Matthew Symonds
@polybiblion.com
Reposted by Matthew Symonds
I'm contractually obliged to point out that it begins with a discussion of the Bayeux Tapestry.
You can currently download my Norman Conquest book for 99p.
www.kobo.com/gb/en/ebook/...
www.kobo.com/gb/en/ebook/...
October 2, 2026 at 11:08 AM
I'm contractually obliged to point out that it begins with a discussion of the Bayeux Tapestry.
Reposted by Matthew Symonds
This week’s Page by Page is in honour of one of the most wonderful colleagues I ever had the pleasure of working with: Julia Boffey (1953-2026).
maryflannery.substack.com/p/for-julia-...
maryflannery.substack.com/p/for-julia-...
For Julia, with gratitude
Remembering the kindness of a dear colleague
maryflannery.substack.com
October 2, 2026 at 8:40 AM
This week’s Page by Page is in honour of one of the most wonderful colleagues I ever had the pleasure of working with: Julia Boffey (1953-2026).
maryflannery.substack.com/p/for-julia-...
maryflannery.substack.com/p/for-julia-...
Reposted by Matthew Symonds
Every word of this
Universities cannot expect researchers to take risks if they are repeatedly at risk of redundancy while losing professional services support, grappling with the gratuitous vagaries of home and international student number swings and both teaching and assessing in an age of unregulated AI.
Opinion: Universities are failing at mission-led research—here’s how to fix it.
Jonathan Breckon and Geoff Mulgan explain how institutions can tackle society's most urgent crises.
www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-v...
Jonathan Breckon and Geoff Mulgan explain how institutions can tackle society's most urgent crises.
www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-v...
October 2, 2026 at 10:48 AM
Every word of this
Reposted by Matthew Symonds
Cool face-house. Ghent.
October 2, 2026 at 10:54 AM
Cool face-house. Ghent.
Reposted by Matthew Symonds
How do you show a whole digitized book in one thumbnail?
Modern books have illustrated covers, but in research collections the cover is often a plain library binding.
So I made Flipbook: hover over a book from any #IIIF source and flip through its pages.
hadro.github.io/flipbook/
#GLAMsky 📚📜
Modern books have illustrated covers, but in research collections the cover is often a plain library binding.
So I made Flipbook: hover over a book from any #IIIF source and flip through its pages.
hadro.github.io/flipbook/
#GLAMsky 📚📜
September 30, 2026 at 2:18 AM
How do you show a whole digitized book in one thumbnail?
Modern books have illustrated covers, but in research collections the cover is often a plain library binding.
So I made Flipbook: hover over a book from any #IIIF source and flip through its pages.
hadro.github.io/flipbook/
#GLAMsky 📚📜
Modern books have illustrated covers, but in research collections the cover is often a plain library binding.
So I made Flipbook: hover over a book from any #IIIF source and flip through its pages.
hadro.github.io/flipbook/
#GLAMsky 📚📜
Reposted by Matthew Symonds
no shade the Reynolds specifically but you guys are leaving HE to rot, come the fuck on
September 28, 2026 at 4:07 PM
no shade the Reynolds specifically but you guys are leaving HE to rot, come the fuck on
Reposted by Matthew Symonds
for those keeping track, the inevitable moment I had to stop myself heckling was: Emma Reynolds, in a panel about economic growth, talking about how brilliant it was that we had such great universities in this country
September 28, 2026 at 4:06 PM
for those keeping track, the inevitable moment I had to stop myself heckling was: Emma Reynolds, in a panel about economic growth, talking about how brilliant it was that we had such great universities in this country
i mean, there’s loads to talk about on the subject of rationalism / effective atruism / AI alignment / the San Fran cult scene, but when these guys throw around titles like “greatest philosopher”, I get really interested in how much philosophy these guys read and how they read it
This is very senior OpenAI employee and unofficial OpenAI spokesman Roon. Roon's opinion of Yud is that 1) he is in and/or running a sex cult and 2) his opinions about AI are very important and should be taken seriously.
September 17, 2026 at 10:17 AM
i mean, there’s loads to talk about on the subject of rationalism / effective atruism / AI alignment / the San Fran cult scene, but when these guys throw around titles like “greatest philosopher”, I get really interested in how much philosophy these guys read and how they read it
Reposted by Matthew Symonds
The first big exhibition of comics in the UK began at London’s ICA in Dec 1970. It was discussed not just in comics fanzines & the undergrounds, but in the “quality” press like The Guardian & The Times. I’ve seen few pics of it, so I was chuffed to find these Henry Grant photos at the London Museum.
September 16, 2026 at 5:10 PM
The first big exhibition of comics in the UK began at London’s ICA in Dec 1970. It was discussed not just in comics fanzines & the undergrounds, but in the “quality” press like The Guardian & The Times. I’ve seen few pics of it, so I was chuffed to find these Henry Grant photos at the London Museum.
Reposted by Matthew Symonds
We've held a village referendum
September 16, 2026 at 4:54 PM
We've held a village referendum
Reposted by Matthew Symonds
Poetry and maths side by side - just how we like it here at STEMMA
Bodleian MS Rawl. Poet. 142, Fols 11v - 12r
Bodleian MS Rawl. Poet. 142, Fols 11v - 12r
September 16, 2026 at 11:03 AM
Poetry and maths side by side - just how we like it here at STEMMA
Bodleian MS Rawl. Poet. 142, Fols 11v - 12r
Bodleian MS Rawl. Poet. 142, Fols 11v - 12r
Reposted by Matthew Symonds
Do The New AI Features in These Familiar Databases Actually Help Researchers? katinamagazine.org/content/arti...
Do The New AI Features in These Familiar Databases Actually Help Researchers?
EBSCO, ProQuest, and JSTOR have recently added to the generative AI features available on their platforms. Here’s what libraries need to know.
katinamagazine.org
September 14, 2026 at 9:18 PM
Do The New AI Features in These Familiar Databases Actually Help Researchers? katinamagazine.org/content/arti...
ah what abbrilliant project for a PhD student!
📢Here's a fully funded 4-year PhD position at Leiden within the ERC project LangPro led by Dr Alisa van de Haar, and co-supervised by yours truly, on professional opportunities for women in the early modern language sector: careers.universiteitleiden.nl/job/PhD-Posi...
Apply by 15 Oct 2026
Apply by 15 Oct 2026
PhD Position Women in the Early Modern Language Sector
PhD Position Women in the Early Modern Language Sector
careers.universiteitleiden.nl
September 14, 2026 at 9:34 AM
ah what abbrilliant project for a PhD student!
Reposted by Matthew Symonds
Is anyone able to help out someone in hospital in Bury St Edmunds with no local support?
extremely niche but important question:
does anyone know of any charity or service that can help get supplies to someone in hospital in bury st edmund’s
i’ve got a friend who was brought in by ambulance yesterday and they need to stay at least another night, and they don’t have anything
does anyone know of any charity or service that can help get supplies to someone in hospital in bury st edmund’s
i’ve got a friend who was brought in by ambulance yesterday and they need to stay at least another night, and they don’t have anything
September 13, 2026 at 11:05 AM
Is anyone able to help out someone in hospital in Bury St Edmunds with no local support?
Reposted by Matthew Symonds
It's just weird isn't it when the British Museum is running a sold-out exhibition, when The Odyssey reports $1billion at the box office, when the V&A has just opened the most innovative and accessible museum model in Europe....and this is what our minister for research comes out with.
A cheery message from the new minister responsible for research funding for the Arts, Humanities, Social Sciences (and the subjects that the majority of UK taught undergraduate and Masters students study).
Science and maths degrees offer most value to the nation, says minister
Chris McDonald told a room full of vice-chancellors that science, engineering and mathematics ‘offer the greatest personal, social and economic value’
www.thetimes.com
September 11, 2026 at 9:00 AM
It's just weird isn't it when the British Museum is running a sold-out exhibition, when The Odyssey reports $1billion at the box office, when the V&A has just opened the most innovative and accessible museum model in Europe....and this is what our minister for research comes out with.
god I love Hywel Bennett's performance in Tinker Tailor so, so much
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy - Part One (9th September 1979). "I've got a story to tell you - it's all about spies".
September 10, 2026 at 3:18 PM
god I love Hywel Bennett's performance in Tinker Tailor so, so much
Reposted by Matthew Symonds
When asked in the Q&A about arts and humanities he says he personally values them (seems very genuine) but that he is the Science Minister, and it’s for the DCMS Minister to make the case for those. He’s perhaps not yet clocked he is responsible for all R&D. Would Wissenschaft Minister work better?
September 10, 2026 at 9:35 AM
When asked in the Q&A about arts and humanities he says he personally values them (seems very genuine) but that he is the Science Minister, and it’s for the DCMS Minister to make the case for those. He’s perhaps not yet clocked he is responsible for all R&D. Would Wissenschaft Minister work better?
Reposted by Matthew Symonds
TITLE AND COVER REVEAL: My next novel, Painting With A Dead God's Blood, will be published on 22 June 2027. us.macmillan.com/books/978125...
September 10, 2026 at 8:52 AM
TITLE AND COVER REVEAL: My next novel, Painting With A Dead God's Blood, will be published on 22 June 2027. us.macmillan.com/books/978125...
Always delightful when events and our thin-skinned free-thinkers give me an excuse to post a Osbert Lancaster cartoon.
September 8, 2026 at 11:05 AM
Always delightful when events and our thin-skinned free-thinkers give me an excuse to post a Osbert Lancaster cartoon.
Reposted by Matthew Symonds
One of Newcastle's new Reform c/llors has been spouting great replacement theory in the chamber, and the Chronicle simply retails Reform's spokesperson saying it's a free speech issue. No mention of his being in a neo-fascist party, or tweeting stuff like this
www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-e...
www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-e...
September 5, 2026 at 11:26 AM
One of Newcastle's new Reform c/llors has been spouting great replacement theory in the chamber, and the Chronicle simply retails Reform's spokesperson saying it's a free speech issue. No mention of his being in a neo-fascist party, or tweeting stuff like this
www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-e...
www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-e...
Reposted by Matthew Symonds
Mfw you've digressed slagging off coracles (not even boats imo)
August 13, 2026 at 10:05 PM
Mfw you've digressed slagging off coracles (not even boats imo)
random find: my great aunt Joy striking a pose in the Illustrated London News of 4 March 1925 (she's the one perched on a shooting stick)
August 12, 2026 at 1:20 PM
random find: my great aunt Joy striking a pose in the Illustrated London News of 4 March 1925 (she's the one perched on a shooting stick)