Finally started reading The Six Wives of Henry VIII by Alison Weir and am having a lovely time.
August 28, 2026 at 6:25 PM
Finally started reading The Six Wives of Henry VIII by Alison Weir and am having a lovely time.
Reposted by Keeley
Stunning portrait of a woman in a plumed blue hat from 1740 by William Hogarth, who was born on this day in 1697. Totally love this one.
November 11, 2025 at 1:14 AM
Stunning portrait of a woman in a plumed blue hat from 1740 by William Hogarth, who was born on this day in 1697. Totally love this one.
O Caledonia by Elspeth Barker was incredible. Definitely got Shirley Jackson vibes.
November 4, 2025 at 12:36 AM
O Caledonia by Elspeth Barker was incredible. Definitely got Shirley Jackson vibes.
Made tomato soup for the first time using a recipe from Colbert’s cookbook. And it was amazing
November 2, 2025 at 11:31 PM
Made tomato soup for the first time using a recipe from Colbert’s cookbook. And it was amazing
Reading my first John Wyndham and having a great time. Decided to start with The Midwich Cuckoos
November 2, 2025 at 9:39 PM
Reading my first John Wyndham and having a great time. Decided to start with The Midwich Cuckoos
Reposted by Keeley
Francisco de Goya, Witches' Sabbath, 1789, Oil on canvas, 43 x 30 cm (Museo Lázaro Galdiano, Madrid)
October 31, 2025 at 9:55 PM
Francisco de Goya, Witches' Sabbath, 1789, Oil on canvas, 43 x 30 cm (Museo Lázaro Galdiano, Madrid)
Unfortunately, I did not enjoy The Terror by Dan Simmons. It had such potential for me but the hypersexualization of the indigenous woman character was really upsetting.
November 1, 2025 at 12:15 AM
Unfortunately, I did not enjoy The Terror by Dan Simmons. It had such potential for me but the hypersexualization of the indigenous woman character was really upsetting.
Reposted by Keeley
My latest documentary with History Hit looks at the witch hunts in 17th century Iceland, where 93% of those condemned as witches were men. Now available at historyhit.com (free trial period available.)
October 31, 2025 at 12:50 PM
My latest documentary with History Hit looks at the witch hunts in 17th century Iceland, where 93% of those condemned as witches were men. Now available at historyhit.com (free trial period available.)
Reposted by Keeley
It's finally here 🥳 UK publication day for my book, "Elizabeth Boleyn: The Life of the Queen's Mother", the first narrative biography of Elizabeth Boleyn. I hope my book leads to her finally being included in the Boleyn family's story. Buy it now from all good bookshops in the UK!
October 30, 2025 at 1:37 PM
It's finally here 🥳 UK publication day for my book, "Elizabeth Boleyn: The Life of the Queen's Mother", the first narrative biography of Elizabeth Boleyn. I hope my book leads to her finally being included in the Boleyn family's story. Buy it now from all good bookshops in the UK!
In the 40s and pouring today. Perfect time for some white chocolate peppermint coffee and marathoning QI
October 30, 2025 at 2:01 PM
In the 40s and pouring today. Perfect time for some white chocolate peppermint coffee and marathoning QI
Yearly rewatch of Muppet Treasure Island is complete!
October 29, 2025 at 11:20 PM
Yearly rewatch of Muppet Treasure Island is complete!
Came across the Time Team YouTube channels earlier this morning. Naturally I haven't moved in hours and am building out my list of videos to watch. How did it take me so long to find this?!?
October 22, 2025 at 5:21 PM
Came across the Time Team YouTube channels earlier this morning. Naturally I haven't moved in hours and am building out my list of videos to watch. How did it take me so long to find this?!?
What 2026 history book releases are you looking forward to?
October 21, 2025 at 3:36 PM
What 2026 history book releases are you looking forward to?
Reposted by Keeley
Friends: as many of you know, I have a patreon account where I write about the maps, mapping, & related things.
I'm hoping to get the membership up over 500 subscribers. It's free, so if you're curious, go read some articles! If you like it, please consider subscribing!
patreon.com/SurprisedEel
I'm hoping to get the membership up over 500 subscribers. It's free, so if you're curious, go read some articles! If you like it, please consider subscribing!
patreon.com/SurprisedEel
Get more from Surprised Eel Maps on Patreon
Custom Maps, Artwork, and History
patreon.com
August 24, 2025 at 9:29 PM
Friends: as many of you know, I have a patreon account where I write about the maps, mapping, & related things.
I'm hoping to get the membership up over 500 subscribers. It's free, so if you're curious, go read some articles! If you like it, please consider subscribing!
patreon.com/SurprisedEel
I'm hoping to get the membership up over 500 subscribers. It's free, so if you're curious, go read some articles! If you like it, please consider subscribing!
patreon.com/SurprisedEel
Reposted by Keeley
Starting a podcast ("Instant Classics") with Charlotte Higgins at the end of August. One thing we'll be doing (there are plenty others) is reading & discussing the Odyssey over several months. Here's why we chose that tinyurl.com/kfds9tkr
Reading the Odyssey
I have bitten the bullet and am about to launch a classical podcast (with Charlotte Higgins) about classics, ancient and modern. It will not just be about
tinyurl.com
August 22, 2025 at 6:11 AM
Starting a podcast ("Instant Classics") with Charlotte Higgins at the end of August. One thing we'll be doing (there are plenty others) is reading & discussing the Odyssey over several months. Here's why we chose that tinyurl.com/kfds9tkr
Reposted by Keeley
What history books have come out this year that you loved?
August 24, 2025 at 12:38 AM
What history books have come out this year that you loved?
Been reading some incredible books this month.
August 24, 2025 at 12:36 AM
Been reading some incredible books this month.
Finally watched the new Wallace and Gromit. Instant favorite.
January 20, 2025 at 2:06 AM
Finally watched the new Wallace and Gromit. Instant favorite.
Finally watching Cunk on Life. Why did it take me so long to watch it?
January 19, 2025 at 11:47 PM
Finally watching Cunk on Life. Why did it take me so long to watch it?
So far our snowstorm is straight ice. We now have a hypothermia warning because of wind.
January 19, 2025 at 9:06 PM
So far our snowstorm is straight ice. We now have a hypothermia warning because of wind.
Beyond excited for the newest addition to my Mary Shelley collection. Thank you so much to @manderleypress.bsky.social for creating this and sending it in such a cute package!
January 18, 2025 at 3:52 PM
Beyond excited for the newest addition to my Mary Shelley collection. Thank you so much to @manderleypress.bsky.social for creating this and sending it in such a cute package!
Reposted by Keeley
I've always loved the fact that the word 'sneeze' is the result of a historical accident. The original form, in the Middle Ages, was 'fnese', but someone mistook the 'f' for the long medieval 's' and wrote down 'sn-' instead.
Fneezing sounds much more like a proper, nasal sneeze.
Fneezing sounds much more like a proper, nasal sneeze.
January 18, 2025 at 11:13 AM
I've always loved the fact that the word 'sneeze' is the result of a historical accident. The original form, in the Middle Ages, was 'fnese', but someone mistook the 'f' for the long medieval 's' and wrote down 'sn-' instead.
Fneezing sounds much more like a proper, nasal sneeze.
Fneezing sounds much more like a proper, nasal sneeze.
Reposted by Keeley
Lucy Worsley.
Nathen Amin.
Princes in the Tower.
LIVE.
What's not to like? 😎
More information below:
nathenamin.substack.com/p/next-week-...
Nathen Amin.
Princes in the Tower.
LIVE.
What's not to like? 😎
More information below:
nathenamin.substack.com/p/next-week-...
January 17, 2025 at 10:49 AM
Lucy Worsley.
Nathen Amin.
Princes in the Tower.
LIVE.
What's not to like? 😎
More information below:
nathenamin.substack.com/p/next-week-...
Nathen Amin.
Princes in the Tower.
LIVE.
What's not to like? 😎
More information below:
nathenamin.substack.com/p/next-week-...