Robert Sheppard
@robertsheppard.bsky.social
Poet, critic of recent formally innovative poetry & poetics, emeritus prof, and all that follows. Books from Shearsman, KFS, Salt, Broken Sleep, Palgrave, LUP, & all that follow. Blog: www.robertsheppard.blogspot.com
Reposted by Robert Sheppard
Tom Stoppard, playwright of dazzling wit and playful erudition, dies aged 88
Tom Stoppard, playwright of dazzling wit and playful erudition, dies aged 88
A theatrical sensation since the 1960s, whose dramas included Arcadia, The Real Thing and Leopoldstadt, Stoppard also had huge success as a screenwriter
The playwright Tom Stoppard, whose playful erudition dazzled the theatregoing world for decades, has died aged 88.
One of a select band of writers from any discipline to earn his own adjective – “Stoppardian” – in the Oxford English Dictionary, he delighted in the most improbable juxtapositions: philosophy and gymnastics in Jumpers (1972); early 19th-century landscape gardening and chaos theory in Arcadia (1993); rock music, dissident Czech academics and the love poetry of Sappho in Rock ’n’ Roll (2006). Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
November 29, 2025 at 5:17 PM
Tom Stoppard, playwright of dazzling wit and playful erudition, dies aged 88
Reposted by Robert Sheppard
The so-called Russell Group upholding the highest standards, as per
This is the most alarming story I’ve read today. Giving up the fight before it’s started
November 30, 2025 at 10:19 AM
The so-called Russell Group upholding the highest standards, as per
ELLE is officially published today. So here's an updated post with a little video or verse one, and links to the publisher and to previous posts about the 'project': robertsheppard.blogspot.com/2025/11/elle...
ELLE: A VERSE NOVEL is now published
My new book Elle: A Verse Novel is now published by Broken Sleep Books Details for ORDER: Robert Sheppard - Elle, a Verse Novel | Bro...
robertsheppard.blogspot.com
November 30, 2025 at 11:21 AM
ELLE is officially published today. So here's an updated post with a little video or verse one, and links to the publisher and to previous posts about the 'project': robertsheppard.blogspot.com/2025/11/elle...
I enjoyed Aaon's reading from this book. I remember not liking his work in the 1990s, but now they just seem fresh and funny! (Broken Sleep online launch...)
Geoff Hattersley’s Collected Poems brings together over three decades of work, mapping a singular voice grounded in working-class experience, dark wit, and sharply observed detail.
November 30, 2025 at 10:22 AM
I enjoyed Aaon's reading from this book. I remember not liking his work in the 1990s, but now they just seem fresh and funny! (Broken Sleep online launch...)
I enjoyed the 'film of the book' last night on the Broken Sleep online launch.
Anticulturalist Manifesto by Joe Shooman is a volatile, confrontational tract that gleefully atomises authorship, culture and interpretation in favour of a self-cancelling absolutism.
www.brokensleepbooks.com/product-page...
www.brokensleepbooks.com/product-page...
November 30, 2025 at 10:21 AM
I enjoyed the 'film of the book' last night on the Broken Sleep online launch.
I enjoyed these poems when I took part in the online launches of this book and the rest of the November bunch (including mine). Last night.
Mohamed Hassan’s National Anthem is a layered, politically charged collection that moves between lyric intimacy and cultural critique with clarity and force.
www.brokensleepbooks.com/product-page...
www.brokensleepbooks.com/product-page...
November 30, 2025 at 10:20 AM
I enjoyed these poems when I took part in the online launches of this book and the rest of the November bunch (including mine). Last night.
Reposted by Robert Sheppard
Ian Hamilton Finlay / The Fisherman’s Cross, 1967
November 30, 2025 at 5:35 AM
Ian Hamilton Finlay / The Fisherman’s Cross, 1967
God help us!
One should be in no doubt that most of Britain's elites will simply make their peace with Farage and do a deal, so long as they get left alone or benefit. Tho there is resistance to Trump in the US, it's v much the exception.(1/2) www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/...
Cambridge University cosies up to Reform
The vice-chancellor expects Nigel Farage to model his policies on Trump and says other Russell Group members are meeting his allies
www.thetimes.com
November 30, 2025 at 10:08 AM
God help us!
Reposted by Robert Sheppard
It's the satirists I feel sorriest for.
Zarah Sultana boycotts first day of Your Party conference over 'witch hunt' expulsions
Zarah Sultana boycotts first day of Your Party conference over 'witch hunt' expulsions
Zarah Sultana has boycotted day one of the Your Party Conference over the expulsion of members of left-wing groups.
news.sky.com
November 29, 2025 at 2:23 PM
It's the satirists I feel sorriest for.
Fun book: I was in volume one!
Looking forward to reading NOON: An Anthology of Short Poems (Volume 2) in which I have the tiniest thing ever
isobarpress.com/titles/noon-...
isobarpress.com/titles/noon-...
November 29, 2025 at 12:43 PM
Fun book: I was in volume one!
Reposted by Robert Sheppard
Thanks for sharing this excellent interview with the talented Chris McCabe!
Read an online Q&A with Chris McCabe @oncreativewriting.bsky.social talking #poetry, writing across artforms, psychogeography, cities, creativity, Hedonism and more:
oncreativewriting.com/post/artist-...
oncreativewriting.com/post/artist-...
Artist Chris McCabe on psychogeography and the poetics of cities
Artist Chris McCabe on psychogeography. He is a poet, novelist, and editor and in this interview discusses his journey from Liverpool roots to London’s experimental poetry scene. His work spans genre...
oncreativewriting.com
November 28, 2025 at 8:53 PM
Thanks for sharing this excellent interview with the talented Chris McCabe!
Reposted by Robert Sheppard
What do UK graduates do? Lots of information in this annual report.
A reminder that Humanities graduates are quite employable. Compare unemployment rates for Biology (8.4%), Chemistry (5.9%) and Physics (8.0%) with English literature (6.4%), History (7.6%) and Languages (7.6%) for example.
A reminder that Humanities graduates are quite employable. Compare unemployment rates for Biology (8.4%), Chemistry (5.9%) and Physics (8.0%) with English literature (6.4%), History (7.6%) and Languages (7.6%) for example.
graduatemarkettrends.cdn.prismic.io
November 28, 2025 at 2:18 PM
What do UK graduates do? Lots of information in this annual report.
A reminder that Humanities graduates are quite employable. Compare unemployment rates for Biology (8.4%), Chemistry (5.9%) and Physics (8.0%) with English literature (6.4%), History (7.6%) and Languages (7.6%) for example.
A reminder that Humanities graduates are quite employable. Compare unemployment rates for Biology (8.4%), Chemistry (5.9%) and Physics (8.0%) with English literature (6.4%), History (7.6%) and Languages (7.6%) for example.
Launch online tonight: robertsheppard.blogspot.com/2025/11/elle...
November 29, 2025 at 11:06 AM
Launch online tonight: robertsheppard.blogspot.com/2025/11/elle...
Reposted by Robert Sheppard
Northwestern bent the knee, choosing to give in to extortion at the expense of academic freedom.
Among the provisions:
-Pay a big bribe
-Give the govt data on students
-Validate BS about "fighting antisemitism"
-Be cruel to trans students
What to do about Vichy universities (now, later, or both)?
Among the provisions:
-Pay a big bribe
-Give the govt data on students
-Validate BS about "fighting antisemitism"
-Be cruel to trans students
What to do about Vichy universities (now, later, or both)?
BREAKING: Northwestern University has agreed to pay the U.S. Treasury $75 million, over the course of three years as part of an agreement with the federal government to restore funding and end investigations into the university
Full statement from NU below:
Full statement from NU below:
November 29, 2025 at 2:25 AM
Northwestern bent the knee, choosing to give in to extortion at the expense of academic freedom.
Among the provisions:
-Pay a big bribe
-Give the govt data on students
-Validate BS about "fighting antisemitism"
-Be cruel to trans students
What to do about Vichy universities (now, later, or both)?
Among the provisions:
-Pay a big bribe
-Give the govt data on students
-Validate BS about "fighting antisemitism"
-Be cruel to trans students
What to do about Vichy universities (now, later, or both)?
Reposted by Robert Sheppard
In the sky astride the stars the universe slowly turns.
internationaltimes.it
www.internationaltimes.it/archive/inde...
internationaltimes.it
www.internationaltimes.it/archive/inde...
November 29, 2025 at 8:29 AM
In the sky astride the stars the universe slowly turns.
internationaltimes.it
www.internationaltimes.it/archive/inde...
internationaltimes.it
www.internationaltimes.it/archive/inde...
Reposted by Robert Sheppard
they're auctioning Blake's Tyger next week
seems impossible, like selling a comet or a shooting star
www.christies.com/en/stories/t...
seems impossible, like selling a comet or a shooting star
www.christies.com/en/stories/t...
November 29, 2025 at 5:36 AM
they're auctioning Blake's Tyger next week
seems impossible, like selling a comet or a shooting star
www.christies.com/en/stories/t...
seems impossible, like selling a comet or a shooting star
www.christies.com/en/stories/t...
That's fine company to be in. Thanks for getting them!
Arrived today from @brokensleepbooks.bsky.social and looking forward to reading. Likely I will post temptations from these over coming days...
November 28, 2025 at 12:34 PM
That's fine company to be in. Thanks for getting them!
Reposted by Robert Sheppard
There was no state. Who does she think crucified him, an anarchist collective?
November 28, 2025 at 11:22 AM
There was no state. Who does she think crucified him, an anarchist collective?
Reposted by Robert Sheppard
Even Scottish publishers are getting in on Black Friday, a made-up holiday that bafflingly crossed the pond w/o Thanksgiving due to the unfort v effective capitalist internationale but anyway it means a paperback of MATERIAL POETICS is only £19 til Monday edinburghuniversitypress.com/book-materia...
Material Poetics in Hemispheric America
Material Poetics in Hemispheric America
edinburghuniversitypress.com
November 28, 2025 at 12:18 PM
Even Scottish publishers are getting in on Black Friday, a made-up holiday that bafflingly crossed the pond w/o Thanksgiving due to the unfort v effective capitalist internationale but anyway it means a paperback of MATERIAL POETICS is only £19 til Monday edinburghuniversitypress.com/book-materia...
Launch tomorrow...
Rico tells everybody: Buy Elle: A Verse Novel now, ahead of the online launch Saturday: robertsheppard.blogspot.com/2025/11/elle....
November 28, 2025 at 12:31 PM
Launch tomorrow...
Reposted by Robert Sheppard
An early version of the Kavanagh poem we now know as "Raglan Road". The widely disliked line about the Queen of Hearts still making tarts is not here.
November 27, 2025 at 5:22 PM
An early version of the Kavanagh poem we now know as "Raglan Road". The widely disliked line about the Queen of Hearts still making tarts is not here.
No, he doesn't.
Samuel Beckett wants to know who's your favorite action figurine.
November 28, 2025 at 10:53 AM
No, he doesn't.
Reposted by Robert Sheppard
The edited out words are: “the most openly corrupt president in American history”. 'Openly' does a lot of heavy lifting there, too.
BBC have been told that they can't quote the line that Trump is “the most openly corrupt president in American history”, which the BBC has censored from the Reith Lectures.
www.theguardian.com/media/2025/n...
www.theguardian.com/media/2025/n...
BBC tells staff they cannot quote Trump line removed from Reith lecture
Journalists not allowed to repeat Rutger Bregman’s corruption claims against US president in coverage of edit
www.theguardian.com
November 28, 2025 at 10:48 AM
The edited out words are: “the most openly corrupt president in American history”. 'Openly' does a lot of heavy lifting there, too.
Reposted by Robert Sheppard
Nick's been a brilliant contributor to the project - he was one of the first people I asked to take part, and you can read his original anthology (all twelve stories first published in The London Magazine) and other occasional contributions here: apersonalanthology.com/category/nic...
Nicholas Royle – A Personal Anthology
Nicholas Royle’s latest short story collection is Ornithology (Confingo Publishing). He is also the author of seven novels, including First Novel (Vintage), and two other volumes of short fiction, …
apersonalanthology.com
October 16, 2025 at 10:07 AM
Nick's been a brilliant contributor to the project - he was one of the first people I asked to take part, and you can read his original anthology (all twelve stories first published in The London Magazine) and other occasional contributions here: apersonalanthology.com/category/nic...