Irina Dumitrescu
@irinadumitrescu.bsky.social
Writer and professor of medieval literature. I'm a columnist at the TLS, sometimes co-host a podcast with Mary Wellesley at the LRB, and am one of the editors of @creativecritical.bsky.social.
irinadumitrescu.com
irinadumitrescu.com
Pinned
Doorbell just rang. A package from Australia. The bookseller Nicholas Pounder sent me a small press print of my Times Literary Supplement poem, "Criseyde." It's a private, gift copy, and it has brought tears to my eyes this morning, for so many reasons.
Reposted by Irina Dumitrescu
‘My eyes, exhausted with beauty, didn’t know where to look any more. Yet I couldn’t stop’ – Irina Dumitrescu visits the couture show at the Louvre, now on at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, and finds a surfeit of riches
The Louvre puts on its first fashion show
High fashion meets fine art for the first time in an exhibition at the Paris museum. With so much to see, it‘s hard to know where to look
buff.ly
November 21, 2025 at 8:30 PM
‘My eyes, exhausted with beauty, didn’t know where to look any more. Yet I couldn’t stop’ – Irina Dumitrescu visits the couture show at the Louvre, now on at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, and finds a surfeit of riches
Next time I'm trying to write and it's not coming along, I will simply write, "unluckily, it was a heap of dead rabbits." After that, you can only go up.
November 25, 2025 at 8:33 PM
Next time I'm trying to write and it's not coming along, I will simply write, "unluckily, it was a heap of dead rabbits." After that, you can only go up.
Reposted by Irina Dumitrescu
A totally devastating and really thoroughly reported piece.
Influencers made millions pushing ‘wild’ births – now the Free Birth Society is linked to baby deaths around the world
Influencers made millions pushing ‘wild’ births – now the Free Birth Society is linked to baby deaths around the world
A year-long investigation reveals how mothers lost children after being radicalised by uplifting podcast tales of births without midwives or doctors
As Esau Lopez was asphyxiated for the first 17 minutes of his life on Earth, the atmosphere in the room remained serene, even ecstatic. Acoustic music crooned from a speaker in a modest two-bedroom apartment in a suburb of Pennsylvania. “You are a queen,” murmured one of three friends in the room.
Only Esau’s mother, Gabrielle Lopez, felt something was wrong. She was pushing hard, but her son would not be born. “Can you help [him] out?” she asked, as Esau crowned. “Baby is coming,” the friend replied. Four minutes later, Lopez asked again, “Can you grab [him]?” Another friend murmured, “Baby is safe.” Six minutes passed. Again, Lopez asked, “Can you grab [him]?” Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
November 22, 2025 at 10:24 PM
A totally devastating and really thoroughly reported piece.
Reposted by Irina Dumitrescu
📢 #CfP #medievalsky #OldEnglish
📜Beowulf & Circulations Conference
📲Details: cemasorbonne.org
🏫Centre d’Études Médiévales Anglaises (Sorbonne Université)
🗣️Keynotes: Irina Dumitrescu (Universität Bonn) & Francis Leneghan (Oxford University).
📅March 13-14, 2026
⏰Submission deadline: 10 January, 2026‼️
📜Beowulf & Circulations Conference
📲Details: cemasorbonne.org
🏫Centre d’Études Médiévales Anglaises (Sorbonne Université)
🗣️Keynotes: Irina Dumitrescu (Universität Bonn) & Francis Leneghan (Oxford University).
📅March 13-14, 2026
⏰Submission deadline: 10 January, 2026‼️
(no title)
CEMA
cemasorbonne.org
November 21, 2025 at 12:59 PM
📢 #CfP #medievalsky #OldEnglish
📜Beowulf & Circulations Conference
📲Details: cemasorbonne.org
🏫Centre d’Études Médiévales Anglaises (Sorbonne Université)
🗣️Keynotes: Irina Dumitrescu (Universität Bonn) & Francis Leneghan (Oxford University).
📅March 13-14, 2026
⏰Submission deadline: 10 January, 2026‼️
📜Beowulf & Circulations Conference
📲Details: cemasorbonne.org
🏫Centre d’Études Médiévales Anglaises (Sorbonne Université)
🗣️Keynotes: Irina Dumitrescu (Universität Bonn) & Francis Leneghan (Oxford University).
📅March 13-14, 2026
⏰Submission deadline: 10 January, 2026‼️
Reposted by Irina Dumitrescu
Last chance to book for 2 online workshops happening very soon.
This Sunday 23rd as part of our workshop series, we are exploring Rhythm and The Ballad. Join us!
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/exploring-...
This Sunday 23rd as part of our workshop series, we are exploring Rhythm and The Ballad. Join us!
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/exploring-...
November 21, 2025 at 4:47 PM
Last chance to book for 2 online workshops happening very soon.
This Sunday 23rd as part of our workshop series, we are exploring Rhythm and The Ballad. Join us!
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/exploring-...
This Sunday 23rd as part of our workshop series, we are exploring Rhythm and The Ballad. Join us!
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/exploring-...
Sometimes I think if I could go back to 2008 and tell grad student Irina about my creative life today, there's nothing about it she'd have an easy time believing.
November 19, 2025 at 8:32 PM
Sometimes I think if I could go back to 2008 and tell grad student Irina about my creative life today, there's nothing about it she'd have an easy time believing.
Does anyone I know use Obsidian (or an app like it) to put together the pieces of a book or other large written project? Would be grateful for any tips or process notes you are in the mood to share.
November 19, 2025 at 4:44 PM
Does anyone I know use Obsidian (or an app like it) to put together the pieces of a book or other large written project? Would be grateful for any tips or process notes you are in the mood to share.
Reposted by Irina Dumitrescu
📢 #CfP #medievalsky #OldEnglish
📜Beowulf & Circulations Conference
📲Details: cemasorbonne.org
🏫Centre d’Études Médiévales Anglaises (Sorbonne Université)
🗣️Keynotes: Irina Dumitrescu (Universität Bonn) & Francis Leneghan (Oxford University).
📅March 13-14, 2026
⏰Submission deadline: 10 January, 2026‼️
📜Beowulf & Circulations Conference
📲Details: cemasorbonne.org
🏫Centre d’Études Médiévales Anglaises (Sorbonne Université)
🗣️Keynotes: Irina Dumitrescu (Universität Bonn) & Francis Leneghan (Oxford University).
📅March 13-14, 2026
⏰Submission deadline: 10 January, 2026‼️
(no title)
CEMA
cemasorbonne.org
November 13, 2025 at 12:10 PM
📢 #CfP #medievalsky #OldEnglish
📜Beowulf & Circulations Conference
📲Details: cemasorbonne.org
🏫Centre d’Études Médiévales Anglaises (Sorbonne Université)
🗣️Keynotes: Irina Dumitrescu (Universität Bonn) & Francis Leneghan (Oxford University).
📅March 13-14, 2026
⏰Submission deadline: 10 January, 2026‼️
📜Beowulf & Circulations Conference
📲Details: cemasorbonne.org
🏫Centre d’Études Médiévales Anglaises (Sorbonne Université)
🗣️Keynotes: Irina Dumitrescu (Universität Bonn) & Francis Leneghan (Oxford University).
📅March 13-14, 2026
⏰Submission deadline: 10 January, 2026‼️
Reposted by Irina Dumitrescu
The medieval mystics have been coming up a lot for me this week. Im re-reading Dr Carmel
Bendon’s fabulous novel w/ historical medieval reference to Julian of Norwich w/ modern day mystery based in Sydney & now @irinadumitrescu.bsky.social article incl.mystic Margery Kempe psyche.co/ideas/get-me...
Bendon’s fabulous novel w/ historical medieval reference to Julian of Norwich w/ modern day mystery based in Sydney & now @irinadumitrescu.bsky.social article incl.mystic Margery Kempe psyche.co/ideas/get-me...
Get medieval on your haters: lessons from Beowulf and Chaucer | Psyche Ideas
When your reputation is at stake, get medieval on your haters: lessons from Beowulf, Margery Kempe and Geoffrey Chaucer
psyche.co
November 16, 2025 at 9:20 PM
The medieval mystics have been coming up a lot for me this week. Im re-reading Dr Carmel
Bendon’s fabulous novel w/ historical medieval reference to Julian of Norwich w/ modern day mystery based in Sydney & now @irinadumitrescu.bsky.social article incl.mystic Margery Kempe psyche.co/ideas/get-me...
Bendon’s fabulous novel w/ historical medieval reference to Julian of Norwich w/ modern day mystery based in Sydney & now @irinadumitrescu.bsky.social article incl.mystic Margery Kempe psyche.co/ideas/get-me...
I would like to know about your favourite modern novels in verse, please! Mainly interested in English but also curious about other languages.
November 16, 2025 at 4:20 PM
I would like to know about your favourite modern novels in verse, please! Mainly interested in English but also curious about other languages.
Yes! We just got a subscription to the @szde.bsky.social. Delivered in the mornings. Wild how exciting it is. Part of the idea is to leave it around so the kid starts to notice there are other ways of finding out what's going on in the world than what's on screens. The writing is great too.
I’ve wanted to brag about my Christmas gift last year and here’s my chance.
I got the whole family matching magazine subs! Adults got Southern Cultures, OA, Bitter Southerner, The Sun, & New Yorker. Kid got Lux, Oyla, and later we added The Onion.
We always have stuff to talk about!
I got the whole family matching magazine subs! Adults got Southern Cultures, OA, Bitter Southerner, The Sun, & New Yorker. Kid got Lux, Oyla, and later we added The Onion.
We always have stuff to talk about!
I got out of the habit of reading magazines bc of the social pressure of writers reading what's trendy/popular or frankly expected of you.
This year, I've dedicated myself back to reading magazines and I'm truly having the time of my life.
This year, I've dedicated myself back to reading magazines and I'm truly having the time of my life.
November 16, 2025 at 4:11 PM
Yes! We just got a subscription to the @szde.bsky.social. Delivered in the mornings. Wild how exciting it is. Part of the idea is to leave it around so the kid starts to notice there are other ways of finding out what's going on in the world than what's on screens. The writing is great too.
I had a lot of fun writing this piece for @psyche.co, which just reminded me that people have always had to deal with criticism from others -- and the key is to be creative about how you deal with your haters.
psyche.co/ideas/get-me...
psyche.co/ideas/get-me...
Get medieval on your haters: lessons from Beowulf and Chaucer | Psyche Ideas
When your reputation is at stake, get medieval on your haters: lessons from Beowulf, Margery Kempe and Geoffrey Chaucer
psyche.co
November 16, 2025 at 4:09 PM
I had a lot of fun writing this piece for @psyche.co, which just reminded me that people have always had to deal with criticism from others -- and the key is to be creative about how you deal with your haters.
psyche.co/ideas/get-me...
psyche.co/ideas/get-me...
Reposted by Irina Dumitrescu
No one could ever make me eat Brussels Sprouts as a kid - I would sit at the dinner table until hell froze over before I’d take a bite (now I like them).
Well chuffed to see my picky eating essay for @seriouseats.bsky.social featured by @longreads.com as one of their five weekly picks!
3. "The Kid Is All Right: In Defense of Picky Eating" @irinadumitrescu.bsky.social
"If you, too, were made to eat as a child or love someone who was, you’ll find Dumitrescu’s incisive piece a refreshing and satisfying palate cleanser."
www.seriouseats.com/the-kid-is-a...
"If you, too, were made to eat as a child or love someone who was, you’ll find Dumitrescu’s incisive piece a refreshing and satisfying palate cleanser."
www.seriouseats.com/the-kid-is-a...
November 14, 2025 at 10:17 AM
No one could ever make me eat Brussels Sprouts as a kid - I would sit at the dinner table until hell froze over before I’d take a bite (now I like them).
Reposted by Irina Dumitrescu
Irina is always worth a read; this one is now a favourite of mine. And the cover is fun as well.
November 14, 2025 at 9:03 AM
Irina is always worth a read; this one is now a favourite of mine. And the cover is fun as well.
Today I wish to share with you one of my first forays into food writing, an essay on Currywurst that appeared in Petits Propos Culinaires. My first attempt at understanding German culture, something that would become a long-term project!
irinadumitrescu.com/wp-content/u...
irinadumitrescu.com/wp-content/u...
irinadumitrescu.com
November 14, 2025 at 8:43 AM
Today I wish to share with you one of my first forays into food writing, an essay on Currywurst that appeared in Petits Propos Culinaires. My first attempt at understanding German culture, something that would become a long-term project!
irinadumitrescu.com/wp-content/u...
irinadumitrescu.com/wp-content/u...
Today is the OFFICIAL publication day for TEXTILE SHAKESPEARE! Please indulge me: I want to say a little (perhaps rather a lot) about it and share my acknowledgements - and a discount code! Appropriately,🧵1/10
November 12, 2025 at 6:10 AM
I can't be there, sadly, but some of my Toronto friends might want to know about the launch of this year's Best Canadian Poetry!
November 10, 2025 at 8:23 PM
I can't be there, sadly, but some of my Toronto friends might want to know about the launch of this year's Best Canadian Poetry!
Reposted by Irina Dumitrescu
'Each course also featured a “sotelte”, or subtlety, an ornamental dish meant to impress, often sculpted in sugar.'
Irina Dumitrescu on medieval attitudes to social class
Irina Dumitrescu on medieval attitudes to social class
Medieval attitudes to social class
www.the-tls.com
October 28, 2025 at 1:11 AM
'Each course also featured a “sotelte”, or subtlety, an ornamental dish meant to impress, often sculpted in sugar.'
Irina Dumitrescu on medieval attitudes to social class
Irina Dumitrescu on medieval attitudes to social class
On bad luck. I was more right in this newsletter than I knew.
irinadumitrescu.substack.com/p/and-then-a...
irinadumitrescu.substack.com/p/and-then-a...
And then again, it could just be luck
I used to run a blog called Food Gone Wrong.
irinadumitrescu.substack.com
November 8, 2025 at 1:27 PM
On bad luck. I was more right in this newsletter than I knew.
irinadumitrescu.substack.com/p/and-then-a...
irinadumitrescu.substack.com/p/and-then-a...
Bonjour, fellow medievalists! I'm very pleased to announce a conference on Beowulf next March at the @cema-su.bsky.social Sorbonne. I have the honour of joining Francis Leneghan in giving one of the keynotes. Link below has the CFP and registration info, please spread the word!
cemasorbonne.org
cemasorbonne.org
(no title)
CEMA
cemasorbonne.org
November 8, 2025 at 11:45 AM
Bonjour, fellow medievalists! I'm very pleased to announce a conference on Beowulf next March at the @cema-su.bsky.social Sorbonne. I have the honour of joining Francis Leneghan in giving one of the keynotes. Link below has the CFP and registration info, please spread the word!
cemasorbonne.org
cemasorbonne.org
Reposted by Irina Dumitrescu
Time to bring a twitter series to Bluesky: Given the incredible number of 20th-century churches in Northrhine-Westphalia (the topic of my dissertation), I’m going post one or two every day. None of these images are mine, they're all credited in the alt text, and I'll take any down if asked
March 11, 2024 at 12:25 AM
Time to bring a twitter series to Bluesky: Given the incredible number of 20th-century churches in Northrhine-Westphalia (the topic of my dissertation), I’m going post one or two every day. None of these images are mine, they're all credited in the alt text, and I'll take any down if asked
Reposted by Irina Dumitrescu
A former picky eater and mother of a selective son makes a contrarian case for letting children listen to their taste buds and develop their own palates.
www.seriouseats.com/the-kid-is-a...
www.seriouseats.com/the-kid-is-a...
The Kid Is All Right: In Defense of Picky Eating
On learning to accept your child's discriminating tastes, even when it hurts.
www.seriouseats.com
October 24, 2025 at 3:32 PM
A former picky eater and mother of a selective son makes a contrarian case for letting children listen to their taste buds and develop their own palates.
www.seriouseats.com/the-kid-is-a...
www.seriouseats.com/the-kid-is-a...
I talked to the @unibonn.bsky.social magazine forsch about perfectionism, the Middle Ages, and why we could do with more creativity in scholarship. This is the English translation.
www.uni-bonn.de/en/universit...
www.uni-bonn.de/en/universit...
Effortlessly flawless?
www.uni-bonn.de
November 7, 2025 at 7:12 PM
I talked to the @unibonn.bsky.social magazine forsch about perfectionism, the Middle Ages, and why we could do with more creativity in scholarship. This is the English translation.
www.uni-bonn.de/en/universit...
www.uni-bonn.de/en/universit...
This was pretty awesome for me too!
Bloody delighted to see a piece from a favourite writer (& fellow Canadian) recommended by another of my favourite (although not Canadian) writers
@irinadumitrescu.bsky.social's defense of picky eaters in @roxanegay.bsky.social's Nov 3 Audacious Roundup
www.seriouseats.com/the-kid-is-a...
@irinadumitrescu.bsky.social's defense of picky eaters in @roxanegay.bsky.social's Nov 3 Audacious Roundup
www.seriouseats.com/the-kid-is-a...
The Kid Is All Right: In Defense of Picky Eating
On learning to accept your child's discriminating tastes, even when it hurts.
www.seriouseats.com
November 7, 2025 at 3:37 PM
This was pretty awesome for me too!
Reposted by Irina Dumitrescu
Book review by @irinadumitrescu.bsky.social on Bee Wilson's new book about kitchen objects and the stories they tell. www.nytimes.com/2025/11/05/b...
The Wedding Cake Was a Triumph. The Marriage Went Stale.
www.nytimes.com
November 5, 2025 at 6:58 PM
Book review by @irinadumitrescu.bsky.social on Bee Wilson's new book about kitchen objects and the stories they tell. www.nytimes.com/2025/11/05/b...