Sign in

Michael Durrant

@michaelwdurrant.bsky.social
541 followers 942 following 85 posts

Lecturer in Book History at IES, Uni of London. Author of The Dreadful Name of Henry Hills (MUP 2026). Co-editor of upcoming Routledge Companion to Book Studies.

PostsRepliesMedia
Reposted by Michael Durrant
British History Online @bho.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
An important new resource: Africans in Ireland, 1578 - 1921. africansinireland.com #History #IrishHistory #BlackHistory
africansinireland.com
Africans in Ireland, 1578-1921 – An ongoing research project by W. A. Hart, Jonathan Wright, Nik Ribianszky, and Mark Doyle.
096
Reposted by Michael Durrant
EMoDiR @emodir.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
#CfP 📢 Research Symposium: “Imagining the Global Past: Antiquities, Early Modernities, and the Humanities Today”, University of Washington Division of the Humanities 📆 17–18 May 2027 | 🌍 Seattle (USA) ⏰ 1 Oct 2026 🔗 emworkshop.fas.harvard.edu/deadline-oct... #GlobalHistory
emworkshop.fas.harvard.edu
011
Reposted by Michael Durrant
Plashing Vole @plashingvole.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
Quick equalities check: across English, History/Politics/War Studies 6 women have lost their jobs and 0.5 men. 4 men and one woman are safe. English goes from 50:50 (6M, 6F) to 1 woman and 2.5 men.
913159
Reposted by Michael Durrant
EMoDiR @emodir.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
#CfP 📢 “Early Modern Women and Generations”, Early Modern Women: An Interdisciplinary Journal Inviting submissions for the Fall 2027 Forum. ⏰ 1 October 2026 🔗 www.stmoderna.it/it/dettaglio... #GenderHistory #WomensHistory #EarlyModern
stmoderna.it
Dettaglio CFP - “Early Modern Women and Generations”
064
Reposted by Michael Durrant
Institute of English Studies @ies-sas.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
How does printing shape our language and the way we consume the written word? @michaelwdurrant.bsky.social and Karen Attar explored these topics at a talk last week, following on from their @senatehouselib.bsky.social Caxton exhibition. Read more here: www.london.ac.uk/senate-house...
london.ac.uk
Dr Karen Attar and Dr Michael Durrant deliver Caxton lecture at Westminster Abbey
Dr Karen Attar and Dr Michael Durrant delivered a presentation on the legacy of William Caxton at Westminster Abbey
042
Michael Durrant @michaelwdurrant.bsky.social · 10/09/2026
Yesterday we delivered the lunchtime talk @westminsterabbey.bsky.social St Margaret's Church on Caxton to mark the end of @senatehouselib.bsky.social Caxton exhibition @ies-sas.bsky.social 🙌
0121
Reposted by Michael Durrant
Prof. Liz Oakley-Brown @earlymodlancs.bsky.social · 02/09/2026
This lunchtime talk by @michaelwdurrant.bsky.social and Dr Karen Attar next week looks great 👇 www.westminster-abbey.org/abbey-events...
westminster-abbey.org
Lunchtime talk: The English print revolution | Westminster Abbey
Discover how Westminster-based printer William Caxton played a vital role in the revolutionary history of the printed word.
062
Reposted by Michael Durrant
Erika Gaffney @erikagaffney.bsky.social · 19/08/2026
Sat 3 Oct 2026 at Christ Church Library, Oxford Univ - Women and Their Books: Women as Book Producers and Owners in Early Modern England and Scotland A study afternoon exploring women as book producers and owners in Early Modern England and Scotland. www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/women-and-...
eventbrite.co.uk
Women and Their Books in Early Modern England and Scotland
A study afternoon exploring women as book producers and owners in Early Modern England and Scotland.
35528
Reposted by Michael Durrant
Institute of English Studies @ies-sas.bsky.social · 05/08/2026
It is almost two months since LRBS 2026 began and we are reading through some of the lovely feedback from our students: "26 years since I did my MLIS and I've had many opportunities for professional development, but it's no exaggeration to say this was the best learning experience of my life"!
081
Reposted by Michael Durrant
Laura Cleaver @laurajcleaver.bsky.social · 01/08/2026
My copy of Manuscript Studies arrived today 🎉 It contains an essay on how medieval manuscripts ended up in @marshslibrary.bsky.social to accompany our new catalogue. Also available online: muse.jhu.edu/issue/56871
04213
Reposted by Michael Durrant
Plashing Vole @plashingvole.bsky.social · 02/08/2026
Definitely the case here. In two weeks we find which 9 of 12 in my group will be gone. The other 3 will then have a month to prepare and find hourly-paid replacements for all the classes across two degrees. And supervise 25 PhDs. Plus admin and pastoral care and research. Management doesn’t care.
1314178
Michael Durrant @michaelwdurrant.bsky.social · 16/07/2026
Chuffed to find out I’ve been elected as a Fellow! About to use FRHistS like it’s going out of fashion
3100
Michael Durrant @michaelwdurrant.bsky.social · 09/07/2026
The English Print Revolution: Caxton and Beyond runs until 24 July. Pop over to @senatehouselib.bsky.social if you’re nearby
0179
Reposted by Michael Durrant
Laura Cleaver @laurajcleaver.bsky.social · 26/06/2026
And so #LRBS @ies-sas.bsky.social comes to an end for the 2025/26 session. Thanks to @bibsoc.bsky.social for their sponsorship and all students, staff, librarians, and friends who facilitated discussions about all aspects of #BookHistory. See you next year.
0122
Reposted by Michael Durrant
Geoffrey Hughes @geofffhughes.bsky.social · 24/06/2026
Found out yesterday that my job is at risk. Feels terrible: multiple video-only "consultations" without even a q and a... Humanities and social sciences overwhelmingly targeted... Whole thing feels deeply ideological and also like payback aimed at the departments with high union density...
share.google
University of Exeter in talks to cut about 150 members of staff
The university says it is consulting with colleagues over "limited and specific potential changes".
2722176
Reposted by Michael Durrant
Ben Davies @bendavies.bsky.social · 21/06/2026
It was a pleasure to organise this with @clarelees.bsky.social @ies-sas.bsky.social, Nigel Newton (Bloomsbury) and colleagues from @englishassociation.bsky.social & @univeng.bsky.social universityenglish.ac.uk/charter-for-... #englishCreates
universityenglish.ac.uk
Charter for Change launched at Westminster
3177
Reposted by Michael Durrant
Laura Cleaver @laurajcleaver.bsky.social · 23/06/2026
An excellent second day at a rather warm #LRBS @ies-sas.bsky.social. We’ve been thinking about book collecting in the long nineteenth century (and ice cream).
0102
Reposted by Michael Durrant
Institute of English Studies @ies-sas.bsky.social · 18/06/2026
Week 1, Day 4 of the London Rare Books School, and we are celebrating with a reception at Maggs Bros Rare Books and Manuscripts bookshop🥂📚📜
072
Reposted by Michael Durrant
History & Policy @historyandpolicy.bsky.social · 17/06/2026
Some of the lovely items on display right now in the Senate House Library exhibition ‘The English Print Revolution: Caxton and Beyond’.
032
Reposted by Michael Durrant
SHARP @sharpweb.org · 15/06/2026
Are you interested in reading and readers? Join us July 7-9 for the SHARPIES, our inaugural global book history festival! Registration is free for SHARP members. events.zoom.us/ev/Ap9iEZwmC... And if you aren't a SHARP member, joining is easy! sharpweb.org/membership/
What Contemporary Readers Do: A Spoken Word Interactive Video Game Experience, a keynote address by Beth Driscoll, Wednesday, July 8 @ 6:30am UTC
Imagining Readers: A Conversation, hosted by Leah Henrickson, July 8 @ 8am UTC
Youth Reading: A Conversation, hosted by Lisa Maruca, July 8 @ 4:30pm UTC
A Conversation on the Technologies of Reading, Adrian Johns and Priyasha Mukhopadhyay interviewed by Hwisang Cho, July 9 @ 4pm UTC
12113
Michael Durrant @michaelwdurrant.bsky.social · 16/06/2026
Week 1 day 2 of the 2026 @ies-sas.bsky.social London Rare Book School. Here are a few pics from the Anatomy of the Book short course, which is making good use of the new printing press @sas-news.bsky.social
1112
Reposted by Michael Durrant
Laura Cleaver @laurajcleaver.bsky.social · 15/06/2026
Wishing all the students and staff involved with London Rare Books School @ies-sas.bsky.social an excellent week. Please do share your photos and tag us. #LRBS 📚📖👨‍🎓👩‍🎓
052
Reposted by Michael Durrant
Institute of English Studies @ies-sas.bsky.social · 15/06/2026
The London Rare Books School 2026 has officially begun! Welcome to all our students and tutors!
0141
Reposted by Michael Durrant
Institute of English Studies @ies-sas.bsky.social · 12/06/2026
A fantastic shot of @michaelwdurrant.bsky.social running a handpress printing workshop at Stoke City Archives earlier this week #BookHistory #handprinting
142
Reposted by Michael Durrant
The Bibliographical Society @bibsoc.bsky.social · 09/06/2026
For this month’s Council’s Choice, Matthew Payne highlights England’s Immigrants 1330-1550, a database containing the names of over 64,000 people known to have migrated to England during the period of the Hundred Years’ War and the Black Death, the Wars of the Roses and the Reformation.
bibsoc.org.uk
Council’s Choice for June 2026 - Bibliographical Society
England’s Immigrants 1330-1550 England’s Immigrants 1330-1550 is a fully-searchable database containing the names of over 64,000 people known to have migrated to England during the period of the Hundr...
21713
Reposted by Michael Durrant
Laura Cleaver @laurajcleaver.bsky.social · 09/06/2026
It’s day two of London International Palaeography School @ies-sas.bsky.social 📚✍️✏️
0216
Michael Durrant @michaelwdurrant.bsky.social · 09/06/2026
Some pics from today’s letterpress workshop at the Stoke City Archives, celebrating book making in the Potteries, as part of Lisa Blower’s @keeleuniversity.bsky.social 100 Books for 100 Years centenary project
072
Michael Durrant @michaelwdurrant.bsky.social · 29/05/2026
The Print Revolution: Then and Now conference today @senatehouselib.bsky.social was great. I only got one pic, with representatives from various bibliographical presses, and here it is
0121
Reposted by Michael Durrant
Institute of English Studies @ies-sas.bsky.social · 22/05/2026
A wonderful evening celebrating these brilliant people and their brilliant publications! Congratulations Christopher, Angéline, and Michael! @michaeldurrant.bsky.social
Three academics holding their new publications and smiling. Left to right: Christopher Ohge, Angéline Rais, Michael Durrant
2123
Michael Durrant @michaelwdurrant.bsky.social · 21/05/2026
The @senatehouselib.bsky.social printer in residence Becca Drake ran some excellent sessions today. Bridging Caxton, Chaucer, contemporary poetry, and hand-press printing @ies-sas.bsky.social @sas-news.bsky.social
0101
Michael Durrant @michaelwdurrant.bsky.social · 18/05/2026
A few pics from @firstsrarebooks.bsky.social last week. It was great to get a part of the Book Fairs 101 session and the Revolutions in Print panel both with @ies-sas.bsky.social and @senatehouselib.bsky.social
183
Reposted by Michael Durrant
Laura Cleaver @laurajcleaver.bsky.social · 16/05/2026
Hanging out with @ies-sas.bsky.social and @bibsoc.bsky.social at Firsts today. Celebrating all things bookish. #BookHistory
0135
Michael Durrant @michaelwdurrant.bsky.social · 01/05/2026
manchesteruniversitypress.co.uk/978152612939... it still costs a bomb BUT 30% off if you use EVENT30 at checkout 😬
manchesteruniversitypress.co.uk
Manchester University Press - The dreadful name of Henry Hills
The dreadful name of Henry Hills - Browse and buy the Hardcover edition of The dreadful name of Henry Hills by Michael Durrant
041
Reposted by Michael Durrant
Plashing Vole @plashingvole.bsky.social · 01/05/2026
I would like to say a public thank-you to colleagues at @ies-sas.bsky.social, the English Association and University English for their support for my colleagues and department as we face a rapid unscheduled disassembly - the practical advice and support offered is wonderful, and we're so grateful.
315119
Reposted by Michael Durrant
Institute of English Studies @ies-sas.bsky.social · 01/05/2026
The IES, English Association @englishassociation.bsky.social and University English @univeng.bsky.social are always available to support colleagues throughout the sector in these challenging times. There's more information on our website here: ies.sas.ac.uk/leadership-c...
ies.sas.ac.uk
Supporting English Departments
What IES is doing to help departments cope with challenging times.
12915
Reposted by Michael Durrant
Laura Cleaver @laurajcleaver.bsky.social · 29/04/2026
Thanks to @thelondonarchives.bsky.social for a lovely evening and the chance to see some evocative items from their collections. Here is the list of deaths in London for this week in 1666 - the year of the great fire. Plague numbers were relatively low, with more deaths from consumption.
1205
Michael Durrant @michaelwdurrant.bsky.social · 30/04/2026
The @senatehouselib.bsky.social Printer is Residence, Becca Drake, is delivering two free workshops and a roundtable later this month, and they’re free! First up, a zine-making workshop on 21 May: www.london.ac.uk/senate-house...
london.ac.uk
William Caxton Meets Small Press Poetry: a zine-making workshop
In this two hour workshop, get creative making your own zines inspired by old-school printing and fresh small press poetry and learn about the printing processes Caxton used.
11711
Reposted by Michael Durrant
The English Association @englishassociation.bsky.social · 24/04/2026
EVENT! Free online #CPD *Close reading is creative reading* Why reading closely matters from primary to higher education Join contributors to the Spring issue of the EA Newsletter & explore the topic of close reading, with experts from primary, sec., H.E. englishassociation.ac.uk/close-readin...
englishassociation.ac.uk
Close reading is creative reading (5 May 2026, 16:30 - 18:00) | The English Association
We support the teaching, learning, and enjoyment of English at all levels of education, from early years to further and higher education and beyond.
054
Reposted by Michael Durrant
Laura Cleaver @laurajcleaver.bsky.social · 23/04/2026
On 11 May I will be in Canterbury talking about Gervase of Canterbury, the manuscripts of his work and what they tell us about the world in which he lived. This is a free event and it would lovely to have an audience! #Skystorians #BookHistory #MedievalSky www.canterbury.ac.uk/events/2026/...
canterbury.ac.uk
The 2026 Annual Becket Lecture: In Search of Gervase of Canterbury
In Search of Gervase of Canterbury, Monk of Christ Church Canterbury in the Time of Thomas Becket
1259
Michael Durrant @michaelwdurrant.bsky.social · 22/04/2026
ilab.org/article/caxt... A nice overview of the current Caxton exhibition @senatehouselib.bsky.social from the International League of Antiquarian Booksellers. Open until 1 July 2026, so do pop by if you’re in Bloomsbury. It’s free!
ilab.org
Caxton and the Revolution of Print in England - ILAB - EN
085
Reposted by Michael Durrant
Laura Cleaver @laurajcleaver.bsky.social · 21/04/2026
This will be a fascinating project for someone! #bookhistory #Archives #Libraries
051
Michael Durrant @michaelwdurrant.bsky.social · 22/04/2026
Chuffed to discover that my MRes diss student,Sophie Weinberg, has won the Women’s History Network’s 2025 MA Dissertation Prize for ‘The Matrilineal Printing House’! Here’s a project Sophie’s working on over at the Skeuomorph Press at Illinois—a letterpress poster of her diss title!
1337
Reposted by Michael Durrant
The Bibliographical Society of America @bibsocamer.bsky.social · 17/04/2026
The Bibliographical Society of America is participating in a social media campaign with ACLS this week, and we invite you to join in! The message is simple and proactive: we need more humanities and social sciences scholars and research. #TalkAboutHumanities
Two hands hold an open book with printed and handwritten text, accompanied by a promotional banner from The Bibliographical Society of America.

Transcribed Text:

Left Page: THE HIGH TREASVRE... (text continues further down) Imprinted at London, for Gabriell Simson and William White.

Right Page: I hate not, having a real note book, but when you order one you, note write...

Banner Text: We Need More Bibliographers
05533
Reposted by Michael Durrant
Laura Cleaver @laurajcleaver.bsky.social · 17/04/2026
The 49th palaeography summer school in Birmingham incudes an advanced course on wills. It could be useful to experienced genealogists. #Skystorians #AncestryHour #Genealogy 🌳📜 ‘I leave my soul to God’: Testamentary Records c. 1300-c.1600 (with Shelagh Sneddon) palaeography.uk/study/short-...
palaeography.uk
The 49th Latin and Palaeography Summer School, 27-31 July 2026
The School, formerly the Keele Latin and Palaeography Summer School, returns for its 49th year. In 2025 The Ranulf Higden Society took over the organisation of the Latin and Palaeography Summer Sch…
0187
Reposted by Michael Durrant
Institute of English Studies @ies-sas.bsky.social · 15/04/2026
Need an intro to the basics of palaeography? Book your spot by 22nd May: buff.ly/GEkudq3 #palaeography #paleography #LIPS26
063
Reposted by Michael Durrant
Institute of English Studies @ies-sas.bsky.social · 14/04/2026
There's still time to register for this talk by @laurajcleaver.bsky.social on crime and the London rare book trade 🕵️ 29 April at 5.30pm Get tickets here 👇 www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/crime-and-...
eventbrite.co.uk
Crime and the London Rare Book Trade 1890-1930
Join an evening talk by Dr Laura Cleaver - exploring London life, book trade workings, and views on rare books through crime stories.
01510
Michael Durrant @michaelwdurrant.bsky.social · 07/04/2026
The Print Revolution then and now (Friday 29 May 2026) - a one-day event consisting of panel discussions and contemporary perspectives on Senate House Library exhibition, The English Print Revolution: Caxton and Beyond. Book here: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-print-...
eventbrite.co.uk
The Print Revolution then and now
A one-day event consisting of panel discussions and presentations on various aspects of printing history and heritage in the 21st century.
084
Reposted by Michael Durrant
Institute of English Studies @ies-sas.bsky.social · 02/04/2026
The IES and @dh-researchhub.bsky.social are the proud owners of a beautiful Albion printing press! This will be an amazing resource for our SAS students, summer schools, and other research training opportunities. Huge thanks to @michaelwdurrant.bsky.social, Christopher Ohge, and Richard Lawrence!
0101
Reposted by Michael Durrant
Institute of English Studies @ies-sas.bsky.social · 31/03/2026
Huge congratulations to @michaelwdurrant.bsky.social on the publication of The Dreadful Name of Henry Hills: The Lives and Afterlives of a Seventeenth-Century Printer! manchesteruniversitypress.co.uk/9781526129390
1243
Michael Durrant @michaelwdurrant.bsky.social · 01/04/2026
Many thanks to Tandy Barton, Academic Librarian for Manuscript and Print, and to writer and journalist Jade Cuttle, for showing us around the @senatehouselib.bsky.social Museum of Writing yesterday, which Jade is currently helping to catalogue
172