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Nicholas Birns

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Nicholas Birns is a scholar of literature, including fantasy and Australian literature. As a Tolkien scholar he has written on… more

Nicholas Birns
H-index: 11
Art 28%
Political science 22%
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Reposted by Nicholas Birns, Diane Ravitch, Mirya R. Holman , and 9 more

rlspang.bsky.social
And congratulations to @jamellebouie.net for winning the American Historical Association's Tikkun Olam Prize for promoting public historical literacy www.historians.org/award-grant/...
Tikkun Olam Prize for Promoting Public Historical Literacy – AHA
The Tikkun Olam Prize for Promoting Public Historical Literacy honors individuals whose work has promoted literacy in public culture.
www.historians.org
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Reposted by Nicholas Birns

davidveevers.bsky.social
Just discovered that Mademoiselle de Roselan, wife of the French governor of St Lucia in the 1650s, was, in fact...Indigenous Kalinago! I've read of European men cohabitating with Kalinago in the Caribbean, but not formal marriages where Caribbean women are acknowledged by their husband's titles. 🤯
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Reposted by Nicholas Birns

guentheralex.bsky.social
think new interest in japanese ink painting is good for my brain. needs decisive strokes, can't be retouched, so just have to resolve to keep trying and not feel bad no matter what. this is day 4. can't do bamboo leaves properly yet, (i think i need to move from elbow, not wrist?) but... see above.
a not very skilled ink painting of bamboo on one a6 notebook page
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by Nicholas Birns

nicholasbirns.bsky.social
Very true
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Reposted by Nicholas Birns

americanstudier.bsky.social
Things Ben Says in Class, October 14th 2025 edition:

"There are many ambiguities about Fitzgerald's novel & especially how we read its characters. Tom Buchanan being a white supremacist domestic abuser jackassclown is not one of them."
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by Nicholas Birns

nicholasbirns.bsky.social
Cat at work
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Reposted by Nicholas Birns

americanstudier.bsky.social
Peterborough, New Hampshire on a perfect autumn afternoon.
A view of a river and fall foliage in Peterborough, New Hampshire.
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by Nicholas Birns

nicholasbirns.bsky.social
Very true

Reposted by Nicholas Birns

czedwards.bsky.social
Psst:

A reminder for American writers: High tea is not fancier tea, it’s supper. It’s a more substantial meal with a main dish, rather than tea, biscuits, scones, little snack foods. And it’s high because it’s served on a high table — dining table height — not a low, tea or coffee table.
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Reposted by Nicholas Birns

kissphoria.bsky.social
It was an absolute joy to write about the Texas Archive of the Moving Image, a nonprofit that works tirelessly to preserve Texas' film history by digitizing tapes and film before they degrade. Their website is a treasure trove of cool state history: www.chron.com/culture/arti...
Meet the people preserving Texas history, one home movie at a time.
Your home footage may be more special than you think, the nonprofit says.
www.chron.com
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Reposted by Nicholas Birns

lancerichardson.bsky.social
Early review (two days early, anyway) in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

"Beautifully written, insightful, and engaging, 'True Nature' is a tour de force depiction of a charismatic, restless, self-absorbed, immensely talented literary lion."
Review: The life of Peter Matthiessen
The only person to win a National Book Award for both non-fiction (“The Snow Leopard”) and fiction (“Shadow Country”), Peter Matthiessen...
www.post-gazette.com
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Reposted by Nicholas Birns

bwallower.bsky.social
#FindsFriday 🏺
Bronze chimera: likely emblem (episema) on C6 BC warrior's shield w lion's head on flame-like mane + scaly fierce snake striking from centre.
From high status tomb w arms, tools, ceramics + iron wheels of chariot excavated in Melfi, Basilicata.
Now in Nat Archaeological Museum there.
A large thin bronze decoration probably for a 6th C BC warrior's shield. At the top the head of a beast with a stylised lion's head and snout, on a long neck with incised flame-like mane, emerges from a scaly circle. This serves as the body of a fierce snake (which probably wrapped round the lion's body), which extends to the top right with a long head and open mouth, with wing below lower jaw.
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Reposted by Nicholas Birns, Joe R. Feagin, Patrick A. Jansen , and 6 more

apnews.com
Pope Leo XIV has blasted how wealthy people live in a “bubble of comfort and luxury” while the poor suffer. In his first teaching document Thursday, Leo confirms that he is in perfect lockstep with Pope Francis on matters of social injustice.
Pope Leo blasts economy that marginalizes poor while wealthy live in bubble of luxury
Pope Leo XIV has blasted how wealthy people live in a “bubble of comfort and luxury” while the poor suffer.
bit.ly
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Reposted by Nicholas Birns

thecolfax.bsky.social
In the Samaria Gorge on the island of Crete, Greece, lies a very deep cave with a continual cold spring waterfall. To reach it, you have to swim about 100 meters in 10 degree (C) water. I spent time thinking about hypothermia I was so cold. Nice payoff tho.

Pic of the day

#photography
Walls of the cave direct you to a small bright opening in which a cold mountain spring falls to bright turquoise water. Along with Denali Mountain and Bryce Canyon, this is the most majestic place I’ve ever been. My teeth rattling even as I could stand in only waist deep water kept me from fully enjoying it,, but no chance I was missing this just for some discomfort. It seemed to get progressively colder tho so this is about as close as I got. In later days I’ll post a shot looking back thru the caves. The video I took is really the best indicator of the beauty here but I dunno if I can post that here or not. I may try in the comments later today.
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Reposted by Nicholas Birns

wwborders.bsky.social
OH WOW! Congratulations to our contributor, László Krasznahorkai, for winning the 2025 Nobel Prize in Literature!!! 😍🥳
wordswithoutborders.org/.../view/lsz...
László Krasznahorkai - Words Without Borders
László Krasznahorkai is the recipient of the 2019 National Book Award for Translated Literature, the 2015 Man Booker International Prize, and the 2013 Best Translated Book Award in Fiction.
wordswithoutborders.org
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Reposted by Nicholas Birns

emjanerothwell.bsky.social
I’ve been away, but I hope you’re all well. It’s nice to be back & here’s to magical autumn in Brambly Hedge ♥️🍂 (created by Jill Barklem)
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Reposted by Nicholas Birns

davsot.bsky.social
Viaje a las Terranas 🇩🇴
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Reposted by Nicholas Birns, Anna Hickey‐Moody

kennysbookshop.bsky.social
📍Barna Woods, Galway. Trees damaged during Storm Éowyn transformed into these beautiful pieces.
Barna Woods Barna Woods Barna Woods Barna Woods
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Reposted by Nicholas Birns

six18sfoundry.bsky.social
All Greece hates…
… God’s daughter, born of love

Helen by H.D.
(No one does alienation — from society & circumstance — like H.D. Calm distant fire)
#poetrysunday
All Greece hates the still eyes in the white face, the lustre as of olives where she stands, and the white hands. All Greece reviles the wan face when she smiles, hating it deeper still when it grows wan and white, remembering past enchantments and past ills. Greece sees unmoved, God's daughter, born of love, the beauty of cool feet and slenderest knees, could love indeed the maid, only if she were laid, white ash amid funereal cypresses.
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Reposted by Nicholas Birns, Samuel Depraz

oregonthedm.bsky.social
Pink empress Mantis
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Reposted by Nicholas Birns

robertscotthorton.bsky.social
In this NYT review, Jacob Heilbrunn is writing about the past, but could be writing about the Stephen Miller present: "Goebbels had good reason to believe that American bigotry could be exploited for Nazi gain." The spirit of Goebbels stalks the halls of the White House today, and his image.
These New Yorkers Hated Fascists Before It Was Cool
www.nytimes.com
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Reposted by Nicholas Birns

thinkorswim.bsky.social
“In the future, people will look back and thank John Gibbons for what he has done for Irish farmers, just like his father before him”.

Very positive review of THE LIE OF THE LAND in current edition of Village magazine by former Green Party leader, Eamon Ryan.
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Reposted by Nicholas Birns

faredalmahlool.bsky.social
Georgia, you’re not alone — we’re with you all the way.
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by Nicholas Birns

nicholasbirns.bsky.social
I met Bishop (now Archbishop) Sarah in 2022 when she was the speaker for the Church Club dinner. We had a wonderful conversation, including about inclusiveness and I spoke to her husband as well. Really great and of course, historic news!
theguardian.com
The Guardian @theguardian.com · 12d
Sarah Mullally is named as first female archbishop of Canterbury
Sarah Mullally is named as first female archbishop of Canterbury
No 10 announces decision although role will not legally be taken on until January, before an enthronement service Sarah Mullally has been named as the first female leader of the Church of England as Downing Street announced the 106th archbishop of Canterbury nearly a year on from Justin Welby’s resignation over the handling of a safeguarding scandal. This is the first time an archbishop of Canterbury has been chosen since the Church of England allowed women to become bishops in 2014. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
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Reposted by Nicholas Birns, Lyn Robinson, Carmen M. Mangion , and 1 more

theguardian.com
Sarah Mullally is named as first female archbishop of Canterbury
Sarah Mullally is named as first female archbishop of Canterbury
No 10 announces decision although role will not legally be taken on until January, before an enthronement service Sarah Mullally has been named as the first female leader of the Church of England as Downing Street announced the 106th archbishop of Canterbury nearly a year on from Justin Welby’s resignation over the handling of a safeguarding scandal. This is the first time an archbishop of Canterbury has been chosen since the Church of England allowed women to become bishops in 2014. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
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by Nicholas Birns

nicholasbirns.bsky.social
Claus Offe was a major thinker who influenced many disciplines. I was privileged to hear him speak once. A very sad loss
steffenmau.bsky.social
Steffen Mau @steffenmau.bsky.social · 13d
Herausragender Wissenschaftler, bewunderter Autor, befreundeter Kollege, kluger Ratgeber: Claus Offe ist gestorben!
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by Nicholas Birns

nicholasbirns.bsky.social
At Bus Stop Café, Greenwich Village
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Reposted by Nicholas Birns

thatiliazdguy.bsky.social
She placed this striking young person from the first in a story, saw her, by a necessity of the imagination, for a heroine, felt it the only character in which she wouldn't be wasted;

#WingsOfTheDove #HenryJames
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by Steffen Mau — Reposted by Nicholas Birns, Cas Mudde, Martín Lodge , and 5 more

steffenmau.bsky.social
Herausragender Wissenschaftler, bewunderter Autor, befreundeter Kollege, kluger Ratgeber: Claus Offe ist gestorben!
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by Nicholas Birns

nicholasbirns.bsky.social
A memory of a place and lost things…
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