsets, and setting expectations (the difficult stuff).

At the IWM for Fl Lt Colin Bell DFC talk this evening.

Beautiful article by @hopeeaton.bsky.social about the nature of Father's Day and what it is means to her. Very personal reflection. notesfromhope.substack.com/p/a-fathers-...

A Father's Day Reflection from the Daughter You Chose

For Ralph, who chose to become a husband to my mother and Dad to me and my brother.

notesfromhope.substack.com

Presenting at the Military Welfare Network Conference this morning on civic engagement between ENSA and the British Army. There's a lot to say and only 20 minutes to say it in! Brevity is the soul of wit, etc!! Wish me luck. #skystorians

Theatre Royal, Drury Lane had an eventful war, becoming the nerve centre of an international organisation managing the supply of entertainment from Scapa Flow to Rangoon. It also had a narrow escape. Read more here: newsletter.mattheweaton.co.uk/p/drury-lane...

Drury Lane: Theatre Royal During the War

The Show Must Go On!

newsletter.mattheweaton.co.uk

The British government has ruined their latest policy by framing it as banning under 16s from social media. They should be banning powerful corporations from accessing minors with their content.

The London IC march from Golders Green to the IWM yesterday led by Al Murray. Raising a significant chunk of change for Finlays Trust. Fantastic day!

I'm doing a sponsored walk with Al Murray and the London IC on Saturday. We are raising money for Finlays Touch - a charity that supports children in long-term hospital care. If you are in a position to sponsor me, here's the groups link. Thank you. www.justgiving.com/page/london-...

The London IC are marching for Finley’s Touch

Help Matthew Ayres raise money to support Finley’s Touch

justgiving.com

Still ploughing through the very entertaining Montys Autobiography, but grabbed an afternoon at the BL to read this History of the Naafi by Sue Lowe. Ok as a collection of stories but lacks citations. Surprised at how little has been written about the service for the services. #histbookchat

Just heard Sarah Wynn Williams's lawyer on R4 talking about Meta's legal challenge to stop promoting her book and her silent protest at the Hay Literary Festival. If you haven't read Careless People about her time working for Facebook, I strongly urge you to do so! #booksky

As the battle of Caen raged, British Army concert parties entertained British paratroopers and patients in medical areas. The Army's own Stars in Battledress landed in Normandy on 14 June - includes some great APU IWM footage! #skystorians newsletter.mattheweaton.co.uk/p/entertainm...

Entertainment Lands in Normandy D+6!

Stars in Battledress provide a moment to forget

newsletter.mattheweaton.co.uk

Reading Montys memoir with more than a pinch of salt. Fascinating reading about his time at St Paul's, his nickname 'Monkey', and after Sandhurst, his pecuniary focus on joining the Indian Army. #histbookchat #photofriday

#histbookchat looking forward to this!

Mike Peters@mikehistorian.bsky.social · 2mo ago

I am very pleased to hear that Bomb Group will soon be available in paperback. Special pre-order deal below: x.com/i/status/205...