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Ray Monk

@raymodraco.bsky.social

3.7K followers 3K following 154 posts

I've written biographies of Ludwig Wittgenstein, Bertrand Russell and Robert J. Oppenheimer and am currently preoccupied with climate change. My passions include music and ancient churches. I am proud to be a volunteer tour guide at Salisbury Cathedral.

Posts Replies Media

Ray Monk @raymodraco.bsky.social · 08/12/2025

My latest publication - in the new issue of Sarum Chronicle - is something of a departure!

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Ray Monk @raymodraco.bsky.social · 29/10/2025

On Sunday, at the invitation of my publishers at Zhejiang University Press, I will go to China, where I will give talks on Wittgenstein at Fudan University, Zhejiang University and Beijing Normal University. I will also be give a lecture on biography in this amazing building: Shanghai Library East.

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Ray Monk @raymodraco.bsky.social · 17/09/2025

The cover of the latest Private Eye. Painfully on target.

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Ray Monk @raymodraco.bsky.social · 15/05/2025

This arrived yesterday, bringing memories of a wonderful conference in Swansea a few years ago. Congratulations to Alan for a great conference and for seeing through the publication of this very handsome and interesting book.

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Ray Monk @raymodraco.bsky.social · 19/02/2025

Private Eye hitting the nail on the head.

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Ray Monk @raymodraco.bsky.social · 30/01/2025

Had a nice little walk around Salisbury today with my friends Gary and Tim, but the footpaths round here are a bit wet at the moment!

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Ray Monk @raymodraco.bsky.social · 28/01/2025

This handsome volume of the works of John Jewel was for 100s of years chained to a church lectern. It is now in @heritagewshc.bsky.social, where I spent the day reading it. It is good to know that we still have wonderful public archives, staffed by such erudite people as @ruthdotbutler.bsky.social

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Ray Monk @raymodraco.bsky.social · 07/01/2025

St Peter's, Fugglestone, on the edge of Wilton, just outside Salisbury. It's a lovely, tiny church, largely built in the thirteenth century, around the same time as Salisbury Cathedral. (The bellecote and spirelet were added in the 15th century.) It's in disuse at the moment, awaiting restoration.

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Ray Monk @raymodraco.bsky.social · 16/12/2024

The wonderful Norman church of St Andrew's, Great Durnford, Wiltshire. For over 400 years the lectern had chained to it ("by order of Queen Elizabeth I") a book by John Jewel, Bishop of Salisbury, which was stolen in 1970. Jewel is the subject of an article that I am working on. Watch this space...

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Ray Monk @raymodraco.bsky.social · 15/12/2024

The High Altar, Salisbury Cathedral. I go to the cathedral at least once a week, but even now there are times, like yesterday (when I took this picture), when its beauty still leaves me open-mouthed. It has a perfection, I think, that is unmatched.

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Ray Monk @raymodraco.bsky.social · 11/12/2024

Salisbury Cathedral, now festive inside and out.

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Ray Monk @raymodraco.bsky.social · 05/12/2024

Salisbury Cathedral has put its Christmas tree up and very nice it looks too! Here it is reflected in the font.

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Ray Monk @raymodraco.bsky.social · 05/12/2024

We weren't allowed to take pictures of Darkness to Light, the candlelit Advent service at Salisbury Cathedral, but the Salisbury Journal apparently was. Here's one that shows how beautiful it was.

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Ray Monk @raymodraco.bsky.social · 24/11/2024

Just some right-winger in the Mail going on about pernicious benefits claimants. Oh hang on, it's our Labour prime minister!

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Ray Monk @raymodraco.bsky.social · 19/11/2024

The duck-rabbit - the gift to cartoonists that keeps on giving.

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