Ray Monk
@raymodraco.bsky.social
I've written biographies of Ludwig Wittgenstein, Bertrand Russell and Robert J. Oppenheimer and am currently preoccupied with climate change. My passions include music and ancient churches. I am proud to be a volunteer tour guide at Salisbury Cathedral.
On Sunday, at the invitation of my publishers at Zhejiang University Press, I will go to China, where I will give talks on Wittgenstein at Fudan University, Zhejiang University and Beijing Normal University. I will also be give a lecture on biography in this amazing building: Shanghai Library East.
October 29, 2025 at 7:25 PM
On Sunday, at the invitation of my publishers at Zhejiang University Press, I will go to China, where I will give talks on Wittgenstein at Fudan University, Zhejiang University and Beijing Normal University. I will also be give a lecture on biography in this amazing building: Shanghai Library East.
The cover of the latest Private Eye. Painfully on target.
September 17, 2025 at 8:10 AM
The cover of the latest Private Eye. Painfully on target.
This arrived yesterday, bringing memories of a wonderful conference in Swansea a few years ago. Congratulations to Alan for a great conference and for seeing through the publication of this very handsome and interesting book.
May 15, 2025 at 7:56 AM
This arrived yesterday, bringing memories of a wonderful conference in Swansea a few years ago. Congratulations to Alan for a great conference and for seeing through the publication of this very handsome and interesting book.
Private Eye hitting the nail on the head.
February 19, 2025 at 4:38 PM
Private Eye hitting the nail on the head.
Had a nice little walk around Salisbury today with my friends Gary and Tim, but the footpaths round here are a bit wet at the moment!
January 30, 2025 at 9:07 PM
Had a nice little walk around Salisbury today with my friends Gary and Tim, but the footpaths round here are a bit wet at the moment!
This handsome volume of the works of John Jewel was for 100s of years chained to a church lectern. It is now in @heritagewshc.bsky.social, where I spent the day reading it. It is good to know that we still have wonderful public archives, staffed by such erudite people as @ruthdotbutler.bsky.social
January 28, 2025 at 9:34 PM
This handsome volume of the works of John Jewel was for 100s of years chained to a church lectern. It is now in @heritagewshc.bsky.social, where I spent the day reading it. It is good to know that we still have wonderful public archives, staffed by such erudite people as @ruthdotbutler.bsky.social
St Peter's, Fugglestone, on the edge of Wilton, just outside Salisbury. It's a lovely, tiny church, largely built in the thirteenth century, around the same time as Salisbury Cathedral. (The bellecote and spirelet were added in the 15th century.) It's in disuse at the moment, awaiting restoration.
January 7, 2025 at 10:33 PM
St Peter's, Fugglestone, on the edge of Wilton, just outside Salisbury. It's a lovely, tiny church, largely built in the thirteenth century, around the same time as Salisbury Cathedral. (The bellecote and spirelet were added in the 15th century.) It's in disuse at the moment, awaiting restoration.
The wonderful Norman church of St Andrew's, Great Durnford, Wiltshire. For over 400 years the lectern had chained to it ("by order of Queen Elizabeth I") a book by John Jewel, Bishop of Salisbury, which was stolen in 1970. Jewel is the subject of an article that I am working on. Watch this space...
December 16, 2024 at 5:51 PM
The wonderful Norman church of St Andrew's, Great Durnford, Wiltshire. For over 400 years the lectern had chained to it ("by order of Queen Elizabeth I") a book by John Jewel, Bishop of Salisbury, which was stolen in 1970. Jewel is the subject of an article that I am working on. Watch this space...
The High Altar, Salisbury Cathedral. I go to the cathedral at least once a week, but even now there are times, like yesterday (when I took this picture), when its beauty still leaves me open-mouthed. It has a perfection, I think, that is unmatched.
December 15, 2024 at 2:34 PM
The High Altar, Salisbury Cathedral. I go to the cathedral at least once a week, but even now there are times, like yesterday (when I took this picture), when its beauty still leaves me open-mouthed. It has a perfection, I think, that is unmatched.
Salisbury Cathedral, now festive inside and out.
December 11, 2024 at 11:59 AM
Salisbury Cathedral, now festive inside and out.
Salisbury Cathedral has put its Christmas tree up and very nice it looks too! Here it is reflected in the font.
December 5, 2024 at 4:14 PM
Salisbury Cathedral has put its Christmas tree up and very nice it looks too! Here it is reflected in the font.
We weren't allowed to take pictures of Darkness to Light, the candlelit Advent service at Salisbury Cathedral, but the Salisbury Journal apparently was. Here's one that shows how beautiful it was.
December 5, 2024 at 9:43 AM
We weren't allowed to take pictures of Darkness to Light, the candlelit Advent service at Salisbury Cathedral, but the Salisbury Journal apparently was. Here's one that shows how beautiful it was.
Just some right-winger in the Mail going on about pernicious benefits claimants. Oh hang on, it's our Labour prime minister!
November 24, 2024 at 4:48 PM
Just some right-winger in the Mail going on about pernicious benefits claimants. Oh hang on, it's our Labour prime minister!
The duck-rabbit - the gift to cartoonists that keeps on giving.
November 19, 2024 at 12:22 PM
The duck-rabbit - the gift to cartoonists that keeps on giving.