Jonathan Ellis
@jonathansellis.bsky.social
Author/editor of things on Elizabeth Bishop. Yes, I still write letters & postcards. Paid and sometimes unpaid academic. He/him.
A great essay on why close reading is a more radical methodology than most people think and why university managers don’t like those of us who teach it!
I wrote an essay for @bostonreview.bsky.social about what I learned about close reading when I taught at West Virginia University
www.bostonreview.net/articles/the...
www.bostonreview.net/articles/the...
The Claims of Close Reading - Boston Review
Literary studies have been starved by austerity, but their core methodology remains radical.
www.bostonreview.net
November 29, 2025 at 7:55 PM
A great essay on why close reading is a more radical methodology than most people think and why university managers don’t like those of us who teach it!
“Letter Writing Among Poets: From William Wordsworth to Elizabeth Bishop” is just £12.50 in the EUP sale (Paul Muldoon, Hermione Lee, Anne Fadiman, Angela Leighton… and others!) edinburghuniversitypress.com/book-letter-....
Letter Writing Among Poets
Letter Writing Among Poets
edinburghuniversitypress.com
November 29, 2025 at 2:14 PM
“Letter Writing Among Poets: From William Wordsworth to Elizabeth Bishop” is just £12.50 in the EUP sale (Paul Muldoon, Hermione Lee, Anne Fadiman, Angela Leighton… and others!) edinburghuniversitypress.com/book-letter-....
“Reading Elizabeth Bishop” is £13.50 in the EUP sale… edinburghuniversitypress.com/book-reading...
Reading Elizabeth Bishop
Reading Elizabeth Bishop
edinburghuniversitypress.com
November 29, 2025 at 2:11 PM
“Reading Elizabeth Bishop” is £13.50 in the EUP sale… edinburghuniversitypress.com/book-reading...
Reposted by Jonathan Ellis
How have Sheffield University management contrived to turn an easily resolvable dispute into something approaching MAB-like levels of crisis? From a pre-strike offer that could have been patched up into something that worked, to threatening a lockout from 5 January. I despair.
November 28, 2025 at 2:44 PM
How have Sheffield University management contrived to turn an easily resolvable dispute into something approaching MAB-like levels of crisis? From a pre-strike offer that could have been patched up into something that worked, to threatening a lockout from 5 January. I despair.
Reposted by Jonathan Ellis
Tuesday my union offered to call off 2 weeks of strikes, in return for postponing the redudnacy of, maybe, 5 people for three months. Yesterday the uni wrote to all staff saying "not interested", unless we completely caved. Today we toured picket lines across campus:
@sheffielducu.bsky.social
@sheffielducu.bsky.social
November 27, 2025 at 3:35 PM
Tuesday my union offered to call off 2 weeks of strikes, in return for postponing the redudnacy of, maybe, 5 people for three months. Yesterday the uni wrote to all staff saying "not interested", unless we completely caved. Today we toured picket lines across campus:
@sheffielducu.bsky.social
@sheffielducu.bsky.social
Too sad to say anything coherent about the state of UK universities.
November 28, 2025 at 1:45 PM
Too sad to say anything coherent about the state of UK universities.
Happy to see this rave for two books by and on people I love… observer.co.uk/culture/book... @notquitehydepark.bsky.social #SylviaPlath #TaylorSwift #MaggieNelson
November 23, 2025 at 3:55 PM
Happy to see this rave for two books by and on people I love… observer.co.uk/culture/book... @notquitehydepark.bsky.social #SylviaPlath #TaylorSwift #MaggieNelson
Reposted by Jonathan Ellis
Yes life was better under Franco for some. For the majority, no:
1/ May Spaniards leaving the country because they could not make a living
2/ No compulsory education and underfunded state schools
3/ no job security either: people in squares waiting to be offered work for the day
1/ May Spaniards leaving the country because they could not make a living
2/ No compulsory education and underfunded state schools
3/ no job security either: people in squares waiting to be offered work for the day
Worrying trends amongst the young in Spain reported by
@grahamkeeley.bsky.social
www.independent.co.uk/news/world/e...
@grahamkeeley.bsky.social
www.independent.co.uk/news/world/e...
‘Life was better under Franco’: The young Spaniards rewriting dictator’s legacy
Concerns over housing, jobs and immigration are sparking interest in the right wing among young Spaniards - and a belief, 50 years on, that life under the repressive dictator was not all bad, writes G...
www.independent.co.uk
November 18, 2025 at 2:50 PM
Yes life was better under Franco for some. For the majority, no:
1/ May Spaniards leaving the country because they could not make a living
2/ No compulsory education and underfunded state schools
3/ no job security either: people in squares waiting to be offered work for the day
1/ May Spaniards leaving the country because they could not make a living
2/ No compulsory education and underfunded state schools
3/ no job security either: people in squares waiting to be offered work for the day
Reposted by Jonathan Ellis
Celebrating #NationalPoetryDay and our 2026 collections – Divinations on Survival by Natalie Linh Bolderston @natlinhbolderston.bsky.social, Here & Thereafter by Alice Miller, and Against Falling by Linda Anderson. Available to pre-order from Friday the 10th October! bit.ly/Pavilion26
October 2, 2025 at 11:00 AM
Celebrating #NationalPoetryDay and our 2026 collections – Divinations on Survival by Natalie Linh Bolderston @natlinhbolderston.bsky.social, Here & Thereafter by Alice Miller, and Against Falling by Linda Anderson. Available to pre-order from Friday the 10th October! bit.ly/Pavilion26
Reposted by Jonathan Ellis
We are delighted to announce the shortlist for our Michael Murphy Poetry Prize! englishassociation.ac.uk/michael-murp... Winner announced on #NationalPoetryDay!
@carcanet.bsky.social
@prototypepubs.bsky.social
@bloodaxebooks.bsky.social
@faberbooks.bsky.social
@picadorbooks.bsky.social
@carcanet.bsky.social
@prototypepubs.bsky.social
@bloodaxebooks.bsky.social
@faberbooks.bsky.social
@picadorbooks.bsky.social
September 8, 2025 at 9:21 AM
We are delighted to announce the shortlist for our Michael Murphy Poetry Prize! englishassociation.ac.uk/michael-murp... Winner announced on #NationalPoetryDay!
@carcanet.bsky.social
@prototypepubs.bsky.social
@bloodaxebooks.bsky.social
@faberbooks.bsky.social
@picadorbooks.bsky.social
@carcanet.bsky.social
@prototypepubs.bsky.social
@bloodaxebooks.bsky.social
@faberbooks.bsky.social
@picadorbooks.bsky.social
Reposted by Jonathan Ellis
📢 We’re thrilled to announce that we have up to 4 student bursary awards for the MA in Eighteenth Century Studies at the University of York for 2025-26. Deadline to apply is 31 July. Please share widely! www.york.ac.uk/eighteenth-c... #18thcentury #18thC
Centre for Eighteenth Century Studies bursaries - Centre for Eighteenth Century Studies, University of York
Thanks to funding from an external donor, we offer up to four bursaries towards fees for the MA in Eighteenth Century Studies.
www.york.ac.uk
June 17, 2025 at 3:50 PM
📢 We’re thrilled to announce that we have up to 4 student bursary awards for the MA in Eighteenth Century Studies at the University of York for 2025-26. Deadline to apply is 31 July. Please share widely! www.york.ac.uk/eighteenth-c... #18thcentury #18thC
The gutting of the NEH is appalling.
Today is the last day at the NEH for me and many of my amazingly dedicated colleagues. We did our best to represent & serve the American people. To champion humanities research, teaching, public engagement, cultural heritage, infrastructure, and innovation.
June 10, 2025 at 6:08 PM
The gutting of the NEH is appalling.
Reposted by Jonathan Ellis
Very good UK job for a very good org that won't fold any time soon. First litmag to publish my poems, too, FWIW!
We’re hiring! Apply to join our team as the new Marketing & Events Manager by the end of this month.
Learn more: www.carcanet.co.uk/careers/
Learn more: www.carcanet.co.uk/careers/
June 9, 2025 at 4:42 PM
Very good UK job for a very good org that won't fold any time soon. First litmag to publish my poems, too, FWIW!
Blur for REM
Who was the best opening act you've seen live?
June 6, 2025 at 7:48 AM
Blur for REM
Reposted by Jonathan Ellis
Reposted by Jonathan Ellis
This Thursday, 15 May: Join us for an online event to celebrate the Fitzcarraldo Editions publication of Diane Seuss' MODERN POETRY and FRANK:SONNETS. Seuss will be in conversation with Jonathan Ellis. Tickets are free: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/diane-seus...
Diane Seuss Launch Event with Jonathan Ellis
Please join us for an online event to celebrate the Fitzcarraldo Editions publication of Diane Seuss' Modern Poetry and frank: sonnets.
www.eventbrite.co.uk
May 12, 2025 at 2:43 PM
This Thursday, 15 May: Join us for an online event to celebrate the Fitzcarraldo Editions publication of Diane Seuss' MODERN POETRY and FRANK:SONNETS. Seuss will be in conversation with Jonathan Ellis. Tickets are free: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/diane-seus...
Booing Trent only helps
Arsenal.
Arsenal.
May 11, 2025 at 5:16 PM
Booing Trent only helps
Arsenal.
Arsenal.
Reposted by Jonathan Ellis
Great day of #SUCUstrike action at the University of #Sheffield. Today we started our #Palestine support roving picket, which much solidarity around the campus. Join us! ucu.group.shef.ac.uk @drvaleriehobbs.bsky.social @lisastampnitzky.bsky.social @amnakaleem.bsky.social @sheffielducu.bsky.social
May 6, 2025 at 5:19 PM
Great day of #SUCUstrike action at the University of #Sheffield. Today we started our #Palestine support roving picket, which much solidarity around the campus. Join us! ucu.group.shef.ac.uk @drvaleriehobbs.bsky.social @lisastampnitzky.bsky.social @amnakaleem.bsky.social @sheffielducu.bsky.social
Nice to be striking in the sunshine today!
April 30, 2025 at 1:48 PM
Nice to be striking in the sunshine today!
Reposted by Jonathan Ellis
🔹Thursday, 15 May🔹 We will be hosting a virtual launch for Diane Seuss's FRANK: SONNETS and MODERN POETRY. Diane Seuss will be in conversation with Jonathan Ellis. The event is free, sign up here: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/diane-seus...
Diane Seuss Launch Event with Jonathan Ellis
Please join us for an online event to celebrate the Fitzcarraldo Editions publication of Diane Seuss' Modern Poetry and frank: sonnets.
www.eventbrite.co.uk
April 24, 2025 at 10:42 AM
🔹Thursday, 15 May🔹 We will be hosting a virtual launch for Diane Seuss's FRANK: SONNETS and MODERN POETRY. Diane Seuss will be in conversation with Jonathan Ellis. The event is free, sign up here: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/diane-seus...
I'd be tempted to ban Ted Hughes questions at Sylvia Plath events.
April 17, 2025 at 11:04 PM
I'd be tempted to ban Ted Hughes questions at Sylvia Plath events.
Apply for small grant. Pass quality threshold. Lose in lottery. Apply for small grant. Pass quality threshold. Lose in lottery. Arts and Humanities funding is Beckettian tragicomedy.
March 13, 2025 at 1:20 PM
Apply for small grant. Pass quality threshold. Lose in lottery. Apply for small grant. Pass quality threshold. Lose in lottery. Arts and Humanities funding is Beckettian tragicomedy.
Reposted by Jonathan Ellis
REF2029: concerns about the implications of decoupling | The English Association : Please read this important joint letter we have written (on behalf of us, our chair @jennyrichards.bsky.social ) along with @ies-sas.bsky.social & @univeng.bsky.social
englishassociation.ac.uk/ref2029-conc...
englishassociation.ac.uk/ref2029-conc...
REF2029: concerns about the implications of decoupling | The English Association
We support the teaching, learning, and enjoyment of English at all levels of education, from early years to further and higher education and beyond.
englishassociation.ac.uk
March 7, 2025 at 4:15 PM
REF2029: concerns about the implications of decoupling | The English Association : Please read this important joint letter we have written (on behalf of us, our chair @jennyrichards.bsky.social ) along with @ies-sas.bsky.social & @univeng.bsky.social
englishassociation.ac.uk/ref2029-conc...
englishassociation.ac.uk/ref2029-conc...
The Guardian has FOUR articles on “With Love, Meghan” on their website.
March 4, 2025 at 9:25 PM
The Guardian has FOUR articles on “With Love, Meghan” on their website.
“The university has gone from a marketplace of ideas to a marketplace.” From Amandla Thomas-Johnson’s brilliant essay, Poked in the Eye. mid-theory.com/2025/02/05/p...
Poked in the Eye
The university has gone from a marketplace of ideas to a marketplace. It has become a career fair. I could once boast that the road that wrapped around my home on Cornell’s Ithaca campus prov…
mid-theory.com
February 18, 2025 at 3:45 PM
“The university has gone from a marketplace of ideas to a marketplace.” From Amandla Thomas-Johnson’s brilliant essay, Poked in the Eye. mid-theory.com/2025/02/05/p...