Dr Lisa Gee
LightNews LightNews
banner
lis4g33.bsky.social
Dr Lisa Gee
@lis4g33.bsky.social
250 followers 420 following 360 posts
Enthusiastic, neurodivergent, digressive, herded by cat (RIP Kooky)
Posts Replies Media Videos
lis4g33.bsky.social
A quick post to say I’ m taking a December break from posting about bit.ly/HayleyEssays,. Places to go, people to see, work to do, etc. …

(etc = mostly sorting out messy piles of things that refuse to tidy themselves up because they’re inanimate objects and lack sentience).
Book jacket. Text reads Top left: Palgrave studies in life writing Series editors: Clare Brant • Max Saunders Centre: William Hayley A Biographer’s Influence on Life Writing and Romantic Networks in the Long Eighteenth Century Edited by Lisa Gee • Mark Crosby Bottom right: Palgrave macmillan Image: Full length picture showing (l-r) George Romney (self portrait) peering impishly into the frame, William Hayley standing side on head turned to face the viewer. He’s tall, has an imperious expression under shortish grey hair, is wearing a long dark blue cape, grey trousers and his right hand holds a walking stick. John Flaxman(who comes up to Hayley’s shoulder looks at him while working on a large grey bust. In front of him, the height of Flaxman’s shoulder,. and facing away from us, is Tom Hayley, wearing a red waistcoat over a white/cream shirt, knee length britches, white socks or spats and brown shoes. His hair is brown and touches his shoulder George Romney, 1734–1802, John Flaxman Modeling the Bust of William Hayley, 1795 to 1796, Oil on canvas, Yale Center for British Art, Paul Mellon Collection, B1981.25.538.
December 3, 2025 at 8:59 PM
lis4g33.bsky.social
1784. Painter in Enamels to King George III and in Miniatures to Queen Charlotte, Jeremiah Meyer had a plan. He brought a popular Opera back from Stuttgart, hoping his writer-friend William Hayley could earn some £ by translating it for the London stage…

bit.ly/KnausMeyer in bit.ly/HayleyEssays
Engraving of Jeremiah Meyer. William Pether, ca. 1738–1821, Jeremiah Meyer, Esqr. r. A., Miniature painter in Enamel to His Majesty, 1789, Yale Center for British Art, Paul Mellon Collection, B1977.14.12362. Meyer, his body turned slightly to the left, looks over his left shoulder, while – from the top – he holds what looks to be a large sketch pad, with a pencil or brush held gently in his right hand. His face bears a concentrated expression as if he’s observing something closely. His features are large and heavy, his hair neatly dressed and curled outwards over his ears (his right lobe is visible). His hairline is slightly receding. He wears what looks like a simple, brown jacket over a cream or white cravat.
December 2, 2025 at 9:48 PM
lis4g33.bsky.social
Interested in #WilliamBlake &/or biography? Read @jasonpaulwhittaker.bsky.social & @urthonaunbound.bsky.social’s: “‘Be My Enemy for Friendship’s Sake’: Hayley and
Blake’s Biographers” bit.ly/BME4FS in bit.ly/HayleyEssays #Blake #romanticism #lifewriting #biography #18thC #c18th
Shadow of a finger pointing to the chapter title. Text reads ‘Be My Enemy for Friendship’s Sake’: Hayley and Blake’s Biographers Jason Whittaker and Annise Rogers
November 30, 2025 at 10:30 AM
lis4g33.bsky.social
Poet, biographer, man of letters, and cultivator of influential literary and artistic networks during the late 18th century, William Hayley was considered one of the brightest stars in the poetical firmament.

So why isn’t he more famous? See bit.ly/HonestChroni... our intro to bit.ly/HayleyEssays
Lost Romney watercolour, b&w/sepia L-R Eliza Ball Hayley in profile (facing right), seated at a table, looking down while at some form of handiwork: possibly sharpening a pen, or preparing materials for needlework. William Hayley is seated behind the same table, pictured front on, wearing a jacket with a huge collar. His arms rest semi crossed on the table, and in front of him is a large book with another document on it. Standing to his right (directly opposite the seated Eliza) is Captain Howell, a protegé of William Hayley’s who was lost at sea. Howell is looking down at the document while William Hayley’s head is slightly tilted up to look at him
November 29, 2025 at 10:12 AM
lis4g33.bsky.social
Art historian and author/compiler of 𝙂𝙚𝙤𝙧𝙜𝙚 𝙍𝙤𝙢𝙣𝙚𝙮: 𝘼 𝘾𝙤𝙢𝙥𝙡𝙚𝙩𝙚 𝘾𝙖𝙩𝙖𝙡𝙤𝙜𝙪𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙋𝙖𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙨 tells us what Romney got up to during his summer visits to William Hayley at his house in Eartham, Sussex.

Discover more: bit.ly/HayleyRomneyBlake in bit.ly/HayleyEssays
November 25, 2025 at 9:48 PM
lis4g33.bsky.social
Leading Blake Scholar and editor of @blakequarterly.bsky.social Morton D. Paley discusses William Hayley’s poetry.

Discover more: bit.ly/HayleyRomneyBlake in bit.ly/HayleyEssays
November 24, 2025 at 4:25 PM
lis4g33.bsky.social
Art historian and author/compiler of 𝙂𝙚𝙤𝙧𝙜𝙚 𝙍𝙤𝙢𝙣𝙚𝙮: 𝘼 𝘾𝙤𝙢𝙥𝙡𝙚𝙩𝙚 𝘾𝙖𝙩𝙖𝙡𝙤𝙜𝙪𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙋𝙖𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙨 explains what makes Romney such an important artist.

Discover more: bit.ly/HayleyRomneyBlake in bit.ly/HayleyEssays
November 23, 2025 at 10:30 AM
lis4g33.bsky.social
Best of frenemies? “The relationship is perhaps best understood as a drama in four acts …” Nicholas Shrimpton reassesses William Blake & William Hayley’s #friendship: bit.ly/RevisitHayleyBlake in bit.ly/HayleyEssays

#Blake #romanticism #lifewriting #biography #18thC #c18th

Pic info in ALT text
Impressionistic pen sketch of house in background, with green bush front right and to right on hill, viewed through 2 trees front centre & left, with more greenery/?dead tree to left foreground. William Blake, 1757–1827, The Entrance Front of Hayley's House at Eartham, 1801, Pen and black ink with watercolor and graphite on medium, smooth, beige wove paper, Yale Center for British Art, Paul Mellon Collection, B1981.25.2396.
November 22, 2025 at 10:12 AM
lis4g33.bsky.social
@fbls.bsky.social observes how “Scholarly references to Hayley are … always in relation to her husband, hardly ever recognising her own intellectual merit.” A pity, as Hayley had plenty to say… bit.ly/ElizaHayleyAuthor #lifewriting #18thC #c18th #womenshistory #womenswriting #reputation
Eliza Ball Hayley in profile (facing right), looking down while at some form of handiwork: possibly sharpening a pen, or preparing materials for needlework. b&w/sepia Detail from lost Romney watercolour, which also features William Hayley and Captain Howell, a protegé of William Hayley’s who was lost at sea.
November 19, 2025 at 8:59 PM
lis4g33.bsky.social
Claudia Thomas Kairoff, author of THE Anna Seward book-length critical study –bit.ly/CTKAS – discovered Romney’s 2nd portrait of the poet in her local library bit.ly/HayleySeward in bit.ly/HayleyEssays #lifewriting #18thC #c18th #romanticism #portraits #arthistory #poetry #womenshistory
George Romney, Anna Seward, 1788. Oil on canvas. © Forsyth County Library, Winston-Salem, NC. Used with permission. A woman in a long, dark dress with gold trimmings and a blue silky sash leans her left elbow on a table covered in red fabric. Her eyes look to her right, and her face rests gently on her left hand, her index finger pointing upwards. She holds a scroll of paper in her right hand. On the table are inkwell with a quill pen in it, an unfolded sheet of paper, and some crumpled pieces of paper. The background is reddish orange, darkening on the sitter's left into what could be read as night.
November 18, 2025 at 9:48 PM
lis4g33.bsky.social
‘“if Hayley is deemed a furious Democrat what must be the state of patriotism in this country?”'. Mark Crosby explores William Hayley’s Milton biography and politics bit.ly/MiltonHayley in bit.ly/HayleyEssays #lifewriting #biography #18thC #c18th #Milton #republicanism #politics
Upright spine of leather bound book embossed with gold designs and the words LIFE OF MILTON The book is held in position by two piles of other old books (mostly also by Hayley)
November 16, 2025 at 10:30 AM
lis4g33.bsky.social
William Hayley wrote one of the 18th century’s bestsellers advising young women on how to attract and keep a husband. But none of 𝙝𝙞𝙨 intimate relationships ended well: and his sister-in-law called him ‘A Systematically Immoral Man'. I spill the ☕️: bit.ly/systematical... in bit.ly/HayleyEssays
Selfie of Lisa holding up William Hayley book so that the title, editor & other jacket text are visible, and concealing part of her face. Behind her are her slightly chaotic bookshelves and the tops of some plants
November 15, 2025 at 10:12 AM
lis4g33.bsky.social
Just had to edit my bio after saying bye to my 19.5YO cat Kooky. Am now only herded by one cat 😟. But it was a peaceful, dignified end at home for her, after a last meal of her fave tinned tuna in spring water.
Close-up of fluffy calico cat with green eyes.
November 13, 2025 at 5:19 PM
lis4g33.bsky.social
“Hayley’s literary relationship with Dante had a central role in the rediscovery of the Italian poet at the turn of the nineteenth century in England”. Read Silvia Riccardi's bit.ly/DanteHayley in bit.ly/HayleyEssays #lifewriting #biography #18thC #c18th #Dante #Inferno #divinecomedy
Chapter title from book. Text reads "Hayley’s Biography of Dante Silvia Riccardi"
November 12, 2025 at 8:59 PM
lis4g33.bsky.social
“In his phraseology, he was paying tribute to Jane Austen, whose novels … he had been reading as he wrote [his memoir]”. Hayley ❤️Austen? bit.ly/AustenHayley in bit.ly/HayleyEssays #lifewriting #biography #18thC #c18th #romance #JaneAusten #romanticism #19thc #womenswriting #womenshistory
Title of Diana Barsham’s chapter. Text reads “William Hayley and Jane Austen: A Biographical Romance Diana Barsham”
November 11, 2025 at 9:48 PM
lis4g33.bsky.social
“… the death of his only son at the age of 19 challenged … [Hayley’s] … assumptions about the workings of sympathy. The writing that Hayley produced in the aftermath … have also challenged later readers …"
Fathers, sons & memoirs. Susan Matthews on bit.ly/BeingTemperate in bit.ly/HayleyEssays
Engraving by Blake of Thomas Alphonso Hayley which appears in William Hayley’s ‘Essay on Sculpture’ (photo © Lisa Gee) Profile of Thomas Alphonso Hayley with a fine head of hair covering his shoulders, a full fringe large eyes and a purposeful expression.
November 10, 2025 at 4:25 PM
lis4g33.bsky.social
Happy 280th birthday William Hayley! Want to know more about the dude
• credited with reforming "the entire female mind of England”
• who lobbied the PM for a pension for his mentally ill best friend
&
• tried to cure him by creating "a large & Complicated intellectual Machine"?
bit.ly/HayleyEssays
Full length picture showing (l-r) George Romney (self portrait) peering impishly into the frame, William Hayley standing side on head turned to face the viewer. He’s tall, has an imperious expression under shortish grey hair, is wearing a long dark blue cape, grey trousers and his right hand holds a walking stick. John Flaxman (who comes up to Hayley’s shoulder) looks at him while working on a large grey bust. In front of him, the height of Flaxman’s shoulder,. and facing away from us, is Tom Hayley, wearing a red waistcoat over a white/cream shirt, knee length britches, white socks or spats and brown shoes. His hair is brown and touches his shoulder George Romney, 1734–1802, John Flaxman Modeling the Bust of William Hayley, 1795 to 1796, Oil on canvas, Yale Center for British Art, Paul Mellon Collection, B1981.25.538.
November 9, 2025 at 10:30 AM
lis4g33.bsky.social
Jan 1792. Two poets are cast as ‘rival biographers’ of Milton. But one letter switches competition to collaboration & kicks off a surprising tale of love, poetry, mental illness & money. bit.ly/HayleyCowper in bit.ly/HayleyEssays #lifewriting #18thC #c18th #bromance #friendship

Pic deets in ALT
William Hayley’s head & shoulders: detail from George Romney, 1734–1802, John Flaxman Modeling the Bust of William Hayley, 1795 to 1796, Oil on canvas, Yale Center for British Art, Paul Mellon Collection, B1981.25.538. Hayley faces out of the painting, his hair is grey (or powdered). his dark eyebrows arched, his eyes brown, serious expression, aquiline nose, fullish lips, dark blue velvet cloak over white shirt. Miniature of William Cowper by William Blake, Cowper & Newton Museum, photo ©Lisa Gee. Cowper faces to left of image, wearing a soft white hat sat back on his head, revealing a high forehead, serious expression, brown eyes, long nose with a slightly bulbous end, brown jacket (top and back part of the collar a darker drown fabric) over a fancy white shirt with what looks like a bow at the neck.
November 8, 2025 at 10:12 AM
lis4g33.bsky.social
1784. Jeremiah Meyer, miniature painter in enamels to King George III, brought a popular opera back from Germany, thinking his friend William Hayley could make £ translating it for the London stage.
What could possibly go wrong?
Read bit.ly/KnausMeyer in bit.ly/HayleyEssays for the full story.
Engraving of Jeremiah Meyer. William Pether, ca. 1738–1821, Jeremiah Meyer, Esqr. r. A., Miniature painter in Enamel to His Majesty, 1789, Yale Center for British Art, Paul Mellon Collection, B1977.14.12362. Meyer, his body turned slightly to the left, looks over his left shoulder, while – from the top – he holds what looks to be a large sketch pad, with a pencil or brush held gently in his right hand. His face bears a concentrated expression as if he’s observing something closely. His features are large and heavy, his hair neatly dressed and curled outwards over his ears (his right lobe is visible). His hairline is slightly receding. He wears what looks like a simple, brown jacket over a cream or white cravat.
November 5, 2025 at 8:59 PM
lis4g33.bsky.social
Interested in #WilliamBlake &/or biography? Read @jasonpaulwhittaker.bsky.social & @urthonaunbound.bsky.social’s: “‘Be My Enemy for Friendship’s Sake’: Hayley &
Blake’s Biographers” bit.ly/BME4FS in bit.ly/HayleyEssays #Blake #romanticism #lifewriting #biography #18thC #c18th

Pic detailss in ALT
Profile sketch of William Blake by John Flaxman. Blake is facing the left, hair receding, brushed back and curling at the (collar-length) ends. His visible eye is large, his nose wide, lips full and slightly downturned giving a serious (not sad) expression, and he has a double chin. John Flaxman, 1755–1826, Portrait of William Blake, ca. 1804, Graphite on medium, slightly textured, cream wove paper, Yale Center for British Art, Paul Mellon Collection, B1992.8.11(59).
November 3, 2025 at 4:25 PM
lis4g33.bsky.social
In our intro to bit.ly/HayleyEssays, Mark Crosby & I explain William Hayley’s significance, discuss the book’s chapters & point to research still to be done (there’s LOADS!). So, if you’re an #18thC-ist, or a #Romanticist looking for a new research project/focus, check out bit.ly/HonestChronicler.
Daft selfie of Lisa grinning, with the text HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME on her forehead, an image of the book jacket plastered over part of her face, and a big white arrow pointing to the book title
November 1, 2025 at 10:12 AM
lis4g33.bsky.social
If you’ve been following me for a few weeks, you’ll know that I’ m super-proud of the book Mark Crosby & co-edited about William Hayley (1745-1820). If you don’t already know this & are interested in long #18thC art, lit, women's or socio-cultural history, please check out bit.ly/HayleyEssays TY!
Selfie of Lisa holding up William Hayley book so that the title, editor & other jacket text are visible, and concealing part of her face. Behind her are her slightly chaotic bookshelves and the tops of some plants
October 29, 2025 at 8:59 PM
lis4g33.bsky.social
Me. Yesterday. Feel v lucky that my body can do this.

(Video shows short woman wearing pink toe shoes jumping slightly more than half her height)
October 29, 2025 at 5:34 PM
lis4g33.bsky.social
Part 2 of the video shared in yesterday’s post re @fbls.bsky.social’s essay on on erased 18thC author Eliza Hayley bit.ly/ElizaHayleyAuthor in bit.ly/HayleyEssays
October 26, 2025 at 10:30 AM
lis4g33.bsky.social
@fbls.bsky.social observes how “Scholarly references to Hayley are … always in relation to her husband, hardly ever recognising her own intellectual merit.” A pity, as Hayley had plenty to say… bit.ly/ElizaHayleyAuthor in bit.ly/HayleyEssays #lifewriting #18thC #c18th #womenshistory #womenswriting
October 25, 2025 at 9:12 AM