Author. New book: The Mysterious Case of the Victorian Female Detective, publ by Yale UP, out Sept 24 2024. Univ of St Andrews. C19th literature and culture.

St Andrews, Scotland
Joined April 2019
Twitter friends, please forgive me. I’m going to be a bore this month, because my new book The Mysterious Case of the Victorian Female Detective launches on Sept 24th. 🎺 📢 Watch this space for trailers, giveaways, & signed copies. Bowled over by the kind reception already.
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Remembering my dear colleague & friend, the poet Douglas Dunn, who died on Friday. One of the greats. Colourful, gruff & very kind. Though he was v private, his poetry ought to be everywhere in Scotland’s public places.
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We just published the 2026 State of the Climate Report. Of 16 planetary vital signs spanning greenhouse gas concentrations, temperatures, the oceans, ice, energy balance, and wildfire, 7 (44%) are currently at record extremes. Read report here: doi.org/10.1093/biosci/biag1…
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A graffiti curse spotted in Chelsea: ‘You will die Alone, And Poorly Dressed.’ Not sure I’ve ever seen graffiti before with a comma in it. The curse is wickedly tailored to the neighbourhood. Me, I worry more about dying without finishing my MS.
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I, myself, am not a Christmas nut. But I have friends who are. They tinsel with anticipation. They bauble with enthusiasm. They are already wrapping to the Yuletide beat. I like a glass of claret, a good book, a wood fire & the smell of furze & mince pies. All in good time.
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Spotted a new genre in the card shop: wedding regret. I think it’s for when you can’t attend the ceremony. But cld also be used to send to friends who just got divorced…& you’re relieved because they should have got divorced years ago?
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Might the very first ‘talkie’ in the history of cinema have been a film in Scots? Wonderful work from historian Marc David Jacobs & an apt subject for some more Sound of Cinema, with bagpipes? theguardian.com/uk-news/2026…
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Took a tube yesterday to visit family. Very tired announcer really struggling to articulate ‘see it, say it, sorted’. Hungover after Saturday night? Possibly. I was at a party myself that night. Anyhow, couldn’t help hearing the announcement as ‘see it, sip it, sore head’.
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For those who have not sent in an objection yet here are the details that you will need Please use your own words remember to state : I object ! The planning application is : RM/2026/2
📢 IMPORTANT UPDATE, OBJECTIONS FOR RM/2026/2❗️ ❓ IS THERE A DEADLINE? At this moment, NO formal deadline has been officially announced yet. The consultation is still open, and objections will be accepted right up until the application goes before the Planning Committee. ✅ The application has been called in by Councillor Pip O'Neill, meaning it WILL be decided by elected councillors at a public Planning Committee meeting, not just by officers behind closed doors. That gives us every reason to keep submitting objections right up to that meeting date. ✅ WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW: 🔹 Reference Number: RM/2026/2. Always put this at the TOP of every email or letter. 🔹 What it is: Reserved Matters application for Penrhos Coastal Park. NOT the original 2016 outline permission. 🔹 What's proposed: 500 lodges, water park, spa, restaurants, with MAJOR changes from what was agreed in 2016 🔹 Key concerns: • ❌ Public access REMOVED from large areas people have walked freely for decades. • ❌ Car parking INCREASED from 600 to 1,015 cars, a 70% rise. • ❌ Massive tree-felling in one of Anglesey's precious woodlands. Were it’s been stated in the media. we already suffer with the lowest tree coverage in the whole of the UK. • ❌ Water supply UNCERTAIN. Welsh Water's capacity hasn't been confirmed. • ❌ Traffic chaos on A5 & London Road, no proper highways assessment. • ❌ Owner in administration, sold off, developers gone, promises mean nothing. 🔹 Where to send objections: 📧 Email: [email protected] ✉️ Post: Planning Department, Isle of Anglesey County Council, Llangefni, LL77 7TW 🔹 What to include: • ✅ RM/2026/2 clearly at the top • ✅ Your full name & address (objections without this CANNOT be accepted) • ✅ Say "I OBJECT to this application" • ✅ List your reasons, you don't need to be an expert! Write from your heart: public access, trees, wildlife, traffic, water, heritage • ✅ You do NOT need to live on Anglesey. anyone can object. ⏰ MOST IMPORTANT MESSAGE: DO NOT WAIT! Even without a set deadline, submit your objection NOW. Once it's scheduled for Committee, the Council may close comments, so don't delay. Every single letter, email, and voice counts. Councillors WILL read these before they vote. 💡 REMINDER: This is NOT a done deal. The original 2016 permission was outlined only, these Reserved Matters are NOT the same plan. The changes are so significant that they should be treated as an entirely new application. We are fighting to SAVE Penrhos as a public nature reserve. FOR THE PEOPLE, NOT FOR DEVELOPERS. 🌳💪🌳💪🌳💪🌳💪💚 Please share this post. and ask every single person you know to write in. Together, our voices CAN and WILL be heard! ✊🌿 #SavePenrhos #RM20262 #PenrhosCoastalPark #Anglesey 📸Bernie Humpleby
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'Sunshine on Wigtown' doesn't have the same ring. Still beautiful, though. #WigtownFestival26 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿
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Just leaving Wigtown Book Festival, which was an absolute banger — amazing events, hospitality, & general vibe of warmth &happiness. Skye, the greyhound at Hillcrest B & B was a bonus breakfast companion. Fellow authors & readers: this is a festival you *really* want to be at.
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Another gloriously sunny Autumn morning at @WigtownBookFest Having a wonderful time here meeting readers, fellow authors, & lots of lovely dogs 🐕 on my morning walks. It couldn’t be friendlier. Great food & drink, too, in this lush part of Scotland.
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On my way to Wigtown Festival, where I’m speaking tomorrow. If you like Hay-on-Wye, you’ll love Wigtown. It’s chock full of bookshops. 📕 📖 So many terrific authors there this year, including @DrMatthewSweet & @HubrisTheBook . I’m going to as many talks as possible…
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Huge kudos to the organisers of Dublin’s @HistFest which was a wild success. So smoothly run, so many volunteers, packed houses, over 300 events. Stole a few hrs to visit the Japanese gardens at Ireland’s national stud & pet some gorgeous horses. Highly recommended chillout loc.
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I revel in this time of year when we get to pick and enjoy the fruits of our labour literally. Fresh vegetables for supper tonight are beans, chards, onions, herbs, potatoes and two tiny strawberries to go in the drinks. The back breaking work long forgotten, they feel like a gift from nature. Plus here they are on a stack of beautiful vintage plates picked up from a charity shop for a pound each
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I'm very happy to announce that my book, 'Rewilding Glen Affric' is now available. Featuring 175 colour photographs it is a large format paperback that describes the Caledonian Forest & the ecological restoration work that I was involved with for 30 years alanwatsonfeatherstone.com/p…
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Prof Sara Lodge retweeted
FOUND!!!! A lovely local found her on a road. Thank you everyone.
Missing dog near Austen Fen, between Yarburgh and Grainthorpe, northeast of Louth, Lincolnshire Please anyone in the area look out for my dog, Flip? We’re staying in an Airbnb and she went missing last night. Flip is 16. She is deaf, has poor eyesight and has canine dementia, so will be confused and unable to find her way back. Please check sheds, outbuildings, gardens and sheltered spots, and let me know immediately if you see her. Thank you so much. She is such a loved pet. If you have contacts locally, please share this with them. Thank you. Mobile - 07968 592928.
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Prof Sara Lodge retweeted
Missing dog near Austen Fen, between Yarburgh and Grainthorpe, northeast of Louth, Lincolnshire Please anyone in the area look out for my dog, Flip? We’re staying in an Airbnb and she went missing last night. Flip is 16. She is deaf, has poor eyesight and has canine dementia, so will be confused and unable to find her way back. Please check sheds, outbuildings, gardens and sheltered spots, and let me know immediately if you see her. Thank you so much. She is such a loved pet. If you have contacts locally, please share this with them. Thank you. Mobile - 07968 592928.
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Old Scots pines (Pinus sylvestris) at Coille Ruigh na Cuileige in the Caledonian Forest in the Glen Affric National Nature Reserve, with a view down to Loch Beinn a'Mheadhoin, at the week-end.
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Join our fight to protect Penrhos from destruction, there are rare,red listed and endangered wildlife at penrhos we believe all our wildlife should have their habitat protected not destroyed for profit ! 📸David Vaughan Hughes ,David Jones
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Very much looking forward to being in Dublin this weekend and to giving the John T Gilbert lecture on Rosa Mulholland as part of Dublin’s Festival of History.
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