Richard Ovenden
@richove.bsky.social
Bodley's Librarian, @bodleian.ox.ac.uk & Head of Gardens, Libraries & Museums @ox.ac.uk OBE. FSA. FRHistS, FRSE. President, DPC. Fellow, @Ballioloxford.Bsky.social. Member, @AmPhilsociety.Bsky.social Hon. Fellow @britishacademy.bsky.social
Good to see the problems facing our colleagues @britishlibrary.bsky.social being raised here by @hetanshah.bsky.social (of @britishacademy.bsky.social). If this had happened in France it would be considered a national problem to be urgently addressed! www.cityam.com/the-british-...
The British library is in crisis: why does nobody care?
The widespread indifference to the British Library's crippling cyberattack demonstrates a perilous failure to value the knowledge infrastructure vital for national prosperity
www.cityam.com
November 18, 2025 at 7:58 AM
Good to see the problems facing our colleagues @britishlibrary.bsky.social being raised here by @hetanshah.bsky.social (of @britishacademy.bsky.social). If this had happened in France it would be considered a national problem to be urgently addressed! www.cityam.com/the-british-...
Modern constellation on Port Meadow
November 17, 2025 at 7:17 AM
Modern constellation on Port Meadow
Delighted to have been given the chance to review ‘Don’t burn anyone at the stake today’ the new and thought-provoking book from @naomialderman.bsky.social (published by Penguin/FigTree) in today’s @theobserveruk.bsky.social
November 16, 2025 at 10:58 AM
Delighted to have been given the chance to review ‘Don’t burn anyone at the stake today’ the new and thought-provoking book from @naomialderman.bsky.social (published by Penguin/FigTree) in today’s @theobserveruk.bsky.social
Extremely saddened to learn of the death of Rachel Cooke. She was a brilliant writer & journalist, great fun to be around. I will miss our emails & dms & occasional get togethers. The world is significantly diminished by her passing. Appreciate this from Tim Adams in @theobserveruk.bsky.social
November 14, 2025 at 7:29 PM
Extremely saddened to learn of the death of Rachel Cooke. She was a brilliant writer & journalist, great fun to be around. I will miss our emails & dms & occasional get togethers. The world is significantly diminished by her passing. Appreciate this from Tim Adams in @theobserveruk.bsky.social
Delighted with this insightful review by @boydtonkin.bsky.social in the new issue of @thetls.bsky.social of our show marking the arrival of the archive of John le Carré at @bodleian.ox.ac.uk ‘Tradecraft’ curated by Jessica Douthwaite and Federico Varese! www.the-tls.com/arts/visual-...
Methods and materials
In 1974, David Cornwell visited Hong Kong, just prior to the publication of Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, the seventh novel he had published as “John le
www.the-tls.com
November 12, 2025 at 8:03 PM
Delighted with this insightful review by @boydtonkin.bsky.social in the new issue of @thetls.bsky.social of our show marking the arrival of the archive of John le Carré at @bodleian.ox.ac.uk ‘Tradecraft’ curated by Jessica Douthwaite and Federico Varese! www.the-tls.com/arts/visual-...
There is still time to apply for one of our 50+ Visiting Fellowships @bodleian.ox.ac.uk for the 2026-27 academic year! A vibrant interdisciplinary research centre in the heart of one of the world’s great libraries!
VISITING FELLOWSHIPS: Applications are now open for 2026-27!
The deadline for applications is Friday 28 November 2025.
For more information on how to apply: https://www.bodleian.ox.ac.uk/csb/fellowships/bodleian-visiting-fellowships
The deadline for applications is Friday 28 November 2025.
For more information on how to apply: https://www.bodleian.ox.ac.uk/csb/fellowships/bodleian-visiting-fellowships
November 12, 2025 at 4:22 PM
There is still time to apply for one of our 50+ Visiting Fellowships @bodleian.ox.ac.uk for the 2026-27 academic year! A vibrant interdisciplinary research centre in the heart of one of the world’s great libraries!
The @ashmoleanmuseum.bsky.social looking mighty fine!
November 11, 2025 at 9:20 AM
The @ashmoleanmuseum.bsky.social looking mighty fine!
In this weekend’s @theobserveruk.bsky.social I review the thought provoking new book by @naomialderman.bsky.social ‘Don’t burn anyone at the stake today’ (Fig Tree) which examines our current information crisis. HTTPS://observer.co.uk/culture/books/article/how-to-survive-an-information-crisis
How to survive an information crisis | The Observer
observer.co.uk
November 11, 2025 at 8:01 AM
In this weekend’s @theobserveruk.bsky.social I review the thought provoking new book by @naomialderman.bsky.social ‘Don’t burn anyone at the stake today’ (Fig Tree) which examines our current information crisis. HTTPS://observer.co.uk/culture/books/article/how-to-survive-an-information-crisis
The most incredible library in the world, @bodleian.ox.ac.uk opened to OTD 1602, through the energy, money & commitment of Sir Thomas Bodley. It began with 5k books, & now more than 22m, with 2m+reader visits a year, & multi-million online users across the globe. Privilged to be its 25th librarian!
November 8, 2025 at 7:20 AM
The most incredible library in the world, @bodleian.ox.ac.uk opened to OTD 1602, through the energy, money & commitment of Sir Thomas Bodley. It began with 5k books, & now more than 22m, with 2m+reader visits a year, & multi-million online users across the globe. Privilged to be its 25th librarian!
Please apply!
The idea of spending more time at the Bodleian Libraries sounds tempting
ARCHIVAL FUNDING: Ann Ball Bodley Visiting Fellowship in Women’s History, to use Bodleian Libraries collections to advance scholarship in women’s history, of any geographical area and historical period. Deadline 28th Nov. www.bodleian.ox.ac.uk/csb/fellowsh...
October 31, 2025 at 8:27 AM
Please apply!
So lucky to have been in conversation with the amazing and pioneering photographer Joel Meyerowitz, for the 2025 Richard Benson Lecture in the Reproduced Image @bodleian.ox.ac.uk part of our contribution to PhotoOxford!
October 30, 2025 at 12:44 PM
So lucky to have been in conversation with the amazing and pioneering photographer Joel Meyerowitz, for the 2025 Richard Benson Lecture in the Reproduced Image @bodleian.ox.ac.uk part of our contribution to PhotoOxford!
Very sad to see this - I enjoyed meeting him - a great man!
@richove.bsky.social John was a great fan of your book 'Burning the books' He was delighted to have met you.
Just heard the sad news that John Osman, the doyen of BBC foreign correspondents and an inspiration to people like me, has died. A life really well lived. Farewell dear friend.
October 30, 2025 at 12:33 PM
Very sad to see this - I enjoyed meeting him - a great man!
Reposted by Richard Ovenden
ARCHIVAL FUNDING: Ann Ball Bodley Visiting Fellowship in Women’s History, to use Bodleian Libraries collections to advance scholarship in women’s history, of any geographical area and historical period. Deadline 28th Nov. www.bodleian.ox.ac.uk/csb/fellowsh...
Bodleian Visiting Fellowships in Special Collections
www.bodleian.ox.ac.uk
October 28, 2025 at 3:36 PM
ARCHIVAL FUNDING: Ann Ball Bodley Visiting Fellowship in Women’s History, to use Bodleian Libraries collections to advance scholarship in women’s history, of any geographical area and historical period. Deadline 28th Nov. www.bodleian.ox.ac.uk/csb/fellowsh...
Reposted by Richard Ovenden
Come and join me and @carosanderson.bsky.social at @stroudbookfestival.bsky.social on Bonfire Night. No books will be harmed during the event - even though I will be talking about 'Burning the Books' (available from @johnmurrays.bsky.social & @harvardpress.bsky.social)!
🔥 Firewords Night🔥
Ten Stroud authors will read from books that have inspired their writing. And our special guest for the evening is Richard Ovenden, author of “Burning the Books: A History of Knowledge Under Attack”.
Profits from this evening’s event will be donated to @readforgood 📚
Ten Stroud authors will read from books that have inspired their writing. And our special guest for the evening is Richard Ovenden, author of “Burning the Books: A History of Knowledge Under Attack”.
Profits from this evening’s event will be donated to @readforgood 📚
October 24, 2025 at 7:20 AM
Come and join me and @carosanderson.bsky.social at @stroudbookfestival.bsky.social on Bonfire Night. No books will be harmed during the event - even though I will be talking about 'Burning the Books' (available from @johnmurrays.bsky.social & @harvardpress.bsky.social)!
Early morning Port Meadow
October 24, 2025 at 6:34 AM
Early morning Port Meadow
Early morning Port Meadow
October 24, 2025 at 6:34 AM
Early morning Port Meadow
Just signed a stack of copies of The Bovadium Fragments (out now from HarperCollins). Very sad that I cannot sign with the late great Christopher Tolkien who suggested I write an essay to go alongside his father’s text (and his own brilliant editing).
October 20, 2025 at 9:00 AM
Just signed a stack of copies of The Bovadium Fragments (out now from HarperCollins). Very sad that I cannot sign with the late great Christopher Tolkien who suggested I write an essay to go alongside his father’s text (and his own brilliant editing).
I’m hugely proud of the team at the Oxford University Botanic Garden and Arboretum - making facilities for the local community and combining it with science research and communication!
Not only are there beautiful trees at Harcourt Arboretum, but a friend went yesterday and tells me there is a fab new playground. Photos below.
Thanks @richove.bsky.social - we hugely appreciate child-friendly Oxford Uni spaces.
Thanks @richove.bsky.social - we hugely appreciate child-friendly Oxford Uni spaces.
October 19, 2025 at 9:55 AM
I’m hugely proud of the team at the Oxford University Botanic Garden and Arboretum - making facilities for the local community and combining it with science research and communication!
Oh boy I have just finished a new book by one of the greatest writers we have. It. Is. So. Good. Will share more when I can!
October 18, 2025 at 5:01 PM
Oh boy I have just finished a new book by one of the greatest writers we have. It. Is. So. Good. Will share more when I can!
Can’t wait to dive into this -
Zadie Smith must be the finest essayist of these times?
Zadie Smith must be the finest essayist of these times?
October 17, 2025 at 6:18 AM
Can’t wait to dive into this -
Zadie Smith must be the finest essayist of these times?
Zadie Smith must be the finest essayist of these times?
What a brilliant Romanes lecture @ox.ac.uk from Mishal Husain last night - full of history, personal experience as well as contemporary commentary and criticism - delivered with such conviction and humanity.
October 15, 2025 at 10:41 AM
What a brilliant Romanes lecture @ox.ac.uk from Mishal Husain last night - full of history, personal experience as well as contemporary commentary and criticism - delivered with such conviction and humanity.
Thank you Hetan - humbling to be honoured with such amazing people - all who are making the world better through humanities and social science scholarship and advocacy
Tonight we had a lovely ceremony welcoming newly elected Fellows of @britishacademy.bsky.social. My personal highlight was seeing two of our new Honorary Fellows - the librarian @richove.bsky.social and the composer Judith Weir. Both will have a lot to contribute to our Fellowship
October 13, 2025 at 8:29 PM
Thank you Hetan - humbling to be honoured with such amazing people - all who are making the world better through humanities and social science scholarship and advocacy
Fabulous to see ‘The Camera Helps’ our new show @bodleian.ox.ac.uk that marks the arrival of the archive of the late great photographer Paddy Summerfield into the collection. Superbly curated by Alex Schneideman and Patricia Baker-Cassidy. Presented as part of PhotoOxford 2025!
October 13, 2025 at 12:40 PM
Fabulous to see ‘The Camera Helps’ our new show @bodleian.ox.ac.uk that marks the arrival of the archive of the late great photographer Paddy Summerfield into the collection. Superbly curated by Alex Schneideman and Patricia Baker-Cassidy. Presented as part of PhotoOxford 2025!