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Karl Bell

@karlbell.bsky.social
756 followers 381 following 53 posts

Author. Historian. Associate Prof of Cultural History @uophistory.bsky.social C19th fantastical imagination, folklore & the environment. Co-director of port.ac.uk/portcities The Perilous Deep: A Supernatural History of the Atlantic (Reaktion) out now.

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Karl Bell @karlbell.bsky.social · 11/10/2026
Honoured (and still a little shocked) to have won the British Fantasy Society's 2026 short story competition. Many thanks to @mkhardywrites.com @britfantasysoc.bsky.social!
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Karl Bell @karlbell.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
Tickets are now available for the 'Maritime Histories from the Margins' conference, National Maritime Museum, 11-12 November 2026. Co-hosted by @uopmaritime.bsky.social and Royal Museums Greenwich. For ticket information and the conference programme, see www.rmg.co.uk/whats-on/nat...
rmg.co.uk
Conference - Maritime Histories from the Margins: People, Places, and Practices, 1500–Present
A two-day interdisciplinary conference exploring marginalised histories in maritime contexts from c.1500 to the present day
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Karl Bell @karlbell.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
It is World Maritime Day, so here's a timely reminder of The Perilous Deep: A Supernatural History of the Atlantic @reaktionbooks.bsky.social 'Bell ... brings exemplary scholarship as well as storytelling flair to the lightless depths of the “supernatural and monstrous Atlantic”.
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Karl Bell @karlbell.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
Love Kenmare bookshop, although I actually picked up your first book at the Castletownbere bookshop when I was on the Beara last month.
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Karl Bell @karlbell.bsky.social · 04/09/2026
Last chance to get a ticket for tomorrow's Writing the Occult: Time & Place online event. Starts at 1 pm (UK time). For more details, see the link below.
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Karl Bell @karlbell.bsky.social · 30/07/2026
Very much looking forward to seeing Frank Miller interviewed by Joe Hill @rgs.org this evening - howtoacademy.com/events/frank... #Batman #SinCity #Daredevil #comics
howtoacademy.com
30th July | Frank Miller: Storyteller
The creator of The Dark Knight Returns and 300 joins us for a deep dive into his life and art, revealing the inspiration behind his iconic comics and his secrets of storytelling.
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OGOM Project @ogomproject.bsky.social · 11/06/2026
Dark Enchantments: CFP and Keynote I am pleased to announce the CFP for Sheffield Gothic’s forthcoming conference Dark Enchantments: Gothic Folklore and the Monstrous Fairy Tale. The conference will take place in Sheffield, UK, on October 29-30, 2026. You can visit the Dark Enchantments website…
opengravesopenminds.com
Dark Enchantments: CFP and Keynote
I am pleased to announce the CFP for Sheffield Gothic’s forthcoming conference Dark Enchantments: Gothic Folklore and the Monstrous Fairy Tale. The conference will take place in Sheffield, UK, on October 29-30, 2026. You can visit the Dark Enchantments website and see the description on the image below for possible submissions and papers (deadline Friday, 31 July). The theme coheres well with OGOM’s research on Gothic Enchantment, and the material that has fed into our forthcoming book Gothic Enchantment with the Fairy Realm in Literature and Culture (Manchester University Press, forthcoming 2026/7).
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Karl Bell @karlbell.bsky.social · 06/06/2026
Really enjoyed the 'Performing Evil: The Mediation and Display of Diabolical Spirits, 1700-2000' conference in Leuven. The panels worked really well and there is some excellent research being done around this theme. Many thanks to @kristofsmeyers.bsky.social for organising and being a great host!
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Karl Bell @karlbell.bsky.social · 27/05/2026
Great to see our Coastal Studies & Society's special issue, 'Coastal Imaginaries 2: #Haunted Space, Story and Place' is now available online: journals.sagepub.com/toc/CLS/curr... Many thanks to Mike Benbough-Jackson, Eamon Doggett, Prash Naidu, Claire Waffel and @jfpackham.bsky.social
journals.sagepub.com
Coastal Studies & Society - Volume 5, Number 1
Table of contents for Coastal Studies & Society, 5, 1
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Jimmy Packham @jfpackham.bsky.social · 27/05/2026
New #coastalstudies special issue just published – on 'Haunted Space, Story and Place'! My piece on container shipping sits alongside some excellent looking essays - lots open access. Many thanks to @karlbell.bsky.social & Brad Beaven for overseeing all this! journals.sagepub.com/toc/CLS/curr....
journals.sagepub.com
Sage Journals: Discover world-class research
Subscription and open access journals from Sage, the world's leading independent academic publisher.
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Karl Bell @karlbell.bsky.social · 21/05/2026
Haven't had an opportunity to listen to this yet, but interested to find out where the discussion landed. I explored the history of Spring-heeled Jack some years ago - www.goodreads.com/en/book/show... Might be of interest to your listeners, although it doesn't set out to solve the mystery.
goodreads.com
The Legend of Spring-Heeled Jack: Victorian Urban Folkl…
An intriguing study of a unique and unsettling cultural…
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womensartbluesky.bsky.social @womensartbluesky.bsky.social · 02/05/2026
Italian ceramics artist Clara Holt, who decorates her work with images of ancient myths #WomensArt
Roud ceramic artwork in blue on white with images of mermaids abd sea creatures
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Karl Bell @karlbell.bsky.social · 24/04/2026
The call for papers for the 'Speculative Climates: Hauntings of the Past Across the Humanities' conference (University of Cologne, 19-20th November) looks really interesting. For more details see networks.h-net.org/group/announ... Deadline for paper proposals is 30th April #envhist #envhum
networks.h-net.org
Workshop: Speculative Climates: Hauntings of the Past Across the Humanities | H-Net
Deadline for proposals: 30 April 2026 Conference date: 19 and 20 November 2026 Location: University of Cologne, GermanySpeculative Climates: Hauntings of the Past Across the Humanities
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Karl Bell @karlbell.bsky.social · 17/04/2026
A grim thought, but I'm not persuaded. I'd like to think that, as a writing style, it's just too generic to cater for the self-expression of messy, obstinate, individualistic human minds.
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Karl Bell @karlbell.bsky.social · 12/04/2026
We are open for applications to the MA Victorian Gothic: History, Literature and Culture for Sept 2026. Tutors include @c19thceleb.bsky.social @christopherpittard.bsky.social @bradbeaven.bsky.social @karlbell.bsky.social For info on our distance learning course see 👇 www.port.ac.uk/study/course...
port.ac.uk
Victorian Gothic: History, Literature and Culture (Distance Learning)
Explore the strange and spooky history, literature and culture of the Victorian Gothic period. Study online via distance learning.
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Paul Robichaud 🪨🐐 @pjrobichaud.bsky.social · 16/01/2026
New publication date: 'Stories of the Stones: Imagining Prehistory in Britain, Ireland, and Brittany' will be published by Reaktion Books in the UK on 13 April. Pre-order through your favourite bookseller! #BookSky
Cover of 'Stories of the Stones: Imagining Prehistory in Britain, Ireland, and Brittany' by Paul Robichaud, depicting a historic engraving of Stonehenge.
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Paul Robichaud 🪨🐐 @pjrobichaud.bsky.social · 23/03/2026
If you’re interested in folklore of the high seas, I highly recommend ‘The Perilous Deep: A Supernatural History of the Atlantic’ by @karlbell.bsky.social Fantastic book!
Cover of ‘The Perilous Deep: A Supernatural History of the Atlantic,’ showing a sea serpent (Leviathan) writhing in the waves.
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Karl Bell @karlbell.bsky.social · 23/03/2026
@pjrobichaud.bsky.social Many thanks for the kind words!
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Karl Bell @karlbell.bsky.social · 20/03/2026
If interested in applying for our collaborative PhD, 'Uncharted Voices: Subaltern Cultures and Identities in Global Seafaring, 1880–1950', we will be holding a live webinar on Tuesday 24th March (1-2 pm). For further details about the project and webinar, see www.rmg.co.uk/ahrc-collabo...
rmg.co.uk
AHRC Collaborative Doctoral Partnership studentship: Uncharted Voices
Learn more about and apply for this fully funded collaborative doctoral studentship starting in October 2026
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Karl Bell @karlbell.bsky.social · 19/03/2026
A great @royalhistsoc.org lecture by @sashahandley.bsky.social coming up on 1st May - 'The Haunting at the Rectory: Ghost Stories and Women’s Lives in Early Modern England'. See below for online attendance and booking.
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The Folklore Society @folkloresociety.bsky.social · 18/03/2026
Next week: join us for our next online talk: Dr David Clarke and Dr Diane A. Rodgers, 'Early findings from The National Folklore Survey for England'. Tuesday 24 March, 19:00-20:30 GMT on Zoom. Tickets £6.00 (£4 for members with promo code) www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/early-find...
eventbrite.co.uk
Early findings from The National Folklore Survey for England
Funded by the AHRC, the National Folklore Survey for England seeks to understand the folkloric beliefs, practices and narratives alive today
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Karl Bell @karlbell.bsky.social · 17/03/2026
Come and do a funded PhD with the co-directors of @uopmaritime.bsky.social and the excellent archivists at the National Maritime Museum, Greenwich. Start date in October 2026. For more details, see 👇
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Karl Bell @karlbell.bsky.social · 24/02/2026
I've been informed that I should be appearing in Sky History's first episode of Britain's X-Files this evening at 9 pm. I'll be talking about sea serpents, and specifically about a famous sighting by HMS Daedalus in 1848.
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Karl Bell @karlbell.bsky.social · 19/02/2026
For the book's availability across other audio platforms, please see rbmediaglobal.com/audiobook/97...
rbmediaglobal.com
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Karl Bell @karlbell.bsky.social · 17/02/2026
Many thanks for reviewing The Perilous Deep - much appreciated.
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Karl Bell @karlbell.bsky.social · 17/02/2026
The Perilous Deep is available as an audiobook from today! If you prefer your books via your ears than your eyes, head over to www.audible.co.uk/pd/The-Peril...
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Karl Bell @karlbell.bsky.social · 29/01/2026
Had a really enjoyable conversation about the supernatural history of the Atlantic with Stephen Coates on the Bureau of Lost Culture podcast - bureauoflostculture.podbean.com/e/a-supernat... The podcast is available on all the usual platforms - linktr.ee/BureauOfLost...
bureauoflostculture.podbean.com
A Supernatural History of the Atlantic | Bureau of Lost Culture
The sea, its myths, and the supernatural is the theme of this special New Year edition of the Bureau when we leave behind our usual waters to set sail into the past of a very unusual counterculture.  ...
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Karl Bell @karlbell.bsky.social · 27/01/2026
Many thanks for the kind words, Mike.
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uopmaritime @uopmaritime.bsky.social · 16/01/2026
The first Maritime Matters of 2026 is out! Featuring @karlbell.bsky.social's Tidal Terrors talk, Portsmouth's bid to be UK City of Culture, Coastal Studies & Society and more. Email pcmc@port.ac.uk to sign up centreforportcitiesandmaritimecultures.cmail20.com/t/y-e-qulluh... @uophistory.bsky.social
Image of Maritime Matters newsletter
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Karl Bell @karlbell.bsky.social · 09/01/2026
If you prefer to access your podcasts from streaming platforms, the interview is also available on Apple Podcasts and Spotify: Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/g... Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/6dgE...
podcasts.apple.com
Ghosts, gods & sea monsters: a supernatural history of the Atlantic
Podcast Episode · History Extra podcast · 12/12/2025 · 30m
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Karl Bell @karlbell.bsky.social · 09/01/2026
‪My @historyextra.bsky.social podcast interview, 'Ghosts, gods & sea monsters: a supernatural history of the Atlantic', is live @ www.historyextra.com/membership/s... Many thanks for the opportunity to talk about #maritime #folklore and my new book, The Perilous Deep @reaktionbooks.bsky.social .
historyextra.com
Ghosts, gods & sea monsters: a supernatural history of the Atlantic
Karl Bell dives into the eerie and enchanting folklore of the Atlantic Ocean, revealing how supernatural stories helped sailors navigate a perilous world
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The Folklore Society @folkloresociety.bsky.social · 06/01/2026
Next week: join us for our first online talk of 2026: Simon Young, 'The Mystery of Changelings: Origins, Geography and Nature'. Tuesday 13 January, 19:00-20:30 GMT on Zoom. Tickets £6.00 (£4 for members with promo code) www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-myster...
eventbrite.co.uk
The Mystery of Changelings: Origins, Geography and Nature
Changeling lore: what were changelings, where were they found, how old is the belief, and why were children and sometimes adults swapped?
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Karl Bell @karlbell.bsky.social · 01/01/2026
Vandermeer's Ambergris trilogy and PKD too. Was left a little underwhelmed by Mieville & Keanu's Book of Elsewhere. Hope to have a crack at Delany's Dhalgren this year. On that note, all the best for 2026!
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Karl Bell @karlbell.bsky.social · 31/12/2025
Have explored and enjoyed the philosophers and cyberpunks, but tend to dwell in the subversive quadrant. Read some Heinlein and Clarke but never really drawn to the technocrats.
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Jimmy Packham @jfpackham.bsky.social · 18/12/2025
It's very exciting to say that Coastal Gothic, 1719–2020 has just been published in @universitypress.cambridge.org's Elements in the Gothic series – and it's currently open access and *free* to download until the end of December! doi.org/10.1017/9781...
doi.org
Coastal Gothic, 1719–2020
Cambridge Core - English Literature: General Interest - Coastal Gothic, 1719–2020
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Noviembre Nocturno @noviembrenocturno.bsky.social · 23/11/2025
Hoy en nuestro pódcast de @ivoox.bsky.social invocamos la obra de Karl Bell dedicada a uno de los mas célebres fantasmas de Londres, "Pánico Victoriano, La Leyenda de Spring Heeled Jack". Publicada por Reediciones Anómalas con el arte exclusivo del maestro @javiertprado.bsky.social
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uopmaritime @uopmaritime.bsky.social · 24/10/2025
Join us for @karlbell.bsky.social's free public talk, entitled Tidal Terrors: Folklore and Supernatural Storytelling at Sea, on 3rd February 2026 at Portsmouth University.
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OldRailwayAccidents @rwldproject.bsky.social · 11/11/2025
Great to be working on the new @uophistory.bsky.social 2nd year module 'Age of Crisis'! Had a good team meeting yesterday, with the excellent @robtjames.bsky.social @karlbell.bsky.social & @drmseiter.bsky.social. It's a pleasure to co-teach with them - we've got lots to share with our students!
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Karl Bell @karlbell.bsky.social · 31/10/2025
Many thanks, Jack - that's very much appreciated!
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Karl Bell @karlbell.bsky.social · 31/10/2025
Nice to see my Supernatural Cities book included in @boydellandbrewer.bsky.social's blog on 6 books to read on myth, legend and the supernatural - boydellandbrewer.com/blog/medieva... It was a pleasure to edit this rich compendium of essays about urban #folklore and #hauntings in the modern world.
boydellandbrewer.com
6 Books to Read on: Myths, Legends and the Supernatural
From the legend of Robin Hood to Scotland's ghostly reputation, take a look at these 6 books that explore the supernatural side of history.
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Karl Bell @karlbell.bsky.social · 28/10/2025
Many thanks for reading The Perilous Deep - glad you enjoyed it.
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The Friendly Necromancer 🎩 @farren.bsky.social · 28/10/2025
Finished reading The Perilous Deep by @karlbell.bsky.social I enjoyed it. Highly recommend it if you wanna learn some ocean related lore and superstitions. And also get some movie recommendations.
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Karl Bell @karlbell.bsky.social · 22/10/2025
Join me for 'Tidal Terrors: Folklore and Supernatural Storytelling at Sea', a public talk @ Portsmouth University on 3rd February (5.30-7 pm). It is free, but you need to book a place @ www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/tidal-terr... @uopmaritime.bsky.social @uophistory.bsky.social @reaktionbooks.bsky.social
eventbrite.co.uk
Tidal Terrors: Folklore and Supernatural Storytelling at Sea
Public lecture: The real life lessons from supernatural stories of the sea.
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Karl Bell @karlbell.bsky.social · 14/10/2025
Ghosts and the Gothic (MUP) is out now - manchesteruniversitypress.co.uk/9781526181916/ Very pleased to have my chapter on nautical hauntings included as part of this exciting edited collection. Many thanks to @ruthheholt.bsky.social and @joparsons.bsky.social
manchesteruniversitypress.co.uk
Manchester University Press - Ghosts and the Gothic
Ghosts and the Gothic - Browse and buy the eBook edition of Ghosts and the Gothic by Ruth Heholt
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Karl Bell @karlbell.bsky.social · 09/10/2025
Many thanks @farren.bsky.social - hope you enjoy it! The Wandering Wizards Market sounds intriguing. Hope it goes well.
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Karl Bell @karlbell.bsky.social · 25/09/2025
Delighted to be involved in developing future collaborations between Royal Museums Greenwich, and @uopmaritime.bsky.social - www.port.ac.uk/news-events-... Really enjoyed the research workshop at the National Maritime Museum last week. #maritimehistory #research #heritage
port.ac.uk
University of Portsmouth joins forces with Royal Museums Greenwich
A new collaboration has been formed between Portsmouth’s Centre for Port Cities and Maritime Cultures and Royal Museums Greenwich with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).
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Washington Independent Review of Books @wirobooks.bsky.social · 25/09/2025
An extensive account of an otherworldly ocean. www.washingtonindependentreviewofbooks.com/bookreview/t... @reaktionbooks.bsky.social @karlbell.bsky.social #booksky
washingtonindependentreviewofbooks.com
The Perilous Deep: A Supernatural History of the Atlantic | Washington Independent Review of Books
The Independent is an important voice in the community of readers and writers dedicated to book reviews and writing about the world of books.
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David Hayden @seventydys.bsky.social · 24/09/2025
Entering perhaps the best season in which to read Karl Bell's superbly entertaining 'The Perilous Deep: A Supernatural History of the Atlantic' (which I had the pleasure of editing for @reaktionbooks.bsky.social.) Karl previously won the Katharine Briggs Award.
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Karl Bell @karlbell.bsky.social · 27/08/2025
Great to see 'When Summer Meant Sea Serpents' published in September's issue of @historytoday.com - www.historytoday.com/archive/hist... For more on the history of sea serpents see my new book, The Perilous Deep reaktionbooks.co.uk/work/the-per... @reaktionbooks.bsky.social
historytoday.com
When Summer Meant Sea Serpents
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Karl Bell @karlbell.bsky.social · 20/08/2025
My recent @uophistory.bsky.social blog offers some reflections on the aims and challenges of writing The Perilous Deep - history.port.ac.uk?p=3500 @reaktionbooks.bsky.social #maritimehistory #folklore
history.port.ac.uk
Charting The Perilous Deep
Below, our own Karl Bell, Associate Professor in Cultural and Social History, writes about his exciting new book on the supernatural legends associated with the seafarers of the Atlantic Ocean.  Ka…
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