iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Sara Charles @saracharles.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

Look what my fantastically talented and lovely friend @eleanormaybaker.bsky.social has been up to! This is SO exciting 🙌

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Kenneth F. Duggan 🇨🇦 @kfduggan.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

Medieval Hunting Deaths: A Thread Hunting could be very dangerous (not just for animals) in the Middle Ages. Accidents happened and everyone from kings and earls to lowly peasants could be killed by a stray arrow, a hanging branch or a wild animal defending itself. 🧵7

A man in blue awkwardly holds a bow in front of him. He appears to have misfired the arrow, which is up near his face and facing the wrong way.

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Lorraine Mulholland @lorraineelizab6.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

Another shout out today on the 1 year anniversary of @saracharles.bsky.social wonderful book in paperback (out 2 years in hardback)! Published by @reaktionbooks.bsky.social. This book really is fantastic. 🥳🎂 #medievalsky

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Sara Charles @saracharles.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

It was very nice to come face-to-face with little Hugo Pictor today (MS Bodl. 717, fol. 287v). Unusually for a medieval scribe, Hugo is depicted as left-handed. He was also on the front cover of my book! #bookhistory #medievalsky

An image of a seated scribe with a quill dipped into an ink pot in his left hand and a knife in his right hand, held over a book on a stand. The scribe is in a blue robe with a tonsure

Full page of medieval manuscript with the image of a scribe in the bottom right

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School of Advanced Study, University of London @sas-news.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

The @ihr.bsky.social, @senatehouselib.bsky.social and SAS are excited to announce that bookings are now open for History Day 2026! 🥳 Save the date for Wednesday 18 November and join us in Senate House for this celebration of all things history. Book your free place: bit.ly/4yw4zWt

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Miles, knitting screaming agony werewolf @queermedieval.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

I love librarians everyone say thank you librarians

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Sara Charles @saracharles.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

I don’t know if these are butterflies but I love them ❤️ (Bodl. Libr., MS Douce 218, fol. 16v)

A medieval manuscript miniature showing two winged insects in an an initial C decorated in gold

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Sara Charles @saracharles.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

I always like being reminded of the parchment process - here’s some hair that wasn’t scraped off when it was stretched on the parchment frame (Bodleian Library, MS Digby 226, fol. 99r-v) #bookhistory

Folio from a thirteenth-century manuscript with the corner missing where the skin was cut from the parchment frame

Close up of the corner of the manuscript with animal hair still attached

Reverse side of folio showing animal hair against finger

Animal hair left on parchment shown against folio below

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Ennius @enniusredloeb.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

St. Paul receiving his writing implements Solothurn, Bischöfliches Archiv des Bistums Basel, Hs 1; Missale Basileense – Codex Gressly; second half of the 11th century; f.150v (www.e-codices.ch/en/list/one/...)

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Karl Galle @karlgalle.bsky.social · 18/08/2026

This by @saracharles.bsky.social on medieval manuscript production was an excellent read, including an array of interesting details on inks, colors, fonts, parchments, book bindings, and the people & institutions behind them: bookshop.org/p/books/the-... @reaktionbooks.bsky.social

My paperback copy of Sara J. Charles, "The Medieval Scriptorium: Making Books in the Middle Ages"

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Sara Charles @saracharles.bsky.social · 16/08/2026

Leaving the safety of the middle ages to try an early modern ink recipe. This one just uses pure wine instead of any rain water 🍾

Crushed oak galls in a mortar with pestle. To the right is a mason jar filled with white wine

Adding the crushed oak galls to the wine

The wine and gall mixture on the windowsill

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Catherine Clarke @cathamclarke.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

Referring you to my (open access) article in the journal Historical Research, which explains exactly why #AI can't do #history. Spoiler: it's about empathy, conscience and ethics (and more). AI tools can help us in our work, especially with big data, but... NO. academic.oup.com/histres/issu...

academic.oup.com

Volume 99 Issue 285 | Historical Research | Oxford Academic

Historical Research is a generalist history journal covering a broad geographical and temporal span. It encourages the submission of articles from a broad variety of appr...

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Ana de Oliveira Dias @ana0dias.bsky.social · 10/08/2026

It’s publication day 🎉🥳🎊 It’s available Open Access for anyone who wishes to read it.

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Mateusz Fafinski @calthalas.bsky.social · 29/07/2026

Half the planet is having a massive fight about how to correctly interpret an Ancient Greek poem but go ahead, close some more humanities departments.

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Kat Steiner @kastrel.bsky.social · 28/07/2026

Would people like a light-hearted Story from the Archives? In my case, the Bodleian's special collections reading room, which was at the time in the basement of the science library. It is entitled "Why Have You Given Me This Block of Wood?"

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Dr Eleanor Baker @eleanormaybaker.bsky.social · 24/07/2026

No summer school on book history would be complete without a pigment and illumination workshop from the outstanding @saracharles.bsky.social! The students absolutely LOVED it - look at their beautiful initials!

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Laura Cleaver @laurajcleaver.bsky.social · 23/07/2026

Or as I call it, the office.

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Sara Charles @saracharles.bsky.social · 20/07/2026

Very excited to be part of this international, interdisciplinary workshop on writing as a sacred act www.geschkult.fu-berlin.de/e/judaistik/... #shapingholiness

Conference programme for The Ethics of the Scribe workshop at Freie Universität, Berlin

Conference programme with list of speakers

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Catherine Clarke @cathamclarke.bsky.social · 16/07/2026

I'm delighted & proud that this article, based on my Historical Research Lecture 2025, is now published in its final form in the @ihr.bsky.social journal Historical Research. It's the 'Editor's Choice' (thanks, @saracharles.bsky.social!), so open access for 6 months. academic.oup.com/histres/arti...

academic.oup.com

Abstract. This article, a transcript of the 2025 Historical Research Lecture, re-visits the question of what makes history radical, asking what kind of rad

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Poor Frank Raw @poorfrankraw.co.uk · 11/07/2026

So, it's all about me is back on sale in the shop. One only, Welsh slate, inpainted, finished with slate oil, 25 x 20 x 3 cms. £290 inc UK shipping. www.poorfrankraw.co.uk/shop/index.h...

Hand carved #lettering on black Welsh slate. It's all about me.

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Sara Charles @saracharles.bsky.social · 09/07/2026

Ready for business in the foyer at @imc-leeds.bsky.social! Come and see all the manuscript materials and have a go at medieval script, illumination and painting with pigments #imc2026

Stall displaying materials of medieval manuscript making

Interactive stall with materials for writing with quills, illumination and pigments

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Dr Eleanor Baker @eleanormaybaker.bsky.social · 08/07/2026

Come and talk trade non-fiction with the inimitable @cathamclarke.bsky.social, the sparkling @saracharles.bsky.social, and the intrepid Anthony Bale (and me) this evening at #IMC !

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Sara Charles @saracharles.bsky.social · 08/07/2026

The fantastic stalls of Anachronalia and Fiftyeleven are now selling their wares at #imc2026. Go and stock up on all things to do with bookcraft and medieval bunnies!

Stalls set up at the IMC and people browsing the goods on display

A selection of items including stickers, a wax tablet and book plates

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Sara Charles @saracharles.bsky.social · 08/07/2026

I’ll be with the totally brilliant @cathamclarke.bsky.social, @eleanormaybaker.bsky.social and Anthony Bale tonight, talking about writing medieval history for a general audience @imc-leeds.bsky.social #imc2026

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Dr Rebecca Tyson @tyguson.bsky.social · 07/07/2026

My first article is published today in the @haskinssociety.bsky.social Journal. I'm so pleased to finally see it out in the world. My article outlines the maritime dimension to William fitzOsbern's lordship in the southern Welsh March in the years after 1066. doi.org/10.2307/jj.4... #MedievalSky

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Sara Charles @saracharles.bsky.social · 05/07/2026

I’ll be doing my thing again at @imc-leeds.bsky.social on Thursday in the Foyer. Drop by to see lots of manuscript materials - and have a go of writing with a quill and iron gall ink, applying gold leaf to gesso and painting with pigments #bookhistory #medievalsky #IMC2026

Table set out with materials used in making medieval manuscripts. Brightly coloured pigments in shells are in the foreground

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Anfor @anforsorrow.bsky.social · 02/07/2026

If you visit St. Peter's Church in Wormleighton, whose construction began in the 12th century, and look at the medieval tiles that decorate its floor, you might be surprised by two small cat pawprints that decorate one of them!

Three cat pawprints on one of the medieval tiles of the floor of St Peter's Church in Wormleighton. Warwickshire (England)

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Dr Eleanor Baker @eleanormaybaker.bsky.social · 02/07/2026

I had not posted about it but as I am now earnestly grappling with it: I am writing another book for @bodleian.ox.ac.uk Bodleian Publishing, 'Tales of Horror from Medieval England'. Expect translated narratives of violence, sorcery, fearsome creatures, the undead, and the end times.

A medieval manuscript illustration of a skeleton representing death holds a spear aloft, ready to strike an emaciated man who lies in bed, an attendant at his side. From Oxford, Bodleian Library, MS Selden Supra 53 F. 118r.

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Catherine Clarke @cathamclarke.bsky.social · 26/06/2026

I'm leading this new @ihr.bsky.social Discovery Course: 'Writing and Pitching Your #Trade Non-Fiction #Book'. Two days, with experienced writers + agent Elliot Prior (Curtis Brown), plus an optional add-on 'writing retreat' with expert advice @ihrlibrary.bsky.social www.history.ac.uk/news-events/...

history.ac.uk

Writing and Pitching Your Trade Non-Fiction Book

Discovery Course (PAID)

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Jennifer @bibliojenni.bsky.social · 24/06/2026

There are still a few spaces left on this. Do come along if you're interested in early medieval manuscripts, their secrets, and delightful archival anecdotes.

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Sara Charles @saracharles.bsky.social · 20/06/2026

Just spotted a bat chilling out in the Saint-Ouen Abbey. Look at the feets!

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Sara Charles @saracharles.bsky.social · 19/06/2026

Just hanging out in Rouen, living my best urban medieval life ❤️

Looking down onto a street in Rouen, lined with medieval style houses and an abbey at the end of the street

Looking down into a street in Rouen with medieval style houses and a church

Ground level of a street with medieval style houses

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Catherine Clarke @cathamclarke.bsky.social · 13/06/2026

Join us @imc-leeds.bsky.social! Very excited for this session with the brilliant @eleanormaybaker.bsky.social, @realmandeville.bsky.social and @saracharles.bsky.social on writing trade non-fiction - from finding an agent to working with trade publishers, the media and beyond. #medieval #imc2026

Session 1440 Taking Medieval Studies to a Wider Audience: Writing Trade Non-Fiction - A Round Table Discussion
Wednesday 8 July, 7-8pm

Medieval history, literature, and culture have played a starring role in many books for general readers in recent years, capturing the public imagination. In this round table discussion, four medievalists who have published successful 'trade' books for wider audiences will discuss their experiences of bringing their academic research to a new readership. Working in varied contexts and at different career stages, the speakers cover a range of specialisms: Eleanor Baker (Book Curses), Anthony Bale (A Travel Guide to the Middle Ages: The World through Medieval Eyes), Sara Charles (The Medieval Scriptorium: Making Books in the Middle Ages), and Catherine Clarke (A History of England in 25 Poems). They will reflect on the processes of shaping a topic, writing in different formats and registers, and engaging a non-specialist audience, as well as the journey to publication - from finding an agent to working with trade publishers, the media, and beyond.

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Laura Cleaver @laurajcleaver.bsky.social · 12/06/2026

The London International Palaeography School 2026 comes to an end. A wonderful week of learning about manuscripts. Thank you to all the students and staff @ies-sas.bsky.social @senatehouselib.bsky.social who make this so much fun. See you in 2027. 🎉📖✍️🥂😴

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Fiona McLees @mclees-fiona.bsky.social · 10/06/2026

The last working ochre mine in the U.K, Clearwell Caves in the Forest of Dean, where colour has been mined for 4,500 years. A beautiful range is still mined & milled there: yellow ochre, red ochre (Terra Rosa d’Inghilterra), brown ochre, & rarer purple ochre, akin to ‘caput mortuum’.

A glass cabinet filled with jars of powdered pigment, paint swatches, and tools

A view down onto a work surface covered with huge pestles and mortars filled with ochre pigments

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Laura Cleaver @laurajcleaver.bsky.social · 09/06/2026

It’s day two of London International Palaeography School @ies-sas.bsky.social 📚✍️✏️

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Laura Cleaver @laurajcleaver.bsky.social · 08/06/2026

A great first day at the London International Palaeography School @ies-sas.bsky.social #MedievalSky #Manuscripts #BookHistory

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Jane Hoodless @janehoodless.bsky.social · 20/05/2026

The complete quartet: FOUR POCKETS FOR SEASONAL FORAGERS, hand-embroidered tie-on pockets displaying flowers, seeds, roots, berries and leaves according to each season.

Four tie-on pockets, embroidered with flora according to each season.

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Jennifer @bibliojenni.bsky.social · 30/05/2026

What an utter delight it has been to have @saracharles.bsky.social at Hereford Cathedral the last few days! Finished up with ink & quill making and calligraphy in the reading room today.

Jar labelled Librarian with crushed oak galls in boiling water.

Someone writing with handmade ink and quill.

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Dr Rebecca Tyson @tyguson.bsky.social · 29/05/2026

Fantastic talk by @saracharles.bsky.social this evening at Hereford Cathedral explaining and demonstrating the process of bringing medieval manuscripts into being #MedievalSky

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Sara Charles @saracharles.bsky.social · 27/05/2026

And there will be fun stuff to play with too!

A selection of materials for medieval manuscripts including oak galls, goose feathers and pigments

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Jennifer @bibliojenni.bsky.social · 27/05/2026

There are a few tickets left for @saracharles.bsky.social talk on Friday evening at Hereford Cathedral. What better way to spend a Friday night than immersed in thinking about manuscript production? www.herefordcathedral.org/Event/from-p...

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Catherine Clarke @cathamclarke.bsky.social · 26/05/2026

Have you seen this fantastic new article from @saracharles.bsky.social? Important new insights on the endlessly fascinating Goscelin of St Bertin, and a brilliant case study in what (sometimes unfairly neglected) #medieval martyrologies can tell us / why they're worth close study. And #OpenAccess!

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Sara Charles @saracharles.bsky.social · 24/05/2026

Getting all my materials together for my trip to Hereford Cathedral next week - I’ll be giving a talk about medieval manuscripts followed by an ink-making workshop @bibliojenni.bsky.social

A selection of various materials for manuscript making, including goose feathers, oak galls and pigments

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Poor Frank Raw @poorfrankraw.co.uk · 23/05/2026

Just getting started on a they/them, which, and you can read into this what you will, can be positioned and viewed from any angle 🏳️‍⚧️⚧️🏳️‍🌈👍

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