Kate Astbury
@100days1815.bsky.social
Professor of French Studies, working on the culture of French Revolution and Napoleonic period. Committed to supporting the learning of languages in schools & universities and to public engagement.
Reposted by Kate Astbury
This is the first History Reclaimed attack on @davidolusoga.bsky.social’s BBC Empire series, in The Spectator. The thread on its recycled Telegraph version shows how criticisms of the representation of Mike Mountain Horse and the invasion of Ijebu are based on untruths. But else do they argue?
December 3, 2025 at 8:06 AM
This is the first History Reclaimed attack on @davidolusoga.bsky.social’s BBC Empire series, in The Spectator. The thread on its recycled Telegraph version shows how criticisms of the representation of Mike Mountain Horse and the invasion of Ijebu are based on untruths. But else do they argue?
That’s become my rule of thumb - if I’m doing a project that the right-wing press isn’t going to like, I must be doing something right 😂
Annoying the Torygraph is an excellent indicator that one must be doing something that is meaningful.
December 3, 2025 at 8:54 AM
That’s become my rule of thumb - if I’m doing a project that the right-wing press isn’t going to like, I must be doing something right 😂
Reposted by Kate Astbury
You can explore the data in this great report. My point is not to set one subject against another but that the stereotypes about humanities employability need a bit of probing, and shouldn’t be the thing that put someone off what they want to study
graduatemarkettrends.cdn.prismic.io/graduatemark...
graduatemarkettrends.cdn.prismic.io/graduatemark...
December 1, 2025 at 9:29 PM
You can explore the data in this great report. My point is not to set one subject against another but that the stereotypes about humanities employability need a bit of probing, and shouldn’t be the thing that put someone off what they want to study
graduatemarkettrends.cdn.prismic.io/graduatemark...
graduatemarkettrends.cdn.prismic.io/graduatemark...
Reposted by Kate Astbury
How about Languages v Computer Science? Hmm…
December 1, 2025 at 9:22 PM
How about Languages v Computer Science? Hmm…
Reposted by Kate Astbury
So kid, in your heart you want to study humanities but you worry about your job prospects? Let’s play a game.
On the latest data, who is more likely to be unemployed after 15 months after graduation. The English Lit grad or the Maths grad?
WRONG!
On the latest data, who is more likely to be unemployed after 15 months after graduation. The English Lit grad or the Maths grad?
WRONG!
December 1, 2025 at 9:19 PM
So kid, in your heart you want to study humanities but you worry about your job prospects? Let’s play a game.
On the latest data, who is more likely to be unemployed after 15 months after graduation. The English Lit grad or the Maths grad?
WRONG!
On the latest data, who is more likely to be unemployed after 15 months after graduation. The English Lit grad or the Maths grad?
WRONG!
Reposted by Kate Astbury
in his memoir, written ahead of his trial for parricide in 1835, Pierre Rivière reflected on the histories of Judith and Holofernes, Charlotte Corday and Marat, and women killing men. he vowed a revenge on behalf of all men: that’s right, Pierre Rivière was the first incel.
in this essay
in this essay
December 1, 2025 at 7:23 AM
in his memoir, written ahead of his trial for parricide in 1835, Pierre Rivière reflected on the histories of Judith and Holofernes, Charlotte Corday and Marat, and women killing men. he vowed a revenge on behalf of all men: that’s right, Pierre Rivière was the first incel.
in this essay
in this essay
Enjoying a long, rainy train journey this morning which gives me plenty of time to read this great volume of papers on Revolutionary theatre #Saturdaymorningtreat
November 29, 2025 at 9:28 AM
Enjoying a long, rainy train journey this morning which gives me plenty of time to read this great volume of papers on Revolutionary theatre #Saturdaymorningtreat
Reposted by Kate Astbury
One of those trick questions for #Frhistory nerds to present to their students: 'Where was Anne d'Autriche from? (along with 'Who ruled France between Napoleon I and Napoleon III?') Find out in this enjoyable biography in a series of five mini #Frenchpodcast www.radiofrance.fr/franceinter/...
Anne d’Autriche, comment la mère de Louis XIV est-elle devenue régente absolue ? : un podcast à écouter en ligne | France Inter
Quelle est la place d'Anne d'Autriche dans notre mémoire collective ? Avec Joël Cornette, cette série raconte la vie de cette jeune Espagnole timide et maltraitée qui va se métamorphoser en véritable ...
www.radiofrance.fr
November 29, 2025 at 9:12 AM
One of those trick questions for #Frhistory nerds to present to their students: 'Where was Anne d'Autriche from? (along with 'Who ruled France between Napoleon I and Napoleon III?') Find out in this enjoyable biography in a series of five mini #Frenchpodcast www.radiofrance.fr/franceinter/...
Reposted by Kate Astbury
This month's Walk Midlands Newsletter has just gone out to subscribers
Ft. new walking routes in Herefordshire, Leicestershire, Staffordshire, Warwickshire, West Midlands and much, much more
Check it out and subscribe👇
walkmidlandsnewsletter.substack.com/p/walk-midla...
Ft. new walking routes in Herefordshire, Leicestershire, Staffordshire, Warwickshire, West Midlands and much, much more
Check it out and subscribe👇
walkmidlandsnewsletter.substack.com/p/walk-midla...
Walk Midlands Newsletter November 2025
Features new walks in Herefordshire, Leicestershire, Staffordshire, Warwickshire, West Midlands and much, much more
walkmidlandsnewsletter.substack.com
November 29, 2025 at 8:34 AM
This month's Walk Midlands Newsletter has just gone out to subscribers
Ft. new walking routes in Herefordshire, Leicestershire, Staffordshire, Warwickshire, West Midlands and much, much more
Check it out and subscribe👇
walkmidlandsnewsletter.substack.com/p/walk-midla...
Ft. new walking routes in Herefordshire, Leicestershire, Staffordshire, Warwickshire, West Midlands and much, much more
Check it out and subscribe👇
walkmidlandsnewsletter.substack.com/p/walk-midla...
Reposted by Kate Astbury
‘linking much-needed support for students to international recruitment – an unstable and overworked income stream - is risky and unsustainable. This measure could further weaken universities’
Read our Budget response here www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk/news/british...
Read our Budget response here www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk/news/british...
The British Academy's response to the Autumn Budget
The British Academy has responded to the Autumn Budget (26 November 2025)
www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk
November 26, 2025 at 4:48 PM
‘linking much-needed support for students to international recruitment – an unstable and overworked income stream - is risky and unsustainable. This measure could further weaken universities’
Read our Budget response here www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk/news/british...
Read our Budget response here www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk/news/british...
Reposted by Kate Astbury
Sometimes I think it’s going to be the librarians who will save us all.
November 25, 2025 at 1:47 AM
Sometimes I think it’s going to be the librarians who will save us all.
Reposted by Kate Astbury
If you’ve appreciated @davidolusoga.bsky.social’s marvellous BBC Empire series, you might be interested in our conversation about the writing of its history:
The podcast of David Olusoga and I discussing Empire & the rewriting of history:
howtoacademy.com/podcasts/dav...
howtoacademy.com/podcasts/dav...
HOW TO PODCAST | David Olusoga & Alan Lester - The Truth About the British Empire
David Olusoga and Alan Lester reveal the dark realities of the British Empire, and reflect on the importance of historians amid the resurgence of nationalism and misinformation.
howtoacademy.com
November 25, 2025 at 10:05 PM
If you’ve appreciated @davidolusoga.bsky.social’s marvellous BBC Empire series, you might be interested in our conversation about the writing of its history:
Reposted by Kate Astbury
'Ahead of the autumn budget on 26 November, Universities UK (UUK) has calculated that funding per student for teaching in 2025-26 is at 64 per cent of the level it was in 2015-16.' 1/3
University teaching income ‘£6.4 billon less’ than 10 years ago
UUK says shortfall in teaching money is ‘baked in’ to higher education funding system as institutions brace for new tax in upcoming budget
www.timeshighereducation.com
November 24, 2025 at 7:45 AM
'Ahead of the autumn budget on 26 November, Universities UK (UUK) has calculated that funding per student for teaching in 2025-26 is at 64 per cent of the level it was in 2015-16.' 1/3
Reposted by Kate Astbury
Happy St Katherine's Day to all scholars, librarians, and Katherines. May you win an argument against an annoying man today, in the true spirit of Katherine herself.
November 25, 2025 at 7:08 AM
Happy St Katherine's Day to all scholars, librarians, and Katherines. May you win an argument against an annoying man today, in the true spirit of Katherine herself.
Reposted by Kate Astbury
Google at its peak was basically the best information retrieval system in human history and they and every competitor decided going from there to “you didn’t want answers you wanted half-assed auto-complete 80%-wrong hallucinations” in a few years was the right idea
November 25, 2025 at 1:57 AM
Google at its peak was basically the best information retrieval system in human history and they and every competitor decided going from there to “you didn’t want answers you wanted half-assed auto-complete 80%-wrong hallucinations” in a few years was the right idea
Reposted by Kate Astbury
Hey, can someone who remembers the Olympics opening ceremony on the Seine better than me remember what were the colonial (or pretending to be anticolonial) parts? @1789jam.bsky.social or anyone? 🗃️
I have vid of the Algerians throwing roses but want to show students other parts. Thanks!
I have vid of the Algerians throwing roses but want to show students other parts. Thanks!
November 24, 2025 at 7:28 PM
Hey, can someone who remembers the Olympics opening ceremony on the Seine better than me remember what were the colonial (or pretending to be anticolonial) parts? @1789jam.bsky.social or anyone? 🗃️
I have vid of the Algerians throwing roses but want to show students other parts. Thanks!
I have vid of the Algerians throwing roses but want to show students other parts. Thanks!
Reposted by Kate Astbury
Job Alert! DH postdoc at Edinburgh - Post-Doctoral Research Fellow to work on the AHRC-funded project "Voices in Slavery’s Archive: Law, Place and Testimony in British Guiana", which will build a digital archive out of the recorded words of enslaved people. www.jobs.ac.uk/job/DPN147/p...
Postdoctoral Research Fellow at The University of Edinburgh
Explore an exciting academic career as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow. Don't miss out on other academic jobs. Click to apply and explore more opportunities.
www.jobs.ac.uk
November 24, 2025 at 2:24 PM
Job Alert! DH postdoc at Edinburgh - Post-Doctoral Research Fellow to work on the AHRC-funded project "Voices in Slavery’s Archive: Law, Place and Testimony in British Guiana", which will build a digital archive out of the recorded words of enslaved people. www.jobs.ac.uk/job/DPN147/p...
Reposted by Kate Astbury
I’ve been quoted in @thespectator1828.bsky.social about the importance of taking a strategic approach nationally to language provision as universities are making individual decisions to slash provision which may collectively be very bad for the national interest
www.spectator.co.uk/article/in-p...
www.spectator.co.uk/article/in-p...
November 24, 2025 at 1:30 PM
I’ve been quoted in @thespectator1828.bsky.social about the importance of taking a strategic approach nationally to language provision as universities are making individual decisions to slash provision which may collectively be very bad for the national interest
www.spectator.co.uk/article/in-p...
www.spectator.co.uk/article/in-p...
Reposted by Kate Astbury
who could have guessed?
Brexit has caused almost twice as much damage to the UK economy than estimated by official forecasts, according to new paper from a group of experts including a senior Bank of England economist
Brexit Hit to UK Economy Double Official Estimate, Study Finds
Brexit has caused almost twice as much damage to the UK economy than estimated by official forecasts, according to new paper from a group of experts including a senior Bank of England economist.
bloom.bg
November 21, 2025 at 2:54 PM
who could have guessed?
Having been digging through my files this morning to find material on the history of French Studies @warwick-smlc.bsky.social for the alumni day @uni-of-warwick.bsky.social Who recognises these 3 brochures?
November 21, 2025 at 12:33 PM
Having been digging through my files this morning to find material on the history of French Studies @warwick-smlc.bsky.social for the alumni day @uni-of-warwick.bsky.social Who recognises these 3 brochures?
Reposted by Kate Astbury
Have uncovered the presence of what appears to be a chunky penguin shaking its fist (wing?) at a horse during the baptism celebrations for a new prince in Paris in 1782
Glad to report that research for this book continues to be groundbreaking
Glad to report that research for this book continues to be groundbreaking
November 21, 2025 at 11:50 AM
Have uncovered the presence of what appears to be a chunky penguin shaking its fist (wing?) at a horse during the baptism celebrations for a new prince in Paris in 1782
Glad to report that research for this book continues to be groundbreaking
Glad to report that research for this book continues to be groundbreaking
Reposted by Kate Astbury
We are seeing multiple university course closures across a range of arts, humanities & social sciences. I'll be in the East Midlands at De Montfort University on Thurs 27 Nov talking about why these disciplines are essential to the future of the UK. All welcome
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/shaping-a-...
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/shaping-a-...
Shaping a Brighter Future
The first event in our Vice-Chancellor’s Distinguished Lecture Series, delivered by Hetan Shah, Chief Executive, The British Academy
www.eventbrite.co.uk
November 21, 2025 at 12:23 PM
We are seeing multiple university course closures across a range of arts, humanities & social sciences. I'll be in the East Midlands at De Montfort University on Thurs 27 Nov talking about why these disciplines are essential to the future of the UK. All welcome
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/shaping-a-...
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/shaping-a-...
Reposted by Kate Astbury
'The [Vitae] survey of over 13,000 staff from 53 institutions found that while 94 per cent of research and teaching staff hold permanent contracts, only 46 per cent agree that their future is secure. 1/2
Universities ‘struggling to support staff’ amid funding pressures.
Survey finds most staff feel uncertain about their future as institutions battle financial headwinds.
www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-c...
Survey finds most staff feel uncertain about their future as institutions battle financial headwinds.
www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-c...
November 21, 2025 at 9:00 AM
'The [Vitae] survey of over 13,000 staff from 53 institutions found that while 94 per cent of research and teaching staff hold permanent contracts, only 46 per cent agree that their future is secure. 1/2
Reposted by Kate Astbury
If you use GMail, AI (Gemini) was turned on yesterday by default and now scans all of your content for machine learning. To turn off, go to Settings>General and scroll down. Uncheck the box for "Smart features."
There's other "Smart" add-ons as well, but that's the one that reads your content.
There's other "Smart" add-ons as well, but that's the one that reads your content.
November 20, 2025 at 5:32 PM
If you use GMail, AI (Gemini) was turned on yesterday by default and now scans all of your content for machine learning. To turn off, go to Settings>General and scroll down. Uncheck the box for "Smart features."
There's other "Smart" add-ons as well, but that's the one that reads your content.
There's other "Smart" add-ons as well, but that's the one that reads your content.