Victorian Popular Fiction Association @vpfa.bsky.social · 23/09/2026Don't forget to sign up to our tea salon happening on Wednesday! A great opportunity to share all of those weird and wonderful archival materials or marginalia you've found but never had the opportunity to use in your work! Check your emails from us to sign up 🤩 000
Victorian Popular Fiction Association @vpfa.bsky.social · 15/09/2026NEW BLOG POST 📢 Adding to our series of posts about Neo-Victorian horror, Rebecca Hamilton, VJ René, and Megan Nash reflect on the genre’s potential to voice the unspeakable in "The Era of Neo-Victorian Horror Cinema is Here"! Read the full post here: victorianpopularfiction.org/the-era-of-n... 022
Victorian Popular Fiction Association @vpfa.bsky.social · 12/09/2026Join us for our next Tea Salon to dive into some of the more unique finds we've all come across in the archives. If you are a member, check your previous emails from us to sign up. Not a member? Sign up here: victorianpopularfiction.org/membership-j... 022
Victorian Popular Fiction Association @vpfa.bsky.social · 12/09/2026The 2026 VPFA Mary Eliza Root prize is now open! Deadline: 30th September 2026. To see if you are eligible apply, and for more details, please go to: victorianpopularfiction.org/mary-eliza-r... 033
Reposted by Victorian Popular Fiction AssociationDr. Samantha Landau📚 @broomsticknpen.bsky.social · 12/09/2026And it’s hybrid conference!! 💓 021
Reposted by Victorian Popular Fiction AssociationEmma Butler-Marr @19thcenturyem.bsky.social · 11/09/2026Ohh my God it's like it was made for me 😂 211
Victorian Popular Fiction Association @vpfa.bsky.social · 11/09/2026If you enjoyed this issue of VPFJ, please consider sending us a submission for the next general issue. Deadlines for submission are 31st January 2027. Find out more here: victorianpopularfiction.org/publications...victorianpopularfiction.orgVictorian Popular FictionsThe Journal of the Victorian Popular Fiction Associationclick on the issue links below to accessOUT NOW! Issue 8.1 (Spring 2026)Issue 7.2 (Autumn 2025), a special number on Victorian Popular Fictio… 011
Victorian Popular Fiction Association @vpfa.bsky.social · 11/09/2026VPFA are now accepting abstracts for our 19th Annual Conference "Beaches and Borders in Victorian Popular Fiction and Culture". To read the full CfP and submission guidelines, head to: victorianpopularfiction.org/vpfa-annual-... 11514
Reposted by Victorian Popular Fiction AssociationEmma Butler-Way @ebutler-way.bsky.social · 08/09/2026Featuring yours truly on Louisa May Alcott's *delightful* 'A Long Fatal Love Chase'. I feel very lucky to be able to have enormous fun reading a novel, then enjoy presenting on the novel at a conference, before then having even more fun researching and writing about it in more depth... 031
Victorian Popular Fiction Association @vpfa.bsky.social · 08/09/2026The latest issue of Victorian Popular Fictions is now OUT! Read the full issue on our website: victorianpopularfiction.org/publications...victorianpopularfiction.orgVictorian Popular Fictions volume 8 issue 1 (Spring 2026)Table of Contents ArticlesJulia Kuehn and Diane Eveline van den Brink. The Good, the Bad, and the Popular: The Question of a Popular Canon and Other Methodological ContemplationsLinda K. Hughes. Cr… 041
Victorian Popular Fiction Association @vpfa.bsky.social · 07/09/2026We are very excited to share yet another addition to the Key Popular Women Writers Series: congratulations to Susan Civale on the publication of Mary Shelley! 🎉 This study reveals previously unseen continuities in Shelley's work and affinities with other women writers! 152
Victorian Popular Fiction Association @vpfa.bsky.social · 04/09/2026For The Third Sex Reading Group's first session back after summer, they will be looking at The Lilac People by Milo Todd. This is a novel about Nazi Germany and the trans community. If you'd like to attend, please send us an email with the subject FAO: Third Sex to vpfareadinggroup@gmail.com 000
Victorian Popular Fiction Association @vpfa.bsky.social · 03/09/2026Feeling that midweek slump? Why don't you sign up to our writing retreat to get your creative juices flowing again? If you are a VPFA member, check your previous emails from us for a sign-up link. If you are not a member and want to join, become one here: victorianpopularfiction.org/membership-j... 000
Victorian Popular Fiction Association @vpfa.bsky.social · 01/09/2026Huge congratulations to Joanna Turner on the publication of her new book, Marie Corelli, in our Key Popular Women Writers Series!! 🎉 The book explodes the myths of prior biographies, revealing Corelli the performer, her working-class roots, and her hidden periodical publications of the 1870s. 2105
Victorian Popular Fiction Association @vpfa.bsky.social · 31/08/2026Emma Butler-Way is back with another post in the 'On This Day in the Pages of the Victorians' series: August 28th! We have updates on Queen Victoria, advice for sweethearts, home remedies, and musical scores 🎼 Read the full post here: victorianpopularfiction.org/on-this-day-...victorianpopularfiction.orgOn This Day in the Pages of the Victorians: 28th AugustA selection by Emma Butler-WayWe have a bumper issue of ‘On This Day’ today! If you want to know what Queen Victoria was up to, or if the periodicals have any advice for sweethearts look no further… 020
Reposted by Victorian Popular Fiction AssociationDr Joanna Turner @coppertapestry.bsky.social · 27/08/2026What a wonderful feeling – it’s publication day for my book on Marie Corelli! Thanks to my amazing editors @helenaifill.bsky.social and Janine Hatter for all their support. I’m so proud to be a contributor to their series on Key Popular Women Writers. @vpfa.bsky.social @lboroenglish.bsky.social 62712
Reposted by Victorian Popular Fiction AssociationEmma Butler-Way @ebutler-way.bsky.social · 28/08/2026Today sees another entry for the @vpfa.bsky.social Blog's On This Day series, featuring royal happenings, a volatile convalescent, notes on quietness, advice for sweethearts, miracle cures, and some musical notes... victorianpopularfiction.org/on-this-day-...victorianpopularfiction.orgOn This Day in the Pages of the Victorians: 28th AugustA selection by Emma Butler-WayWe have a bumper issue of ‘On This Day’ today! If you want to know what Queen Victoria was up to, or if the periodicals have any advice for sweethearts look no further… 011
Victorian Popular Fiction Association @vpfa.bsky.social · 25/08/2026NEW BLOG POST 🧟♀️👻 Shannon looks at newly trending Neo-Victorian horror fiction and reflects on both its global interest and its appeal to readers living in unhinged times. Read the full post here: victorianpopularfiction.org/exacting-rev... 043
Victorian Popular Fiction Association @vpfa.bsky.social · 04/08/2026NEW BLOG POST 🤩Our James Malcolm Rymer expert, Rebecca Nesvet, reviews Birmingham Rep's production of Sweeney Todd and how it reveals 'the timeliness of penny dreadfuls': victorianpopularfiction.org/the-failure-...victorianpopularfiction.orgThe Failure of Institutions: Sweeney Todd Restages the Timeliness of Penny DreadfulsBirmingham Rep’s production reviewed by Rebecca Nesvet Victorian melodrama was not a purely escapist genre, nor was it necessarily conservative. With its mix of epic action and often plebeian chara… 132
Victorian Popular Fiction Association @vpfa.bsky.social · 14/07/2026We are delighted to share with you two new wonderful publications by VPFA members! Gothic Masculinities in the Victorian Age, ed. by Ruth Heholt and Mariaconcetta Constantini and Valerie Fehlbaum's edited collection of Ella Hepworth Dixon's short stories, Sidelights on the Feminine Temperament. 151
Reposted by Victorian Popular Fiction AssociationLiz Hedgecock @lizhedgecock.bsky.social · 10/07/2026...for the @vpfa.bsky.social conference at @ljmuofficial.bsky.social. I was on with JC Briggs, who writes the Charles Dickens Investigates series, and we had a great time (and some lovely feedback). #booksky #amwriting #historicalmystery #victorianmystery #authorupdate 3/? 141
Reposted by Victorian Popular Fiction AssociationEmilie Laurent @emilieslaurent.bsky.social · 11/07/2026Truly honored and deeply grateful to have been awarded the Greta Depledge Prize for best postgraduate paper, given by @vpfa.bsky.social at its 18th annual conference for my paper on Arthur Machen’s manipulative storytelling. This award means more to me than I can put into words. Thank you ❤️ 5124
Reposted by Victorian Popular Fiction AssociationHelen McKenzie @helenmckenzie.bsky.social · 12/07/2026An emotional week... The fabulous @vpfa.bsky.social Conference #VPFAPublics full of fascinating papers, wine, and time with old and new friends! Then my last Sat teaching with Saturn Dance full of kind words, hugs, and tears (mostly mine!). A sensible if sad decision to scale back. Thank you all 🥹 051
Victorian Popular Fiction Association @vpfa.bsky.social · 10/07/2026Our 18th Annual Conference is now over, and some of you may be staving off the post-VPFA conference depression. Not to worry, because we have JUST the cure: Volume 8, issue 1 of Victorian Popular Fictions Journal 🤩💫 Read it online here: victorianpopularfiction.org/publications...victorianpopularfiction.orgVictorian Popular Fictions volume 8 issue 1 (Spring 2026)Table of Contents ArticlesJulia Kuehn and Diane Eveline van den Brink. The Good, the Bad, and the Popular: The Question of a Popular Canon and Other Methodological ContemplationsLinda K. Hughes. Cr… 095
Reposted by Victorian Popular Fiction AssociationDr Joanna Turner @coppertapestry.bsky.social · 09/07/2026This is SO GOOD! Julia Kuehn and Diane Eveline Van den Brink open the latest issue of @vpfa.bsky.social journal with a polemical article that includes a case study featuring Wilkie Collins and Marie Corelli.victorianpopularfiction.orgVictorian Popular Fictions 8.1 1 Kuehn and van den BrinkThe Good, the Bad, and the Popular: The Question of a Popular Canon and Other Methodological ContemplationsJulia Kuehn and Diane Eveline van den BrinkDownload PDF hereAbstractThis article challenge… 053
Reposted by Victorian Popular Fiction AssociationClaudia @ccapancioni.bsky.social · 08/07/2026Thank you so much #VPFAPublics. What a fantastic conference and so much to look forward to thanks to @vpfa.bsky.social wonderful community!!! 172
Reposted by Victorian Popular Fiction AssociationEmma Butler-Way @ebutler-way.bsky.social · 08/07/2026A *fantastic* time at #VPFAPublics the last few days. Fascinating papers, fruitful discussions (Some fun things on the horizon)... Caught up with old pals, made some new ones - every year I'm blown away by the incredible warmth of @vpfa.bsky.social. All the thanks to Jo and Janine for organising! 083
Reposted by Victorian Popular Fiction AssociationClaudia @ccapancioni.bsky.social · 07/07/2026After many ideas and productive conversations, the second day of #VPFAPublics ended with a joyful conference dinner. We are starting with a much awaited keynote first thing tomorrow morning: Tara MacDonald’s ‘Public Institutions, Private Care: Sex Work and Care Work in Victorian Popular Fiction’. 061
Reposted by Victorian Popular Fiction AssociationDr Anne-Marie Beller FRHistS @braddonite.bsky.social · 07/07/2026The Bodies panel was certainly one of my favourites too. Fascinating research presented at #VPFAPublics day 2. 042
Reposted by Victorian Popular Fiction AssociationBethany Dahlstrom @cryingtheoretic.bsky.social · 08/07/2026Starstruck 🤩 Got to meet one of my academic heroes today and hear her amazing keynote on sex work and care work in Victorian Pop Fiction. How can we be more caring and sympathetic in our community social care systems? #VPFAPublics @tara-macdonald.bsky.social 142
Reposted by Victorian Popular Fiction AssociationBethany Dahlstrom @cryingtheoretic.bsky.social · 08/07/2026@andrewkingc19.bsky.social talking about how Victorians marketed Pop Fiction - and I’m very excited to learn more about Victorian marketing, particularly design and product placement! Makes me think of my trawling through Punch for crumbs of context! #VPFAPublics 062
Reposted by Victorian Popular Fiction AssociationBethany Dahlstrom @cryingtheoretic.bsky.social · 08/07/2026Can you imagine trying to de-anonymise 22 Victorian sensation novels? Because Janine Hatter can! What an amazing project 😱 #VPFAPublics 172
Reposted by Victorian Popular Fiction AssociationBethany Dahlstrom @cryingtheoretic.bsky.social · 08/07/2026“Murder by beast rampage” just makes me think of “30-50 wild hogs” 🤣🤣 #VPFAPublics 041
Reposted by Victorian Popular Fiction AssociationBethany Dahlstrom @cryingtheoretic.bsky.social · 08/07/2026Welcome to our new VPFA co-President, Claudia Capancioni! #VPFAPublics 283
Reposted by Victorian Popular Fiction AssociationDr Anne-Marie Beller FRHistS @braddonite.bsky.social · 07/07/2026@helenmckenzie.bsky.social ‘s new research on Braddon’s letters to the RLF and philanthropy more generally is very exciting and points to some really fruitful new areas of discovery. 012
Reposted by Victorian Popular Fiction AssociationLiz Hedgecock @lizhedgecock.bsky.social · 07/07/2026Had a great day yesterday at ‘The Victorians and their Publics’ conference at @ljmuofficial.bsky.social, courtesy of @vpfa.bsky.social. I learnt lots and have more books and stories to add to the reading pile! #booksky #authorevent #academicconference 1/2 251
Victorian Popular Fiction Association @vpfa.bsky.social · 07/07/2026Helena Ifill discussing Charlotte Riddell's direct addresses to the reader, arguing that they were used as part of her campaign to become "the" novelist of London. city. Though she was interested in the lives of city women, her USP was the lives and hearts of city businessmen #VPFAPublics 161
Reposted by Victorian Popular Fiction AssociationDr Anne-Marie Beller FRHistS @braddonite.bsky.social · 06/07/2026Jo’s fantastic Corelli book will be out in August! 062
Reposted by Victorian Popular Fiction AssociationEmma Butler-Way @ebutler-way.bsky.social · 07/07/2026Absolutely loved being part of this panel! Always fun talking about Victorian and neo-Victorian corsets, bodies, and so on...! 121
Reposted by Victorian Popular Fiction AssociationDavid Ibitson @arry-k-arry.bsky.social · 07/07/2026Relieved to be finally at the @vpfa.bsky.social conference & have Victorianist info & ideas piped into my brain. 'When you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the Victorian Popular Fiction Association.' #VPFAPublics 042
Reposted by Victorian Popular Fiction AssociationRebecca Nesvet @ttendthetale.bsky.social · 07/07/2026#VPFAPublics Nishtha Trehan: Robert can invade Lady Audley's space, go through her things, and read her letters because she is a woman. :( 001
Reposted by Victorian Popular Fiction AssociationDr Joanna Turner @coppertapestry.bsky.social · 07/07/2026Bodies - WHAT A PANEL at #vpfapublics It was absolutely brilliant! I loved hearing from Megan Nash, Anna-Maria Grill, and @ebutler-way.bsky.social about their fascinating research! @vpfa.bsky.social 061
Reposted by Victorian Popular Fiction AssociationDr Anne-Marie Beller FRHistS @braddonite.bsky.social · 06/07/2026Presented my #VPFAPublics paper this morning in the Moot Room, which is gorgeous. I felt a bit like I was preaching a sermon! 071
Reposted by Victorian Popular Fiction AssociationDavid Ibitson @arry-k-arry.bsky.social · 06/07/2026Currently on my way to Liverpool for #VPFAPublics like Lady Audley on her way to burn down an Inn. Can't wait. 021
Reposted by Victorian Popular Fiction AssociationHelen McKenzie @helenmckenzie.bsky.social · 06/07/2026My art does not stand up to the setting but was a fun and thought-provoking way to start the day, thanks @luciejones83.bsky.social, before great papers, Neo-Victorian author roundtable, and discussions over tea and coffee. An all round wonderful Day One at #VPFAPublics See you tomorrow! 051
Reposted by Victorian Popular Fiction AssociationBethany Dahlstrom @cryingtheoretic.bsky.social · 07/07/2026A great reminder from Dr Jennifer Jones in her session on creating good writing habits this morning. I spend far too much time trying to have the ‘perfect’ first draft, which often results in unfinished projects. Reflecting on how I can ‘un-perfect’ my process at #VPFAPublics ✍🏻 281
Reposted by Victorian Popular Fiction AssociationBethany Dahlstrom @cryingtheoretic.bsky.social · 07/07/2026Learning about William Holman Hunt’s orientalist religious works set in front of this beautiful backdrop. Absolute perfection. #VPFAPublics 053
Reposted by Victorian Popular Fiction AssociationRebecca Nesvet @ttendthetale.bsky.social · 07/07/2026#VPFAPublics Debora Sarnelli: Collins commodities himself! ("I may become once more a saleable commodity in the English book-market" (1867) 001
Reposted by Victorian Popular Fiction AssociationRebecca Nesvet @ttendthetale.bsky.social · 07/07/2026#VPFAPublics Helen McKenzie: The RLF and Braddon's letters of recommendation. Wrote about 1/2 for women writers, who "toiled and fought" - breadwinners and a frighteningly modern literary precariat. 012
Reposted by Victorian Popular Fiction AssociationRebecca Nesvet @ttendthetale.bsky.social · 07/07/2026#VPFAPublics Braddon recommended to the RLF the "praiseworthy life and intellectual labour" of writer Miss Edith Heraud. 012