Ian Tattum
@iantattum.bsky.social
Writer and independent scholar.
Used to be a vicar.
Writing in Spelt, Black Bough Poetry, BB journal, Frost Magazine, The Clearing,The Pilgrim, Landlines for Nature ,The Church Times.
Fellow of the Linnaean Society and the Zoological Society of London,
Used to be a vicar.
Writing in Spelt, Black Bough Poetry, BB journal, Frost Magazine, The Clearing,The Pilgrim, Landlines for Nature ,The Church Times.
Fellow of the Linnaean Society and the Zoological Society of London,
Pinned
Ian Tattum
@iantattum.bsky.social
· Jun 29
A piece I wrote about having a nature deprived childhood.
There don’t seem to be enough articles about working class childhoods which were just a bit dull because you didn’t get out much , and family members were not very enthusiastic.
But you did have picture books of stuffed birds.😊
There don’t seem to be enough articles about working class childhoods which were just a bit dull because you didn’t get out much , and family members were not very enthusiastic.
But you did have picture books of stuffed birds.😊
Reposted by Ian Tattum
I have written a possibly unreadable - in both ways due to my technical limitations- review of a marvellous book about everyone’s favourite snow leopard botherer.🦋
November 26, 2025 at 12:54 PM
I have written a possibly unreadable - in both ways due to my technical limitations- review of a marvellous book about everyone’s favourite snow leopard botherer.🦋
Reposted by Ian Tattum
Intersecting lives.
The editor who got Peter Mattheissen ‘s The Snow Leopard into print, Elizabeth Sifton, was the daughter of Reinhold Niebuhr- the theologian who helped W H Auden find his way back into the Church.
The editor who got Peter Mattheissen ‘s The Snow Leopard into print, Elizabeth Sifton, was the daughter of Reinhold Niebuhr- the theologian who helped W H Auden find his way back into the Church.
November 25, 2025 at 11:47 PM
Intersecting lives.
The editor who got Peter Mattheissen ‘s The Snow Leopard into print, Elizabeth Sifton, was the daughter of Reinhold Niebuhr- the theologian who helped W H Auden find his way back into the Church.
The editor who got Peter Mattheissen ‘s The Snow Leopard into print, Elizabeth Sifton, was the daughter of Reinhold Niebuhr- the theologian who helped W H Auden find his way back into the Church.
A late afternoon photo.
And I dare someone to read my short review of the recent Peter Mattheissen biography .
It features snow leopard and Bigfoot 😊
And I dare someone to read my short review of the recent Peter Mattheissen biography .
It features snow leopard and Bigfoot 😊
November 26, 2025 at 4:47 PM
A late afternoon photo.
And I dare someone to read my short review of the recent Peter Mattheissen biography .
It features snow leopard and Bigfoot 😊
And I dare someone to read my short review of the recent Peter Mattheissen biography .
It features snow leopard and Bigfoot 😊
I have written a possibly unreadable - in both ways due to my technical limitations- review of a marvellous book about everyone’s favourite snow leopard botherer.🦋
November 26, 2025 at 12:54 PM
I have written a possibly unreadable - in both ways due to my technical limitations- review of a marvellous book about everyone’s favourite snow leopard botherer.🦋
Reposted by Ian Tattum
Heartily recommend this anthology for the nature lover in your life. (Okay -- I have an essay in it -- but you can always skip that one if you don't want to read about insects, parenting, and existential angst.)
Our friends at @saraband-books.bsky.social have included the Nature Chronicles Prize 2 anthology in their Christmas shop!
Treat a loved one, a friend (or even yourself) to this beautiful book of winning essays from the 2024 Prize 🍃
saraband.net/2025/11/12/s...
#Booksky
📚💙
Treat a loved one, a friend (or even yourself) to this beautiful book of winning essays from the 2024 Prize 🍃
saraband.net/2025/11/12/s...
#Booksky
📚💙
November 21, 2025 at 5:38 PM
Heartily recommend this anthology for the nature lover in your life. (Okay -- I have an essay in it -- but you can always skip that one if you don't want to read about insects, parenting, and existential angst.)
Intersecting lives.
The editor who got Peter Mattheissen ‘s The Snow Leopard into print, Elizabeth Sifton, was the daughter of Reinhold Niebuhr- the theologian who helped W H Auden find his way back into the Church.
The editor who got Peter Mattheissen ‘s The Snow Leopard into print, Elizabeth Sifton, was the daughter of Reinhold Niebuhr- the theologian who helped W H Auden find his way back into the Church.
November 25, 2025 at 11:47 PM
Intersecting lives.
The editor who got Peter Mattheissen ‘s The Snow Leopard into print, Elizabeth Sifton, was the daughter of Reinhold Niebuhr- the theologian who helped W H Auden find his way back into the Church.
The editor who got Peter Mattheissen ‘s The Snow Leopard into print, Elizabeth Sifton, was the daughter of Reinhold Niebuhr- the theologian who helped W H Auden find his way back into the Church.
MakeAmericaDeadAgain.
MADA.
MADA.
Trump just ended a rule limiting a type of pollution that causes heart and lung disease.
The rule was expected to save thousands of American lives every year.
The rule was expected to save thousands of American lives every year.
November 25, 2025 at 10:10 PM
MakeAmericaDeadAgain.
MADA.
MADA.
Sadly it is about 5 years since we have been able to take mum and Richard out for a pub lunch🥲
November 25, 2025 at 8:10 PM
Sadly it is about 5 years since we have been able to take mum and Richard out for a pub lunch🥲
Reposted by Ian Tattum
My essay posted yesterday on how Kennedy appears to be making progress in a stealth campaign to end vaccination in the US is looking more and more likely to be right.
My history-based polemic on the evolution and poverty of the anti-vax argument is due out in May. It feels necessary sooner.
My history-based polemic on the evolution and poverty of the anti-vax argument is due out in May. It feels necessary sooner.
November 25, 2025 at 7:54 PM
My essay posted yesterday on how Kennedy appears to be making progress in a stealth campaign to end vaccination in the US is looking more and more likely to be right.
My history-based polemic on the evolution and poverty of the anti-vax argument is due out in May. It feels necessary sooner.
My history-based polemic on the evolution and poverty of the anti-vax argument is due out in May. It feels necessary sooner.
In honour of Peter Mattheissen I had my own local and very safe expedition in Abbotsbury gardens😊
November 25, 2025 at 6:03 PM
In honour of Peter Mattheissen I had my own local and very safe expedition in Abbotsbury gardens😊
In Abbotsbury Gardens this morning
November 25, 2025 at 3:29 PM
In Abbotsbury Gardens this morning
Reposted by Ian Tattum
Viola Ford Fletcher, the oldest living survivor of the Tulsa Race Massacre, has died at 111 years old. https://cnn.it/4psWqNX
November 24, 2025 at 9:16 PM
Viola Ford Fletcher, the oldest living survivor of the Tulsa Race Massacre, has died at 111 years old. https://cnn.it/4psWqNX
Deep in Dorset I have spent the day with Peter Mattheissen.
Thinking about zen, Snow Leopards, the cost of privilege, experimental writing, Native American rights, Bigfoot, an unfaithful and restless heart, tribalism in Papua New Guinea, and how he inspired Jaws, and the debt owed to Rachel Carson
Thinking about zen, Snow Leopards, the cost of privilege, experimental writing, Native American rights, Bigfoot, an unfaithful and restless heart, tribalism in Papua New Guinea, and how he inspired Jaws, and the debt owed to Rachel Carson
November 24, 2025 at 6:16 PM
Deep in Dorset I have spent the day with Peter Mattheissen.
Thinking about zen, Snow Leopards, the cost of privilege, experimental writing, Native American rights, Bigfoot, an unfaithful and restless heart, tribalism in Papua New Guinea, and how he inspired Jaws, and the debt owed to Rachel Carson
Thinking about zen, Snow Leopards, the cost of privilege, experimental writing, Native American rights, Bigfoot, an unfaithful and restless heart, tribalism in Papua New Guinea, and how he inspired Jaws, and the debt owed to Rachel Carson
Our nearest bit of beach❤️
November 23, 2025 at 4:33 PM
Our nearest bit of beach❤️
The biography of Peter Mattheissen by @lancerichardson.bsky.social is terrific.
It tells the story of one man’s incredible life and literary achievements but also relates the history of the counter culture and conservation movements.
And has just given me nightmares about great white sharks
It tells the story of one man’s incredible life and literary achievements but also relates the history of the counter culture and conservation movements.
And has just given me nightmares about great white sharks
November 23, 2025 at 2:17 PM
The biography of Peter Mattheissen by @lancerichardson.bsky.social is terrific.
It tells the story of one man’s incredible life and literary achievements but also relates the history of the counter culture and conservation movements.
And has just given me nightmares about great white sharks
It tells the story of one man’s incredible life and literary achievements but also relates the history of the counter culture and conservation movements.
And has just given me nightmares about great white sharks
Reposted by Ian Tattum
Two brand new biographies of significant C20th literary figures.
Peter Mattheissen and Katherine Mansfield and both turn out to have fallen under the influences of Gurdjieff.
Peter Mattheissen and Katherine Mansfield and both turn out to have fallen under the influences of Gurdjieff.
November 22, 2025 at 1:02 PM
Two brand new biographies of significant C20th literary figures.
Peter Mattheissen and Katherine Mansfield and both turn out to have fallen under the influences of Gurdjieff.
Peter Mattheissen and Katherine Mansfield and both turn out to have fallen under the influences of Gurdjieff.
Reposted by Ian Tattum
In the 14th Century BC kings and powerful leaders around the Mediterranean wrote to each other, calling themselves brothers and exchanging good wishes and precious gifts. Of course they expressed no interest in their people.
There is a real danger that the old traditions are back🤔
There is a real danger that the old traditions are back🤔
November 22, 2025 at 3:43 PM
In the 14th Century BC kings and powerful leaders around the Mediterranean wrote to each other, calling themselves brothers and exchanging good wishes and precious gifts. Of course they expressed no interest in their people.
There is a real danger that the old traditions are back🤔
There is a real danger that the old traditions are back🤔
In the 14th Century BC kings and powerful leaders around the Mediterranean wrote to each other, calling themselves brothers and exchanging good wishes and precious gifts. Of course they expressed no interest in their people.
There is a real danger that the old traditions are back🤔
There is a real danger that the old traditions are back🤔
November 22, 2025 at 3:43 PM
In the 14th Century BC kings and powerful leaders around the Mediterranean wrote to each other, calling themselves brothers and exchanging good wishes and precious gifts. Of course they expressed no interest in their people.
There is a real danger that the old traditions are back🤔
There is a real danger that the old traditions are back🤔
Two brand new biographies of significant C20th literary figures.
Peter Mattheissen and Katherine Mansfield and both turn out to have fallen under the influences of Gurdjieff.
Peter Mattheissen and Katherine Mansfield and both turn out to have fallen under the influences of Gurdjieff.
November 22, 2025 at 1:02 PM
Two brand new biographies of significant C20th literary figures.
Peter Mattheissen and Katherine Mansfield and both turn out to have fallen under the influences of Gurdjieff.
Peter Mattheissen and Katherine Mansfield and both turn out to have fallen under the influences of Gurdjieff.
If Peter Mattheissen had written about his quest for Bigfoot as extensively as he did about his pursuit of the snow leopard his reputation might be rather different.
November 21, 2025 at 10:18 PM
If Peter Mattheissen had written about his quest for Bigfoot as extensively as he did about his pursuit of the snow leopard his reputation might be rather different.
