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maryrussell.bsky.social @maryrussell.bsky.social · 8h

My Uncle Jake turned up quite unexpectedly at my door. Knave of Diamonds.

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maryrussell.bsky.social @maryrussell.bsky.social · 1d

The Amazon e-version of The Marriage of Mary Russell will be on sale for the next few days.

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maryrussell.bsky.social @maryrussell.bsky.social · 1d

Gorgeous colour.

Ashmolean Museum, Oxford @ashmoleanmuseum.bsky.social · 2d

See the jar on display in Gallery 10 on the ground floor.

💚 Green-glazed jar, 701–800 CE, China. Earthenware with green glaze. 16cm (height) by 17.5cm (diameter). EA1956.3114

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maryrussell.bsky.social @maryrussell.bsky.social · 2d

Have you met my Uncle Jake? He is quite the character, and he entangles me in quite the caper, much to Holmes' chagrin.

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maryrussell.bsky.social @maryrussell.bsky.social · 2d

I've grown quite fond of both the U.K. and the U.S. covers of my latest memoir. Do you have a favourite?

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maryrussell.bsky.social @maryrussell.bsky.social · 3d

Happy Thanksgiving to my Canadian readers.

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maryrussell.bsky.social @maryrussell.bsky.social · 3d

Strangely, Uncle Jake and Holmes did get along in the end.

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maryrussell.bsky.social @maryrussell.bsky.social · 3d

We have been informed that the U.S. e-version of The Marriage of Mary Russell will be offered at a reduced price from now until 19 October.

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maryrussell.bsky.social @maryrussell.bsky.social · 4d

I'm particularly fond of Japanese prints. This is lovely.

Ashmolean Museum, Oxford @ashmoleanmuseum.bsky.social · 4d

Crisp sunny mornings and crunchy golden leaves are here, so we’re celebrating with this wonderfully seasonal woodblock print by Utagawa Hiroshige.

🍁 Maple Trees at Mama, Tekona Shrine, and Linked Bridge, 1857, by Utagawa Hiroshige I (1797–1858). EAX.4362

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maryrussell.bsky.social @maryrussell.bsky.social · 4d

I know a few things about spectral hounds, but have never seen one around the Long Man.

South Downs National Park @southdownsnp.bsky.social · 5d

You've heard of the Long Man of Wilmington but have you heard of the Black Dog of Wilmington?

Legend has it a Ghostly Black Dog with bright red eyes can be seen stalking Windover Hill above the Long Man.
⠀
📷 Verity Stannard

#SouthDowns #SpookySeason

The famous chalk figure on the side of Wilmington Hill - the Long Man of Wilmington - underneath a starry sky

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maryrussell.bsky.social @maryrussell.bsky.social · 5d

I somehow missed this post.

TripFiction @tripfiction.bsky.social · 23d

#booktok #tiktok

Spotlight Review

Riviera Gold by Laurie R King

Roving around The Riviera in 1925

@allisonandbusby.bsky.social

#blueskybooks #booksky

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maryrussell.bsky.social @maryrussell.bsky.social · 5d

But of course.

University of Oxford @ox.ac.uk · 7d

NEW: We’re honoured to be ranked number one in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings for the tenth consecutive year. 👏

Aerial view of the University of Oxford, showcasing its historic buildings and spires under a clear sky at sunset. Text overlay states "Oxford named best university in the world for a record tenth consecutive year".

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maryrussell.bsky.social @maryrussell.bsky.social · 5d

I'm always amazed that something fragile could survive so long.

Ashmolean Museum, Oxford @ashmoleanmuseum.bsky.social · 5d

This jar stands at an impressive height of 75 cm. The painted decoration depicts an octopus, swimming in an abstract seascape. The jar comes from the Minoan palace at Knossos, on the island of Crete, and was created in the 15th century BCE.

A close up image of an ancient pot with a large octopus painted on in black with it's tentacles all curled around it.

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maryrussell.bsky.social @maryrussell.bsky.social · 6d

I do hope you are enjoying reading about our time in Venice.

Keltoi90814 @keltoi90814.bsky.social · 7d

Currently reading. #booksky

Cover of the book “Island of the Mad” by Laurie R. King.

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maryrussell.bsky.social @maryrussell.bsky.social · 6d

Three interesting objects to honour #WorldAnimalDay. I'm particularly fond of the coin with the bee.

Ashmolean Museum, Oxford @ashmoleanmuseum.bsky.social · 6d

🐝 Tetradrachm coin with a bee, Turkey, silver, HCR5273
🪽 Dish with three cranes, waves and clouds, 1600–1800. Porcelain, 3 x 16.8 x 12.5 cm. EA1981.44
🐯 Tiger, 1889–1995, after Gao Qifeng (1889–1933). Ink and colour on paper, 164 x 88 cm. EA1995.249

A round ancient coin with a bee in the centre

A blue and white wavy edged plate with three cranes painted in the centre

A painting of a tiger walking in the snow and roaring

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maryrussell.bsky.social @maryrussell.bsky.social · 6d

I haven't, but I do have sympathy with you over the botched stripes.

dnratl.bsky.social @dnratl.bsky.social · 7d

Who else besides me is infringing on Mr. Blake's copyright by using his Tiger Tiger art as a screensaver? And commiserates with the botched stripes in the middle? Watercolors can be tricky.

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maryrussell.bsky.social @maryrussell.bsky.social · 7d

Ashmolean Museum, Oxford @ashmoleanmuseum.bsky.social · 7d

This dream-like illustration is a detail from William Blake’s illustration to the 'Divine Comedy', Purgatorio XXVII, showing Dante and Statius sleeping with Virgil watching.

Detail from Dante and Statius sleeping, William Blake, 1827. WA1918.3

A watercolour of a staircase with three figures sleeping on three of the steps. In the sky is a large sun.

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maryrussell.bsky.social @maryrussell.bsky.social · 8d

I believe today is the last day to purchase the e-book of The Lantern's Dance at the special low price.

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maryrussell.bsky.social @maryrussell.bsky.social · 8d

That is a beautiful photograph.

Jansen Mann @hellojansen.com · 8d

Apparently, I was walking the South Downs 8 years ago.

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maryrussell.bsky.social @maryrussell.bsky.social · 9d

Yes, it is.

Finn Hopson @finnhop.bsky.social · 9d

Autumn in the South Downs National Park. It’s going to be a colourful one apparently.

www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2025/oct/07/fiery-spectacular-rainbow-autumn-colour-bloom-gardens-uk

A photograph of autumnal trees in a foggy woodland. The foreground tree has two trunks that twist round each other.

A photograph of yellow birch leaves against a cool, foggy woodland background.

A young birch tree growing on a heather covered heathland. Lots of cobwebs. Does anyone read this stuff?

Orange, green and yellow bracken growing beneath pines in a foggy Sussex woodland.

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maryrussell.bsky.social @maryrussell.bsky.social · 9d

Beautiful.

The South Downs - October 2025

A view of a greenfield in the South Downs with an atmospheric sky

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maryrussell.bsky.social @maryrussell.bsky.social · 9d

Skill and a very steady hand.

Ashmolean Museum, Oxford @ashmoleanmuseum.bsky.social · 9d

🎨 The decoration painted onto these bottles is on the inside of the glass!

The process is known as verre églomisé, it is an application that not only requires special tools but an incredible level of skill.

A glass bottle painted from the inside with a rural Chinese scene with three women sitting under a tree

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maryrussell.bsky.social @maryrussell.bsky.social · 10d

Ms King is home from the hospital and recovering. I know we all send her well wishes for a speedy recovery.

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maryrussell.bsky.social @maryrussell.bsky.social · 10d

The U.S. e-version of The Lantern's Dance is on sale for $1.99 from now until Oct. 8th.

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maryrussell.bsky.social @maryrussell.bsky.social · 11d

It is indeed.

University of Oxford @ox.ac.uk · 11d

Our beautiful city 😍

📷 Instagram | Juncao_Oxford

Aerial view of Oxford at sunrise, featuring the Radcliffe Camera and surrounding historic buildings under a vibrant sky.

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