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Nicholas Birns

@nicholasbirns.bsky.social

1.3K followers 2K following 590 posts

Academic, literary critic etc. teaching at NYU. Books from Cambridge UP, Bloomsbury, Broadview, Palgrave, U of South Carolina P, Sydney UP, Routledge. He/him

Nicholas Birns is a scholar of literature, including fantasy and Australian literature. As a Tolkien scholar he has written on a variety of topics including "The Scouring of the Shire" and Tolkien's biblical sources. His analysis of the writings of Anthony Powell and Roberto Bolaño has been admired by scholars. .. more

Art 28%

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Nicholas Birns @nicholasbirns.bsky.social · 11h

Very true

Reposted by Nicholas Birns

Ben Railton @americanstudier.bsky.social · 16h

Things Ben Says in Class, October 14th 2025 edition:

"There are many ambiguities about Fitzgerald's novel & especially how we read its characters. Tom Buchanan being a white supremacist domestic abuser jackassclown is not one of them."

Nicholas Birns @nicholasbirns.bsky.social · 1d

Cat at work

Reposted by Nicholas Birns

Ben Railton @americanstudier.bsky.social · 1d

Peterborough, New Hampshire on a perfect autumn afternoon.

A view of a river and fall foliage in Peterborough, New Hampshire.

Nicholas Birns @nicholasbirns.bsky.social · 2d

Very true

Reposted by Nicholas Birns

CZEdwards @czedwards.bsky.social · 2d

Psst:

A reminder for American writers: High tea is not fancier tea, it’s supper. It’s a more substantial meal with a main dish, rather than tea, biscuits, scones, little snack foods. And it’s high because it’s served on a high table — dining table height — not a low, tea or coffee table.

Reposted by Nicholas Birns

ghostly gwen howerton @kissphoria.bsky.social · 2d

It was an absolute joy to write about the Texas Archive of the Moving Image, a nonprofit that works tirelessly to preserve Texas' film history by digitizing tapes and film before they degrade. Their website is a treasure trove of cool state history: www.chron.com/culture/arti...

Meet the people preserving Texas history, one home movie at a time.

Your home footage may be more special than you think, the nonprofit says.

Reposted by Nicholas Birns

Lance Richardson @lancerichardson.bsky.social · 2d

Early review (two days early, anyway) in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

"Beautifully written, insightful, and engaging, 'True Nature' is a tour de force depiction of a charismatic, restless, self-absorbed, immensely talented literary lion."

Review: The life of Peter Matthiessen

The only person to win a National Book Award for both non-fiction (“The Snow Leopard”) and fiction (“Shadow Country”), Peter Matthiessen...

www.post-gazette.com

Reposted by Nicholas Birns

Becky Wallower @bwallower.bsky.social · 5d

#FindsFriday 🏺
Bronze chimera: likely emblem (episema) on C6 BC warrior's shield w lion's head on flame-like mane + scaly fierce snake striking from centre.
From high status tomb w arms, tools, ceramics + iron wheels of chariot excavated in Melfi, Basilicata.
Now in Nat Archaeological Museum there.

A large thin bronze decoration probably for a 6th C BC warrior's shield. At the top the head of a beast with a stylised lion's head and snout, on a long neck with incised flame-like mane, emerges from a scaly circle. This serves as the body of a fierce snake (which probably wrapped round the lion's body), which extends to the top right with a long head and open mouth, with wing below lower jaw.

Reposted by Joe R. Feagin, Patrick A. Jansen, Nicholas Birns , and 6 more Joe R. Feagin, Patrick A. Jansen, Nicholas Birns, Daniel W. Drezner, Alan Richardson, W. Andy Knight, Massimo Faggioli, Albin Wagener, Martin S. Flaherty

The Associated Press @apnews.com · 6d

Pope Leo XIV has blasted how wealthy people live in a “bubble of comfort and luxury” while the poor suffer. In his first teaching document Thursday, Leo confirms that he is in perfect lockstep with Pope Francis on matters of social injustice.

Pope Leo blasts economy that marginalizes poor while wealthy live in bubble of luxury

Pope Leo XIV has blasted how wealthy people live in a “bubble of comfort and luxury” while the poor suffer.

Reposted by Nicholas Birns

TheColfaxxx 🐢 @thecolfax.bsky.social · 6d

In the Samaria Gorge on the island of Crete, Greece, lies a very deep cave with a continual cold spring waterfall. To reach it, you have to swim about 100 meters in 10 degree (C) water. I spent time thinking about hypothermia I was so cold. Nice payoff tho.

Pic of the day

#photography

Walls of the cave direct you to a small bright opening in which a cold mountain spring falls to bright turquoise water.

Along with Denali Mountain and Bryce Canyon, this is the most majestic place I’ve ever been.

My teeth rattling even as I could stand in only waist deep water kept me from fully enjoying it,, but no chance I was missing this just for some discomfort.

It seemed to get progressively colder tho so this is about as close as I got. In later days I’ll post a shot looking back thru the caves. The video I took is really the best indicator of the beauty here but I dunno if I can post that here or not. I may try in the comments later today.

Reposted by Nicholas Birns

Words Without Borders & WWB Campus @wwborders.bsky.social · 6d

OH WOW! Congratulations to our contributor, László Krasznahorkai, for winning the 2025 Nobel Prize in Literature!!! 😍🥳
wordswithoutborders.org/.../view/lsz...

László Krasznahorkai - Words Without Borders

László Krasznahorkai is the recipient of the 2019 National Book Award for Translated Literature, the 2015 Man Booker International Prize, and the 2013 Best Translated Book Award in Fiction.

wordswithoutborders.org

Reposted by Nicholas Birns

Emily Jane Rothwell 🖤🌸🖋️ @emjanerothwell.bsky.social · 9d

I’ve been away, but I hope you’re all well. It’s nice to be back & here’s to magical autumn in Brambly Hedge ♥️🍂 (created by Jill Barklem)

Reposted by Nicholas Birns

David Soto @davsot.bsky.social · 9d

Viaje a las Terranas 🇩🇴

Reposted by Nicholas Birns, Anna Hickey‐Moody

Kennys Bookshop & Art Gallery @kennysbookshop.bsky.social · 9d

📍Barna Woods, Galway. Trees damaged during Storm Éowyn transformed into these beautiful pieces.

Barna Woods

Barna Woods

Barna Woods

Barna Woods

Reposted by Nicholas Birns

David M Rubin @six18sfoundry.bsky.social · 9d

All Greece hates…
… God’s daughter, born of love

Helen by H.D.
(No one does alienation — from society & circumstance — like H.D. Calm distant fire)
#poetrysunday

All Greece hates
the still eyes in the white face, the lustre as of olives where she stands,
and the white hands.
All Greece reviles
the wan face when she smiles, hating it deeper still
when it grows wan and white, remembering past enchantments and past ills.
Greece sees unmoved,
God's daughter, born of love, the beauty of cool feet and slenderest knees,
could love indeed the maid, only if she were laid, white ash amid funereal cypresses.

Reposted by Nicholas Birns, Samuel Depraz

Oregon 🕎🎲 @oregonthedm.bsky.social · 9d

Pink empress Mantis

Reposted by Nicholas Birns

Scott Horton @robertscotthorton.bsky.social · 9d

In this NYT review, Jacob Heilbrunn is writing about the past, but could be writing about the Stephen Miller present: "Goebbels had good reason to believe that American bigotry could be exploited for Nazi gain." The spirit of Goebbels stalks the halls of the White House today, and his image.

These New Yorkers Hated Fascists Before It Was Cool

www.nytimes.com

Reposted by Nicholas Birns

John Gibbons 🇵🇸 🇺🇦 🇪🇺 @thinkorswim.bsky.social · 10d

“In the future, people will look back and thank John Gibbons for what he has done for Irish farmers, just like his father before him”.

Very positive review of THE LIE OF THE LAND in current edition of Village magazine by former Green Party leader, Eamon Ryan.

Reposted by Nicholas Birns

Fared Al Mahlool | فريد المحلول @faredalmahlool.bsky.social · 10d

Georgia, you’re not alone — we’re with you all the way.

Nicholas Birns @nicholasbirns.bsky.social · 12d

I met Bishop (now Archbishop) Sarah in 2022 when she was the speaker for the Church Club dinner. We had a wonderful conversation, including about inclusiveness and I spoke to her husband as well. Really great and of course, historic news!

The Guardian @theguardian.com · 12d

Sarah Mullally is named as first female archbishop of Canterbury

Sarah Mullally is named as first female archbishop of Canterbury

No 10 announces decision although role will not legally be taken on until January, before an enthronement service Sarah Mullally has been named as the first female leader of the Church of England as Downing Street announced the 106th archbishop of Canterbury nearly a year on from Justin Welby’s resignation over the handling of a safeguarding scandal. This is the first time an archbishop of Canterbury has been chosen since the Church of England allowed women to become bishops in 2014. Continue reading...

www.theguardian.com

Reposted by Lyn Robinson, Nicholas Birns, Carmen M. Mangion , and 1 more Lyn Robinson, Nicholas Birns, Carmen M. Mangion, Markus W. Gehring

The Guardian @theguardian.com · 12d

Sarah Mullally is named as first female archbishop of Canterbury

Sarah Mullally is named as first female archbishop of Canterbury

No 10 announces decision although role will not legally be taken on until January, before an enthronement service Sarah Mullally has been named as the first female leader of the Church of England as Downing Street announced the 106th archbishop of Canterbury nearly a year on from Justin Welby’s resignation over the handling of a safeguarding scandal. This is the first time an archbishop of Canterbury has been chosen since the Church of England allowed women to become bishops in 2014. Continue reading...

www.theguardian.com

Nicholas Birns @nicholasbirns.bsky.social · 12d

Claus Offe was a major thinker who influenced many disciplines. I was privileged to hear him speak once. A very sad loss

Steffen Mau @steffenmau.bsky.social · 13d

Herausragender Wissenschaftler, bewunderter Autor, befreundeter Kollege, kluger Ratgeber: Claus Offe ist gestorben!

Nicholas Birns @nicholasbirns.bsky.social · 12d

At Bus Stop Café, Greenwich Village

Reposted by Nicholas Birns

Thomas J. Kitson @thatiliazdguy.bsky.social · 12d

She placed this striking young person from the first in a story, saw her, by a necessity of the imagination, for a heroine, felt it the only character in which she wouldn't be wasted;

#WingsOfTheDove #HenryJames

Reposted by Cas Mudde, Martín Lodge, Ilko−Sascha Kowalczuk , and 5 more Cas Mudde, Martín Lodge, Ilko−Sascha Kowalczuk, Nicholas Birns, Ben Crum, Steffen Ganghof, Karsten Mäuse, Oliver Nachtwey

Steffen Mau @steffenmau.bsky.social · 13d

Herausragender Wissenschaftler, bewunderter Autor, befreundeter Kollege, kluger Ratgeber: Claus Offe ist gestorben!

Nicholas Birns @nicholasbirns.bsky.social · 13d

A memory of a place and lost things…

Reposted by Nicholas Birns

Governor Tim Walz @governorwalz.mn.gov · 13d

Jane Goodall made the world a better place.

She helped shape how we view the world around us, fought vehemently for the environment, and her love of chimpanzees was infectious. She will be greatly missed.

www.nbcnews.com/news/amp/rcn...

Jane Goodall, renowned chimpanzee researcher and animal advocate, dies at 91

"Dr. Goodall's discoveries as an ethologist revolutionized science, and she was a tireless advocate for the protection and restoration of our natural world," the Jane Goodall Institute said in a Wedne...

www.nbcnews.com

Reposted by Nicholas Birns

Cornell University Press @cornellupress.bsky.social · 13d

📚These are the new books we are releasing this October. 📚🌟
https://www.cornellpress.cornell.edu/new-books-published-in-october-2025/

Reposted by Nicholas Birns