Luke Seaber
@thelong1930s.bsky.social
Senior Teaching Fellow in Modern European Culture, UCL. Proudly Cornish and quasi-Italian. Interested in the 1930s (1848-1950). Biographer of Celia Fremlin.
Reposted by Luke Seaber
New Celia Fremlin novel drops.
He got married again just before Xmas & Jacky did not like it & kept abusing his wife over the telephone.
November 25, 2025 at 3:44 PM
New Celia Fremlin novel drops.
Reposted by Luke Seaber
Lots of people sharing this clip because it's funny and cathartic but I also genuinely believe it's important.
We have to win the narrative battle between "I live in a corrupt society and that's just how it is" and "I live in a corrupt society and we are going to defeat and humiliate these ghouls."
We have to win the narrative battle between "I live in a corrupt society and that's just how it is" and "I live in a corrupt society and we are going to defeat and humiliate these ghouls."
Good morning to Brazilian reporter Manuela Borges, who’s been waiting eleven years for this petty moment. ❤️ 🇧🇷
November 26, 2025 at 4:07 PM
Lots of people sharing this clip because it's funny and cathartic but I also genuinely believe it's important.
We have to win the narrative battle between "I live in a corrupt society and that's just how it is" and "I live in a corrupt society and we are going to defeat and humiliate these ghouls."
We have to win the narrative battle between "I live in a corrupt society and that's just how it is" and "I live in a corrupt society and we are going to defeat and humiliate these ghouls."
I’m oddly convinced that this is (unlikelily) something the UK is really good at: the lionization of eccentricity allows people to like a very ‘eclectic’ range of things, far more so than anywhere else I know.
So many men go through life like that. You can play poker because it's right-coded, you can't enjoy fruity alcoholic drinks because they're women-coded, you can't lick an ice cream cone because it's gay-coded. All day, every day, choosing and judging things based on coding for narrow norms.
November 26, 2025 at 4:25 PM
I’m oddly convinced that this is (unlikelily) something the UK is really good at: the lionization of eccentricity allows people to like a very ‘eclectic’ range of things, far more so than anywhere else I know.
Reposted by Luke Seaber
Here is your Wednesday lunchtime/shouty budget emergency fluffy kitten
November 26, 2025 at 1:53 PM
Here is your Wednesday lunchtime/shouty budget emergency fluffy kitten
Reposted by Luke Seaber
Good morning to Brazilian reporter Manuela Borges, who’s been waiting eleven years for this petty moment. ❤️ 🇧🇷
November 26, 2025 at 1:04 PM
Good morning to Brazilian reporter Manuela Borges, who’s been waiting eleven years for this petty moment. ❤️ 🇧🇷
My true and only guilty pleasure is watching videos of people eating English mustard in this unfortunate way.
No. The English equivalent was putting an inch thick layer of Colemams yellow mustard on a small cracker.
I felt bad for laughing at her as she was in genuine distress.
I felt bad for laughing at her as she was in genuine distress.
November 26, 2025 at 9:39 AM
My true and only guilty pleasure is watching videos of people eating English mustard in this unfortunate way.
Reposted by Luke Seaber
Proud of a property lawyer friend who, asked by students at a university society talk, whether London property was ‘still a good investment’ replied no, because to regard houses and flats as an investment rather than somewhere to live is immoral. Not the answer they expected, she said.
November 26, 2025 at 9:26 AM
Proud of a property lawyer friend who, asked by students at a university society talk, whether London property was ‘still a good investment’ replied no, because to regard houses and flats as an investment rather than somewhere to live is immoral. Not the answer they expected, she said.
The book to which - by chance - I owe my getting back into academia…
I love this book.
I love this book.
After listening to the second iteration of the @backlisted.bsky.social on All the Devils are Here (Una’s Version?) (the Miller redux?) i’m finally diving in.
November 25, 2025 at 9:48 PM
The book to which - by chance - I owe my getting back into academia…
I love this book.
I love this book.
Reposted by Luke Seaber
It certainly lingers, and can see why @backlisted.bsky.social went back. It’s a ‘what did I just read?’, ‘was any of that true?’… go back start again, trace the descent into darkness rather than follow the particular plot of the ‘histories’. Well that’s what I’ll do.
November 25, 2025 at 9:47 PM
It certainly lingers, and can see why @backlisted.bsky.social went back. It’s a ‘what did I just read?’, ‘was any of that true?’… go back start again, trace the descent into darkness rather than follow the particular plot of the ‘histories’. Well that’s what I’ll do.
Reposted by Luke Seaber
After listening to the second iteration of the @backlisted.bsky.social on All the Devils are Here (Una’s Version?) (the Miller redux?) i’m finally diving in.
November 16, 2025 at 9:04 PM
After listening to the second iteration of the @backlisted.bsky.social on All the Devils are Here (Una’s Version?) (the Miller redux?) i’m finally diving in.
Reposted by Luke Seaber
Wow! This systemic problem is really structural and far-reaching. Anyway, here are three tips for how you an individual can fix your conduct
November 25, 2025 at 2:06 PM
Wow! This systemic problem is really structural and far-reaching. Anyway, here are three tips for how you an individual can fix your conduct
Reposted by Luke Seaber
Stop. Doing. Government. By. Uninformed. Vibes. Checks.
Poll these exact same people after any of us have explained that international students are who keep unis afloat, that staff is already being shrunk & overworked, that this will 100% tank unis, and they'll tank the local economy with them.
Poll these exact same people after any of us have explained that international students are who keep unis afloat, that staff is already being shrunk & overworked, that this will 100% tank unis, and they'll tank the local economy with them.
With Rachel Reeves reportedly set to apply a new tax on tuition fees paid by overseas students, most Britons support such a move at the previously mooted level of 6%
Support: 57%
Oppose: 18%
yougov.co.uk/topics/socie...
Support: 57%
Oppose: 18%
yougov.co.uk/topics/socie...
November 24, 2025 at 6:34 PM
Stop. Doing. Government. By. Uninformed. Vibes. Checks.
Poll these exact same people after any of us have explained that international students are who keep unis afloat, that staff is already being shrunk & overworked, that this will 100% tank unis, and they'll tank the local economy with them.
Poll these exact same people after any of us have explained that international students are who keep unis afloat, that staff is already being shrunk & overworked, that this will 100% tank unis, and they'll tank the local economy with them.
Reposted by Luke Seaber
The airframe of a Spitfire or comparable a/c was never expected to last much beyond 150-200 flying hours. Chuck em together and get them up there was the QC philosophy.
one thing i don't think people appreciate about military technology of the WW2 era is that there was a vastly lower expectation of what counted as "reliable"
November 24, 2025 at 12:07 PM
The airframe of a Spitfire or comparable a/c was never expected to last much beyond 150-200 flying hours. Chuck em together and get them up there was the QC philosophy.
Reposted by Luke Seaber
The second problem with this — after the fact that it will bankrupt a bunch of institutions — is that the government doesn’t seem to know if it wants to a) raise lots of money from intentional students or b) discourage universities from relying on international students. You can’t have both!!
These are HEPI estimates of the 20 institutions affected: I think this illustrates the impact if the tariff is absorbed in full by institutions.
What share of the 6% tariff different universities may try to pass on to fees - or the impact might be on demand if they did - is not publicly known.
What share of the 6% tariff different universities may try to pass on to fees - or the impact might be on demand if they did - is not publicly known.
November 24, 2025 at 11:06 AM
The second problem with this — after the fact that it will bankrupt a bunch of institutions — is that the government doesn’t seem to know if it wants to a) raise lots of money from intentional students or b) discourage universities from relying on international students. You can’t have both!!
Reposted by Luke Seaber
Anyone who can look at the current underfunded state of UK universities and think there's half a billion quid you can take out of the sector without doing catastrophic damage is just not fit for office.
November 24, 2025 at 7:56 AM
Anyone who can look at the current underfunded state of UK universities and think there's half a billion quid you can take out of the sector without doing catastrophic damage is just not fit for office.
Reposted by Luke Seaber
We pour billions into saving an economically tiny steel industry whilst actively destroying one of our largest export industries. (Yes, higher education to overseas students who already massively subsidise UK students, are counted as exports).
i: Reeves to unveil £600m raid on foreign student
university fees #TomorrowsPapersToday
university fees #TomorrowsPapersToday
November 24, 2025 at 7:37 AM
We pour billions into saving an economically tiny steel industry whilst actively destroying one of our largest export industries. (Yes, higher education to overseas students who already massively subsidise UK students, are counted as exports).
Reposted by Luke Seaber
We hear a lot about the ideological reasons for the attack on HE, but I think we underestimate the effect of practically everyone in government being bloody stupid and having no interest whatsoever in how anything works.
November 24, 2025 at 8:25 AM
We hear a lot about the ideological reasons for the attack on HE, but I think we underestimate the effect of practically everyone in government being bloody stupid and having no interest whatsoever in how anything works.
Reposted by Luke Seaber
Seriously, UK establishment, try to show your humane side in this.
International students are reading these headlines, and they are seeing how they’re turned into a political football, not the learners in a very precarious position that they are.
International students are reading these headlines, and they are seeing how they’re turned into a political football, not the learners in a very precarious position that they are.
Props to the first journalist who asks how international students are actually doing while being turned into a political football.
Could start with the dangers of reporting bullying and the way university’s research reputations are upheld by those they make most precarious (and try to silence):
Could start with the dangers of reporting bullying and the way university’s research reputations are upheld by those they make most precarious (and try to silence):
November 24, 2025 at 7:36 AM
Seriously, UK establishment, try to show your humane side in this.
International students are reading these headlines, and they are seeing how they’re turned into a political football, not the learners in a very precarious position that they are.
International students are reading these headlines, and they are seeing how they’re turned into a political football, not the learners in a very precarious position that they are.
Reposted by Luke Seaber
I would like to propose making it a social crime to be mad at United States academics not keeping up with writing deadlines and non urgent email right now.
We’re all doing our best!
If you’re down to absolve one another, let me know.
We’re all doing our best!
If you’re down to absolve one another, let me know.
a little girl in overalls is standing with her arms outstretched and saying `` i 'm trying '' .
ALT: a little girl in overalls is standing with her arms outstretched and saying `` i 'm trying '' .
media.tenor.com
November 21, 2025 at 4:52 AM
I would like to propose making it a social crime to be mad at United States academics not keeping up with writing deadlines and non urgent email right now.
We’re all doing our best!
If you’re down to absolve one another, let me know.
We’re all doing our best!
If you’re down to absolve one another, let me know.
Reposted by Luke Seaber
always remember: Terry Pratchett said trans rights
this book was written in 1996 by a 48 year old British man and no cis person in 2025 has a single goddamn excuse to behave differently
this book was written in 1996 by a 48 year old British man and no cis person in 2025 has a single goddamn excuse to behave differently
November 20, 2025 at 7:09 PM
always remember: Terry Pratchett said trans rights
this book was written in 1996 by a 48 year old British man and no cis person in 2025 has a single goddamn excuse to behave differently
this book was written in 1996 by a 48 year old British man and no cis person in 2025 has a single goddamn excuse to behave differently
Reposted by Luke Seaber
Discworld QOTD, from Feet of Clay, for Trans Day of Remembrance
November 20, 2025 at 7:07 PM
Discworld QOTD, from Feet of Clay, for Trans Day of Remembrance
Reposted by Luke Seaber
'Those wonderful Berlin cabarets which did so much to stop the rise of Hitler and prevent the outbreak of the Second World War' (Peter Cook)
November 20, 2025 at 9:06 PM
'Those wonderful Berlin cabarets which did so much to stop the rise of Hitler and prevent the outbreak of the Second World War' (Peter Cook)
Reposted by Luke Seaber
Today’s best second-hand buy:
November 20, 2025 at 1:38 PM
Today’s best second-hand buy:
Reposted by Luke Seaber
Today's #bookmail.
THE DEVIL'S BOOK by Asta Olivia Nordenhof. This is the second in the Scandinavian Star series. Loved the first, MONEY TO BURN. Translated by Caroline Waight.
And Celia Fremlin's collection of short stories, BY HORROR HAUNTED.
THE DEVIL'S BOOK by Asta Olivia Nordenhof. This is the second in the Scandinavian Star series. Loved the first, MONEY TO BURN. Translated by Caroline Waight.
And Celia Fremlin's collection of short stories, BY HORROR HAUNTED.
November 12, 2025 at 1:33 PM
Today's #bookmail.
THE DEVIL'S BOOK by Asta Olivia Nordenhof. This is the second in the Scandinavian Star series. Loved the first, MONEY TO BURN. Translated by Caroline Waight.
And Celia Fremlin's collection of short stories, BY HORROR HAUNTED.
THE DEVIL'S BOOK by Asta Olivia Nordenhof. This is the second in the Scandinavian Star series. Loved the first, MONEY TO BURN. Translated by Caroline Waight.
And Celia Fremlin's collection of short stories, BY HORROR HAUNTED.
Reposted by Luke Seaber
Book post... A couple of Celia Fremlin books for the cold nights in front of the fire that we're about to have (starting Monday, I think). But Randolph Ratty says they look way to frightening for him... 😳
November 11, 2025 at 12:24 PM
Book post... A couple of Celia Fremlin books for the cold nights in front of the fire that we're about to have (starting Monday, I think). But Randolph Ratty says they look way to frightening for him... 😳