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Fraser McGowan @drmcgowan.bsky.social · 16h

A fascinating discovery, particularly the marginalia.

I suppose that annotations, while not being an exact account of their thoughts, give clues as to how the reader engaged with the book – as a repository of ideas, as a tool, as an object, as a status symbol, etc.

Great work. 👏

💙📚 #Booksky

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Reposted by Fraser McGowan

University of Glasgow @uofglasgow.bsky.social · 16h

Zachary Boyd (1585–1653) was a minister, poet & #UniversityofGlasgow academic who lived through one of Scotland’s most turbulent centuries. His rediscovered library offers a rare glimpse into the mind of a man who met kings and wrote plays at a time of revolution.

Read more: gla.ac/4o1qCQc

Composite image showing three scenes. Left: Portrait of Zachary Boyd holding a book, painted by George Jameson. Image credit: The Hunterian, University of Glasgow. Top right: Professor Adrian Streete and Siobhán Convery, Director of Library Collections, examining a dictionary from Zachary Boyd’s personal library. Bottom right: Professor Adrian Streete holding a book among shelves of old volumes from Boyd’s library. Photo credit for both right images: Martin Shields.

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Reposted by Fraser McGowan

Adrian Streete @profastreete.bsky.social · 1d

A wee bit of news.

news.sky.com/story/fascin...

'Fascinating' personal library of 'forgotten scholar' rediscovered

It is hoped that Zachary Boyd's collection at the University of Glasgow will help shed light on 17th century Scotland and a tumultuous time in European history.

news.sky.com

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Fraser McGowan @drmcgowan.bsky.social · 2d

...and I'm someone who values theory, has learned a lot from the "cultural turn" in intelligence studies, and is generally persuaded that underlying structures affect how organisations function. Scope for applied critical theory, perhaps, but abstract theorising is becoming less useful now, imo.

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Fraser McGowan @drmcgowan.bsky.social · 2d

In much the same that we are all post-postmodernists now, I suspect that we will all be post-critical intelligence studies in a few years' time. Not because critical studies aren't valuable in themselves, but simply because we're reaching the "...but what's the point?" stage of that research agenda.

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Reposted by Fraser McGowan

Peter Jackson @pjdelacour.bsky.social · 5d

What a pleasure it was for me to be at Madingley Hall to celebrate Chris Andrew as the founding figure of intelligence history. He has been my PhD supervisor, mentor and friend for thirty years. His generosity, unwavering commitment to his students and irrepressible enthusiasm are an inspiration.

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Reposted by Fraser McGowan

Andrew Porter @andrewporter01.bsky.social · 6d

Thank you so much, @drmcgowan.bsky.social! 🙂

Fraser McGowan @drmcgowan.bsky.social · 24d

Good morning. I'm reading this elegaic novel about a man determined to find out the truth about his late father, a man who seems both strange and familiar to him. It's so beautifully written that, before you know it, you're halfway through it.

💙📚 #Booksky #Reading

A copy of The Imagined Life by Andrew Porter (London: Europa Editions, 2025).

The cover is an oil painting-like image of a Californian poolside at dusk. Through the patio doors on the right of the image, a sitting room is just visible, illuminated by electric light. The predominant colours are blue and orange.

The book itself is held up against a bookcase.

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Fraser McGowan @drmcgowan.bsky.social · 7d

Not sure if you'll be giving the talk in the same venue as in the picture, but that looks like a lovely room to give a talk in!

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Reposted by Fraser McGowan

Euan Healey @euanhealey.bsky.social · 8d

Read this. His life story is genuinely remarkable - born in Uttar Pradesh, an Indian nationalist who served in the war, visited Hiroshima after the bomb under MacArthur, moved to Britain, worked for the BBC.

Incredible story of a man whose life is a story of how modern Britain was made.

VJ Day: The WW2 veteran who moved Queen Camilla to tears

Yavar Abbas reflects on his experiences on the front line - and the wars engulfing the world today.

www.bbc.co.uk

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Fraser McGowan @drmcgowan.bsky.social · 9d

A camp classic. Fenella Fielding was only in two of the Carry On films, but she's strongly associated with the series because of this memorable performance. She had a famously tempestuous relationship with Kenneth Williams, too, and I don't think he enjoyed working with her in this film. 📽🎬 #Filmsky

Fraser McGowan @drmcgowan.bsky.social · 9d

If you're a big reader, you'll love it! One of the best second hand bookshops in the world.

Fraser McGowan @drmcgowan.bsky.social · 9d

Have you given Barter Books a try? It's something of an institution in that part of the world!

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Fraser McGowan @drmcgowan.bsky.social · 10d

Who could possibly forget your strength of feeling on that particular song? 😅

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Fraser McGowan @drmcgowan.bsky.social · 10d

...was it Shotgun?

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Fraser McGowan @drmcgowan.bsky.social · 10d

I'm reading, and thoroughly enjoying, this book. Rich in detail but beautifully written nonetheless.

It's more important than ever for historians, and scholars in general, to be able to write like this. Good writing makes for accessible research.

Fraser McGowan @drmcgowan.bsky.social · 10d

One of the best works of non-fiction I've ever read. Dense with detail but the prose flows beautifully. A modern classic, all about the role John Gilbert Winant (US amassador), Edward R. Murrow (broadcaster) and Averell Harriman (industrialist) played in bringing the US into WW2.

💙📚 #Booksky

A copy of Citizens of London: The Americans Who Stood With Britain in its Darkest, Finest Hour, by Lynne Olson (New York: Random House Trade Paperback Edition, 2011).

The cover image is a black and white photograph of (L-R) Winston Churchill, Harry Hopkins, John Gilbert Winant, William Bullitt and A. V. Alexander, photographed on a boat leaving Westminster Pier in the early 1940s.

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Fraser McGowan @drmcgowan.bsky.social · 10d

Recommended to me over a decade ago by a relative who is sadly no longer with us. Regret taking so long to get around to reading it because I'd love to discuss it with her.

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Fraser McGowan @drmcgowan.bsky.social · 10d

One of the best works of non-fiction I've ever read. Dense with detail but the prose flows beautifully. A modern classic, all about the role John Gilbert Winant (US amassador), Edward R. Murrow (broadcaster) and Averell Harriman (industrialist) played in bringing the US into WW2.

💙📚 #Booksky

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Reposted by Fraser McGowan

University of Glasgow @uofglasgow.bsky.social · 10d

A warm welcome to our new Principal and Vice-Chancellor, Professor Andy Schofield.

Prof Schofield shares a message for the UofG community.

Here’s to this next chapter 💙

#TeamUofG #UofG #Glasgow #University #GlasgowUni #UniversityofGlasgow #GlasgowUniversity #scotland

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Reposted by Fraser McGowan

The Society for Intelligence History @socintelhist.bsky.social · 15d

A super new read from @dvanp.bsky.social and @intnatsecjournal.bsky.social , just out today:
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....

Public-private collaboration and the digital transformation of intelligence

This article explores the vital collaboration between government intelligence agencies and the private technology sector in fostering innovation to address evolving technological needs. Traditional...

www.tandfonline.com

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Fraser McGowan @drmcgowan.bsky.social · 17d

Sure will. Thanks for prompting me! 📚

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Fraser McGowan @drmcgowan.bsky.social · 17d

Read Paris Trance years ago, but I know it's a good one. Full of sultry charm and humour.

I'm looking forward to the Moronic Inferno. I've only read a handful of Amis's books and I'm still working him out. Didn't love Dead Babies or Success, notwithstanding some screamingly funny sentences.

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Fraser McGowan @drmcgowan.bsky.social · 17d

Regrettably, I haven't started it yet. Dead Babies and Success took it out of me a little, and I've ended up with a few other excellent books on the go, which has created a bit of a delay. I'll make a start soon, though. What are you reading at the moment? Read any Amis over the summer?

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Fraser McGowan @drmcgowan.bsky.social · 19d

I reckon that's it for Ruben Amorim now. Something's got to give at Old Trafford now, anyway.

Fraser McGowan @drmcgowan.bsky.social · 20d

Sorry to hear you've had a stressful week. Hopefully it ended peacefully and straightforwardly so that you can start afresh on Monday. Always enjoy reading your opinions on arts and culture. Bon weekend. 🙏

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Fraser McGowan @drmcgowan.bsky.social · 20d

The present administration in Washington, DC seems determined to go to any lengths to avoid being told inconvenient truths.

Far from being a solution to the (alleged) politicisation of intelligence, this course of action is a recipe for politicisation.

www.nytimes.com/2025/09/26/u...

Gabbard Ends Intelligence Report on Future Threats to U.S.

www.nytimes.com

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