Heidi Thomson
@hthomson.bsky.social
Reads more, writes less | Leest veel, schrijft soms | Emeritus Professor English Literature, Victoria University of Wellington Te Herenga Waka | Wellington, New Zealand, via Gent, Belgium
Support the Denniston 11 chuffed.org/project/1296...
Support the Denniston 11
Support the Denniston 11Climate Resistance Trial – West Coast 2025We’re raising funds to support the Denniston 11 — a group of peaceful protestors facing court for standing up for the climate, biodive...
chuffed.org
November 27, 2025 at 7:59 PM
Support the Denniston 11 chuffed.org/project/1296...
Some more epistolary spleen
November 10, 2025 at 11:37 PM
Some more epistolary spleen
Dinah Hawken is a terrific poet, congratulations! For me, she encapsulates Wordsworth's 'A slumber did my spirit seal': 'rolled round in earth's diurnal course, / With rocks, and stones, and trees.'
Great to see poet Dinah Hawken here! Such a clear-sighted, brave and – when you least expect it – mischievous writer.
November 10, 2025 at 4:21 AM
Dinah Hawken is a terrific poet, congratulations! For me, she encapsulates Wordsworth's 'A slumber did my spirit seal': 'rolled round in earth's diurnal course, / With rocks, and stones, and trees.'
I loved writing this for The Spinoff about Jane Austen’s terrible parents thespinoff.co.nz/books/25-10-...
Jane Austen’s terrible parents
'Would you want General Tilney to be your daddy?'
thespinoff.co.nz
October 24, 2025 at 6:39 PM
I loved writing this for The Spinoff about Jane Austen’s terrible parents thespinoff.co.nz/books/25-10-...
Some more outrage, The Post of 23 October
October 22, 2025 at 6:10 PM
Some more outrage, The Post of 23 October
Coming up on Saturday 6 September and Saturday 13 September at Kapiti WEA, Waikanae: 'George Eliot: Life and Context' and 'Why you should read Middlemarch' - www.kapitiwea.org.nz/courses
Courses
(To view upcoming seminars, scroll down and view by month)
www.kapitiwea.org.nz
September 3, 2025 at 10:33 PM
Coming up on Saturday 6 September and Saturday 13 September at Kapiti WEA, Waikanae: 'George Eliot: Life and Context' and 'Why you should read Middlemarch' - www.kapitiwea.org.nz/courses
Latest epistolary outrage
August 18, 2025 at 10:13 PM
Latest epistolary outrage
Reposted by Heidi Thomson
This is heartbreaking news. Amelia is a wonderful scholar and it's so cruel to force colleagues into competition with each other. Solidarity with our friends at the ANU
Dr Amelia Dale. This is the face of cuts at ANU. Dr Dale is the best human. The kind of person you want as an educator, colleague, friend and mentor. 💔 www.abc.net.au/news/2025-07...
'Awful': Amelia's in an ANU redundancy pool with two close colleagues
The Australian National University announces more staff cuts across academic and professional roles, as part of its broader goal to save $250 million by the end of the year.
www.abc.net.au
July 3, 2025 at 9:13 AM
This is heartbreaking news. Amelia is a wonderful scholar and it's so cruel to force colleagues into competition with each other. Solidarity with our friends at the ANU
I wrote, briefly, about consolatory reading. Would love to know about other writers/books which inspire comfort without mawkishness.
George Eliot and Daniel Kalderimis and me: on the healing power of Middlemarch
George Eliot and Daniel Kalderimis and me: on the healing power of Middlemarch
Sometimes a book finds you at just the right time....
thespinoff.co.nz
April 27, 2025 at 11:53 PM
I wrote, briefly, about consolatory reading. Would love to know about other writers/books which inspire comfort without mawkishness.
Reposted by Heidi Thomson
US sales of New Zealand poetry will be decimated by all this. We'll just have to hold firm and seek new markets.
April 2, 2025 at 9:58 PM
US sales of New Zealand poetry will be decimated by all this. We'll just have to hold firm and seek new markets.
Tax the rich instead of detonating school lunches, undermining the living wage, encouraging smoking, and sabotaging DEI. Pic is of letter to The Post, 13 March 2025.
March 12, 2025 at 9:23 PM
Tax the rich instead of detonating school lunches, undermining the living wage, encouraging smoking, and sabotaging DEI. Pic is of letter to The Post, 13 March 2025.
Reposted by Heidi Thomson
Donald Trump and his court of sycophants.
My Stuff #cartoon today #Trump #Zelenskyy #suits #Ukraine #UkraineRussiaWar #USA #Chaos
My Stuff #cartoon today #Trump #Zelenskyy #suits #Ukraine #UkraineRussiaWar #USA #Chaos
March 8, 2025 at 7:28 PM
Donald Trump and his court of sycophants.
My Stuff #cartoon today #Trump #Zelenskyy #suits #Ukraine #UkraineRussiaWar #USA #Chaos
My Stuff #cartoon today #Trump #Zelenskyy #suits #Ukraine #UkraineRussiaWar #USA #Chaos
Reposted by Heidi Thomson
Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde was nearing the end of her sermon for the inaugural prayer service on Tuesday when she took a breath and looked directly at President Trump.
“I ask you to have mercy upon the people in our country who are scared now,” said Bishop Budde. nyti.ms/4jtuyHA
“I ask you to have mercy upon the people in our country who are scared now,” said Bishop Budde. nyti.ms/4jtuyHA
January 22, 2025 at 4:25 AM
Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde was nearing the end of her sermon for the inaugural prayer service on Tuesday when she took a breath and looked directly at President Trump.
“I ask you to have mercy upon the people in our country who are scared now,” said Bishop Budde. nyti.ms/4jtuyHA
“I ask you to have mercy upon the people in our country who are scared now,” said Bishop Budde. nyti.ms/4jtuyHA
Reposted by Heidi Thomson
November 21, 2024 at 6:20 PM
Reposted by Heidi Thomson
Hello, we're new here. It's nice to meet you all.
The Poetry Archive has over 2000 free poems, 500 poets’ work and 5 million visitors a year, if that's you're vibe then head over to our website and start exploring the brilliant poets and collections we hold: poetryarchive.org
The Poetry Archive has over 2000 free poems, 500 poets’ work and 5 million visitors a year, if that's you're vibe then head over to our website and start exploring the brilliant poets and collections we hold: poetryarchive.org
November 20, 2024 at 10:56 AM
Hello, we're new here. It's nice to meet you all.
The Poetry Archive has over 2000 free poems, 500 poets’ work and 5 million visitors a year, if that's you're vibe then head over to our website and start exploring the brilliant poets and collections we hold: poetryarchive.org
The Poetry Archive has over 2000 free poems, 500 poets’ work and 5 million visitors a year, if that's you're vibe then head over to our website and start exploring the brilliant poets and collections we hold: poetryarchive.org
Keats's 'On Sitting Down to Read King Lear Once Again' is so much on mind after reading George Eliot's Mill on the Floss after a forty year gap - consumed in the fire by this fierce dispute, betwixt damnation and impassion'd clay. A devastating read.
November 18, 2024 at 2:58 AM
Keats's 'On Sitting Down to Read King Lear Once Again' is so much on mind after reading George Eliot's Mill on the Floss after a forty year gap - consumed in the fire by this fierce dispute, betwixt damnation and impassion'd clay. A devastating read.
On my mind, all the time, Blake's Human Abstract (1794)
Pity would be no more
If we did not make somebody poor;
And Mercy no more could be
If all were as happy as we.
And mutual fear brings peace,
Till the selfish loves increase;
Pity would be no more
If we did not make somebody poor;
And Mercy no more could be
If all were as happy as we.
And mutual fear brings peace,
Till the selfish loves increase;
November 14, 2024 at 9:50 PM
On my mind, all the time, Blake's Human Abstract (1794)
Pity would be no more
If we did not make somebody poor;
And Mercy no more could be
If all were as happy as we.
And mutual fear brings peace,
Till the selfish loves increase;
Pity would be no more
If we did not make somebody poor;
And Mercy no more could be
If all were as happy as we.
And mutual fear brings peace,
Till the selfish loves increase;
Reposted by Heidi Thomson
The Wren, the Wren
Anne Enright
Bird Life
Anna Smaill
Stone Yard Devotional
Charlotte Woods
The Bee Sting
Paul Murray
Still Is
Vincent O'Sullivan
Anne Enright
Bird Life
Anna Smaill
Stone Yard Devotional
Charlotte Woods
The Bee Sting
Paul Murray
Still Is
Vincent O'Sullivan
November 9, 2024 at 7:14 PM
The Wren, the Wren
Anne Enright
Bird Life
Anna Smaill
Stone Yard Devotional
Charlotte Woods
The Bee Sting
Paul Murray
Still Is
Vincent O'Sullivan
Anne Enright
Bird Life
Anna Smaill
Stone Yard Devotional
Charlotte Woods
The Bee Sting
Paul Murray
Still Is
Vincent O'Sullivan
Reposted by Heidi Thomson
Dopplelganger
Naomi Klein
Demon Copperhead
Barbara Kingsolver
Ash
Louise Wallace
James
Percival Everett
The Bookbinder of Jericho
Pip Williams
Naomi Klein
Demon Copperhead
Barbara Kingsolver
Ash
Louise Wallace
James
Percival Everett
The Bookbinder of Jericho
Pip Williams
Repost with your favourite reads this year (so far):
A Better Place
Stephen Daisley
When We Cease To Understand the World
Benjamin Labatut
Doppleganger
Naomi Klein
A Fly Under The Radar
William McCartney
A Man of Two Faces
Viet Thanh Nguyen
A Better Place
Stephen Daisley
When We Cease To Understand the World
Benjamin Labatut
Doppleganger
Naomi Klein
A Fly Under The Radar
William McCartney
A Man of Two Faces
Viet Thanh Nguyen
Repost with your five favourite reads of this year (so far):
'Salem's Lot
(Stephen King 1st read)
The Shining
(Stephen King 1st read)
Doctor Sleep
(Stephen King 1st read)
Abarat
(Clive Barker)
You Like It Darker
(Stephen King)
'Salem's Lot
(Stephen King 1st read)
The Shining
(Stephen King 1st read)
Doctor Sleep
(Stephen King 1st read)
Abarat
(Clive Barker)
You Like It Darker
(Stephen King)
November 9, 2024 at 6:59 PM
Dopplelganger
Naomi Klein
Demon Copperhead
Barbara Kingsolver
Ash
Louise Wallace
James
Percival Everett
The Bookbinder of Jericho
Pip Williams
Naomi Klein
Demon Copperhead
Barbara Kingsolver
Ash
Louise Wallace
James
Percival Everett
The Bookbinder of Jericho
Pip Williams
Reposted by Heidi Thomson
Te Herenga Waka University Press reports the peaceful death of the great poet Fleur Adcock earlier today. She had entered a hospice some weeks ago. I think we should establish an annual Be Kind to Snails Day in her honour.
I think we've all read Maggie Smith's fabulous Good Bones poem, but I always think this one by Fleur Adcock is related in the protection of the small theme.
October 11, 2024 at 3:08 AM
Te Herenga Waka University Press reports the peaceful death of the great poet Fleur Adcock earlier today. She had entered a hospice some weeks ago. I think we should establish an annual Be Kind to Snails Day in her honour.
Reposted by Heidi Thomson
PERFECTLY NORMAL
Live weather updates: Otago braces for more downpours as floodwaters drive people from homes, block roads
Residents say they've never seen anything like it, amid evacuations, slips, road closures and a full day of rain still to come.
www.rnz.co.nz
October 3, 2024 at 10:03 PM
PERFECTLY NORMAL