James Rodgers
@jmacrodgers.bsky.social
Author. Journalist. Fellow Royal Historical Soc.
Lecturer. Linguist. European.
Editorial Adviser, History Today.
Ex correspondent in Moscow, Brussels, Gaza. Now in London.
Next book, on Russia and the West, out early 2026.
https://jamesrodgersauthor.com
Lecturer. Linguist. European.
Editorial Adviser, History Today.
Ex correspondent in Moscow, Brussels, Gaza. Now in London.
Next book, on Russia and the West, out early 2026.
https://jamesrodgersauthor.com
Late November afternoon on the Thames
November 14, 2025 at 6:25 PM
Late November afternoon on the Thames
At the Barbican in London last night, @sowetokinch.bsky.social performed 'Soundtrack to the Apocalypse' with @londonsymphony.bsky.social.
Jazz, rap, classical, and politics. The second time I have seen him, and already looking forward to seeing him again. Absolutely superb.
Jazz, rap, classical, and politics. The second time I have seen him, and already looking forward to seeing him again. Absolutely superb.
November 14, 2025 at 8:36 AM
At the Barbican in London last night, @sowetokinch.bsky.social performed 'Soundtrack to the Apocalypse' with @londonsymphony.bsky.social.
Jazz, rap, classical, and politics. The second time I have seen him, and already looking forward to seeing him again. Absolutely superb.
Jazz, rap, classical, and politics. The second time I have seen him, and already looking forward to seeing him again. Absolutely superb.
On the day that the Soviet Union celebrated the anniversary of the 'Great October Socialist Revolution', when Lenin led the Bolsheviks to seize power, pictures of some of the monuments at VDNKh in Moscow: the entrance; 'the worker and the collective farm woman'; Lenin himself.
All photos from 2019
All photos from 2019
November 7, 2025 at 7:14 AM
On the day that the Soviet Union celebrated the anniversary of the 'Great October Socialist Revolution', when Lenin led the Bolsheviks to seize power, pictures of some of the monuments at VDNKh in Moscow: the entrance; 'the worker and the collective farm woman'; Lenin himself.
All photos from 2019
All photos from 2019
In Cambridge to give a talk, and happy to see my last book in very good company
October 30, 2025 at 10:54 PM
In Cambridge to give a talk, and happy to see my last book in very good company
Leaving the stadium, October afternoon
October 19, 2025 at 6:47 AM
Leaving the stadium, October afternoon
An insightful and deeply researched study of what went wrong with Russia and the west’s reaction to the country after the optimism of the 1990s.' - @terrystiastny.bsky.social
My next book, 'The Return of Russia', out in January.
Now available for pre-order, with 25% off at Waterstones today only.
My next book, 'The Return of Russia', out in January.
Now available for pre-order, with 25% off at Waterstones today only.
October 17, 2025 at 9:54 AM
An insightful and deeply researched study of what went wrong with Russia and the west’s reaction to the country after the optimism of the 1990s.' - @terrystiastny.bsky.social
My next book, 'The Return of Russia', out in January.
Now available for pre-order, with 25% off at Waterstones today only.
My next book, 'The Return of Russia', out in January.
Now available for pre-order, with 25% off at Waterstones today only.
“An extremely valuable and comprehensive treatment of trends in post-Soviet Russian politics and society, and how these have impacted Russia’s place in the world.”[email protected].
Coming soon from @yalebooks.bsky.social--with 25% off pre-orders from Waterstones until Friday 23:59
Coming soon from @yalebooks.bsky.social--with 25% off pre-orders from Waterstones until Friday 23:59
October 16, 2025 at 7:53 AM
“An extremely valuable and comprehensive treatment of trends in post-Soviet Russian politics and society, and how these have impacted Russia’s place in the world.”[email protected].
Coming soon from @yalebooks.bsky.social--with 25% off pre-orders from Waterstones until Friday 23:59
Coming soon from @yalebooks.bsky.social--with 25% off pre-orders from Waterstones until Friday 23:59
'A welcome contribution to the debate about what went wrong, coming from someone who has long
observed—and often been present at—key moments in Russian history'--Andrei Soldatov
There's 25% off pre-orders of 'The Return of Russia', my new book with @yalebooks.bsky.social, at Waterstones this week
observed—and often been present at—key moments in Russian history'--Andrei Soldatov
There's 25% off pre-orders of 'The Return of Russia', my new book with @yalebooks.bsky.social, at Waterstones this week
October 15, 2025 at 7:52 AM
'A welcome contribution to the debate about what went wrong, coming from someone who has long
observed—and often been present at—key moments in Russian history'--Andrei Soldatov
There's 25% off pre-orders of 'The Return of Russia', my new book with @yalebooks.bsky.social, at Waterstones this week
observed—and often been present at—key moments in Russian history'--Andrei Soldatov
There's 25% off pre-orders of 'The Return of Russia', my new book with @yalebooks.bsky.social, at Waterstones this week
A visit late yesterday afternoon to @foylesforbooks.bsky.social in London reminded me of the pleasure of browsing in a good bookshop--especially one that sells work from all over the world (and was kind enough to have my own last book on display). Online shopping just not the same.
October 4, 2025 at 9:19 AM
A visit late yesterday afternoon to @foylesforbooks.bsky.social in London reminded me of the pleasure of browsing in a good bookshop--especially one that sells work from all over the world (and was kind enough to have my own last book on display). Online shopping just not the same.
Fog everywhere. Fog up the river, where it flows among green aits and meadows
September 29, 2025 at 8:17 AM
Fog everywhere. Fog up the river, where it flows among green aits and meadows
The Thames from Chiswick Bridge, under a late September sky
September 28, 2025 at 10:09 AM
The Thames from Chiswick Bridge, under a late September sky
Before the match, and on the way back after
September 18, 2025 at 9:27 PM
Before the match, and on the way back after
Just finished this, years after it was published and rightly praised. What a book. I was led to it after reading Richard Flanagan's 'Question 7', a masterpiece of nonfiction.
'The Narrow Road...' has made such an impression I am already looking forward to reading it again.
'The Narrow Road...' has made such an impression I am already looking forward to reading it again.
September 7, 2025 at 3:17 PM
Just finished this, years after it was published and rightly praised. What a book. I was led to it after reading Richard Flanagan's 'Question 7', a masterpiece of nonfiction.
'The Narrow Road...' has made such an impression I am already looking forward to reading it again.
'The Narrow Road...' has made such an impression I am already looking forward to reading it again.
The last evening match of the season @kiaoval.com earlier this week. Rain finally cleared so the Surrey vs Northants quarter final could go ahead. Victory for the visitors by seven runs on a dramatic evening on the field and in the sky above.
September 7, 2025 at 7:04 AM
The last evening match of the season @kiaoval.com earlier this week. Rain finally cleared so the Surrey vs Northants quarter final could go ahead. Victory for the visitors by seven runs on a dramatic evening on the field and in the sky above.
Falmouth and St Mawes, Cornwall
September 7, 2025 at 6:47 AM
Falmouth and St Mawes, Cornwall
Evening in late summer, East Lothian
August 26, 2025 at 8:26 PM
Evening in late summer, East Lothian
A thrilling evening's cricket at The Oval: Invincibles beat Rockets by 6 wickets--after a run chase that at one stage seemed all but impossible #Hundred
August 21, 2025 at 9:08 PM
A thrilling evening's cricket at The Oval: Invincibles beat Rockets by 6 wickets--after a run chase that at one stage seemed all but impossible #Hundred
A walk around the north end of the island of Fanø, off the west coast of Denmark--heathland, 20th century history, modern industry, sea and sky.
August 17, 2025 at 4:53 PM
A walk around the north end of the island of Fanø, off the west coast of Denmark--heathland, 20th century history, modern industry, sea and sky.
Matchday @esbjergfb.bsky.social, and I am on my way to the stadium by ferry: obviously not the first to make this trip.
August 9, 2025 at 12:33 PM
Matchday @esbjergfb.bsky.social, and I am on my way to the stadium by ferry: obviously not the first to make this trip.
At #iccees2025, a simple but effective and moving exhibition: 'Unissued diplomas'--honouring the memory of students killed in the #RussiaUkraineWar.
July 22, 2025 at 9:37 AM
At #iccees2025, a simple but effective and moving exhibition: 'Unissued diplomas'--honouring the memory of students killed in the #RussiaUkraineWar.
A full Sunday watching cricket: the morning session @kiaoval.com; this afternoon a smash tournament at my local ground in west London, Chiswick CC
June 29, 2025 at 2:16 PM
A full Sunday watching cricket: the morning session @kiaoval.com; this afternoon a smash tournament at my local ground in west London, Chiswick CC
Recently rediscovered in an attic, and now framed: a Soviet propaganda poster I bought in Moscow in 1987. It reproduces Lenin's 1917 'Decree on Peace' with the slogan 'Socialism in Peace and Creation'. Published in 1986, during perestroika, but drawing on long-established Soviet design and slogans
June 27, 2025 at 10:58 AM
Recently rediscovered in an attic, and now framed: a Soviet propaganda poster I bought in Moscow in 1987. It reproduces Lenin's 1917 'Decree on Peace' with the slogan 'Socialism in Peace and Creation'. Published in 1986, during perestroika, but drawing on long-established Soviet design and slogans
On the anniversary of D-Day, some pictures of WWII defences that still scar coastal areas on the North Sea. Pictures from East Lothian in Scotland, and bunkers built by occupying German forces on the Danish island of Fanø.
June 6, 2025 at 6:15 AM
On the anniversary of D-Day, some pictures of WWII defences that still scar coastal areas on the North Sea. Pictures from East Lothian in Scotland, and bunkers built by occupying German forces on the Danish island of Fanø.
Eighty years ago today, as the end of WWII in Europe drew near, U.S. and Soviet troops met on the Elbe. This is the memorial in Moscow. The pictures are from 2019, when the 'friendship tree' was looking tired after a Russian winter. Perhaps Mr Witkoff's visit will make it bloom...
April 25, 2025 at 2:20 PM
Eighty years ago today, as the end of WWII in Europe drew near, U.S. and Soviet troops met on the Elbe. This is the memorial in Moscow. The pictures are from 2019, when the 'friendship tree' was looking tired after a Russian winter. Perhaps Mr Witkoff's visit will make it bloom...