Dr Sam Hirst
@romgothsam.bsky.social
Cat sitter. Gothic lit and theology. Gothic romance. Queer Gothic. Runs 'Romancing the Gothic'.
Pinned
Dr Sam Hirst
@romgothsam.bsky.social
· Jan 23
a close up of a man 's face with the word woo written below him
Alt: Nicholas Cage screaming WOO!
media.tenor.com
Job Application Update Thread 2025 - now on Bluesky!
For those who are new, I do one of these every year, to keep track of my applications.
Let's go!
For those who are new, I do one of these every year, to keep track of my applications.
Let's go!
Do let me know some of your favourite books about, reimagining or riffing on the Brontës! Share the love :)
While I'm here... some of my favourites!
1) What Souls Are Made Of by Tasha Suri
This is a remix of Wuthering Heights which imagines the period after Heathcliff leaves the Heights (and Cathy is left there). It offers a different ending and explores the histories of South Asians in Britain.
1) What Souls Are Made Of by Tasha Suri
This is a remix of Wuthering Heights which imagines the period after Heathcliff leaves the Heights (and Cathy is left there). It offers a different ending and explores the histories of South Asians in Britain.
November 26, 2025 at 10:19 PM
Do let me know some of your favourite books about, reimagining or riffing on the Brontës! Share the love :)
Reposted by Dr Sam Hirst
riff on brontos instead imo
I have read so many books based on, riffing off or about the Brontes this year that I think I am reaching maximum saturation.
November 26, 2025 at 10:02 PM
riff on brontos instead imo
While I'm here... some of my favourites!
1) What Souls Are Made Of by Tasha Suri
This is a remix of Wuthering Heights which imagines the period after Heathcliff leaves the Heights (and Cathy is left there). It offers a different ending and explores the histories of South Asians in Britain.
1) What Souls Are Made Of by Tasha Suri
This is a remix of Wuthering Heights which imagines the period after Heathcliff leaves the Heights (and Cathy is left there). It offers a different ending and explores the histories of South Asians in Britain.
November 26, 2025 at 9:51 PM
While I'm here... some of my favourites!
1) What Souls Are Made Of by Tasha Suri
This is a remix of Wuthering Heights which imagines the period after Heathcliff leaves the Heights (and Cathy is left there). It offers a different ending and explores the histories of South Asians in Britain.
1) What Souls Are Made Of by Tasha Suri
This is a remix of Wuthering Heights which imagines the period after Heathcliff leaves the Heights (and Cathy is left there). It offers a different ending and explores the histories of South Asians in Britain.
I have read so many books based on, riffing off or about the Brontes this year that I think I am reaching maximum saturation.
November 26, 2025 at 9:41 PM
I have read so many books based on, riffing off or about the Brontes this year that I think I am reaching maximum saturation.
Something that is very niche to be vexed about but very much a recurring theme in my work is the fact that popular ideas about the Bronte juvenilia is by and large informed by fictional works which draw on it written by authors who very clearly haven't read even a fraction of it.
November 26, 2025 at 4:41 PM
Something that is very niche to be vexed about but very much a recurring theme in my work is the fact that popular ideas about the Bronte juvenilia is by and large informed by fictional works which draw on it written by authors who very clearly haven't read even a fraction of it.
'This author investigates the profound mysteries surrounding the Brontes' lives...'
In which we once again discover that 'investigating profound mysteries' means 'hadn't done any of the reading and have conflated what *the author* doesn't know with what no-one knows'
In which we once again discover that 'investigating profound mysteries' means 'hadn't done any of the reading and have conflated what *the author* doesn't know with what no-one knows'
November 26, 2025 at 4:01 PM
'This author investigates the profound mysteries surrounding the Brontes' lives...'
In which we once again discover that 'investigating profound mysteries' means 'hadn't done any of the reading and have conflated what *the author* doesn't know with what no-one knows'
In which we once again discover that 'investigating profound mysteries' means 'hadn't done any of the reading and have conflated what *the author* doesn't know with what no-one knows'
Reposted by Dr Sam Hirst
Hello new friends! I think it is time to share once again the most joyful thing in my life.
You know what that means.
It's cat thread time!
Some of the cats I have sat for this year. Each a tiny cat star!
You know what that means.
It's cat thread time!
Some of the cats I have sat for this year. Each a tiny cat star!
November 21, 2025 at 6:29 PM
Hello new friends! I think it is time to share once again the most joyful thing in my life.
You know what that means.
It's cat thread time!
Some of the cats I have sat for this year. Each a tiny cat star!
You know what that means.
It's cat thread time!
Some of the cats I have sat for this year. Each a tiny cat star!
Reposted by Dr Sam Hirst
Universities are in crisis, and I don’t think it’s helpful to phrase that as “exiting the market”. They’re not mid-range shoe shops, these are educational pillars in society
Chief exec of OfS 'said the OfS believes there are 24 institutions at risk of exiting the market in the next 12 months, seven of which are large providers with more than 3,000 students. There are another 25 or so institutions of various sizes at risk over a two- to three-year period, she added.'
Seven ‘large providers’ at risk of going under in the next year
Skills minister says no higher education institutions are at imminent risk of collapse this year but OfS confirms more than 20 providers are being closely monitored
www.timeshighereducation.com
November 26, 2025 at 10:13 AM
Universities are in crisis, and I don’t think it’s helpful to phrase that as “exiting the market”. They’re not mid-range shoe shops, these are educational pillars in society
Reposted by Dr Sam Hirst
This is a great time to remind everyone that Thom & I run Torch & Arrow, an Etsy shop w/ cool fandom things, 1-of-a-kind Goth stuff, pins, tie bars, cuff-links, jewelry, accessories, restored vintage goodies, my backlist books, sculpture & more! We're part of Etsy's big sale! torchandarrow.etsy.com
November 26, 2025 at 2:53 AM
This is a great time to remind everyone that Thom & I run Torch & Arrow, an Etsy shop w/ cool fandom things, 1-of-a-kind Goth stuff, pins, tie bars, cuff-links, jewelry, accessories, restored vintage goodies, my backlist books, sculpture & more! We're part of Etsy's big sale! torchandarrow.etsy.com
Reposted by Dr Sam Hirst
I've just added a few more talks to the Romancing the Gothic world map. If you'd like to explore horror, the Gothic, the supernatural, folklore and more in talks with experts from around the world... this is the resource for you!
padlet.com/hollyhirst84...
padlet.com/hollyhirst84...
Romancing the Gothic World Tour
Made with Padlet
padlet.com
November 25, 2025 at 12:15 PM
I've just added a few more talks to the Romancing the Gothic world map. If you'd like to explore horror, the Gothic, the supernatural, folklore and more in talks with experts from around the world... this is the resource for you!
padlet.com/hollyhirst84...
padlet.com/hollyhirst84...
Reposted by Dr Sam Hirst
Are you a PhD student & interested in using museum collections in your teaching or research?
We're running a *free* doctoral training programme for students at any institution to learn about working with collections.
Find out more:
collections.reading.ac.uk/whats-on/
We're running a *free* doctoral training programme for students at any institution to learn about working with collections.
Find out more:
collections.reading.ac.uk/whats-on/
November 25, 2025 at 12:55 PM
Are you a PhD student & interested in using museum collections in your teaching or research?
We're running a *free* doctoral training programme for students at any institution to learn about working with collections.
Find out more:
collections.reading.ac.uk/whats-on/
We're running a *free* doctoral training programme for students at any institution to learn about working with collections.
Find out more:
collections.reading.ac.uk/whats-on/
Reposted by Dr Sam Hirst
I can’t say enough how fantastic the programme staff are at the Visiting Scholars Programme @bodleian.ox.ac.uk. If you don’t know about this wonderful programme, read more here: www.bodleian.ox.ac.uk/csb/fellowsh...
🚨 Deadline is this Friday 30 Nov, still time to apply.
🚨 Deadline is this Friday 30 Nov, still time to apply.
Bodleian Visiting Fellowships in Special Collections
www.bodleian.ox.ac.uk
November 24, 2025 at 10:44 AM
I can’t say enough how fantastic the programme staff are at the Visiting Scholars Programme @bodleian.ox.ac.uk. If you don’t know about this wonderful programme, read more here: www.bodleian.ox.ac.uk/csb/fellowsh...
🚨 Deadline is this Friday 30 Nov, still time to apply.
🚨 Deadline is this Friday 30 Nov, still time to apply.
I've just added a few more talks to the Romancing the Gothic world map. If you'd like to explore horror, the Gothic, the supernatural, folklore and more in talks with experts from around the world... this is the resource for you!
padlet.com/hollyhirst84...
padlet.com/hollyhirst84...
Romancing the Gothic World Tour
Made with Padlet
padlet.com
November 25, 2025 at 12:15 PM
I've just added a few more talks to the Romancing the Gothic world map. If you'd like to explore horror, the Gothic, the supernatural, folklore and more in talks with experts from around the world... this is the resource for you!
padlet.com/hollyhirst84...
padlet.com/hollyhirst84...
If you're interested in folklore, Romancing the Gothic has talks on folklore in lots of countries: from Scotland, Ireland and England to Appalachia, Hawaii, Pakistan, India and more!
Check out our playlist
www.youtube.com/watch?v=O8nz...
Check out our playlist
www.youtube.com/watch?v=O8nz...
Northern Folklore - Icy Sedgwick
YouTube video by Romancing the Gothic
www.youtube.com
November 25, 2025 at 12:10 PM
If you're interested in folklore, Romancing the Gothic has talks on folklore in lots of countries: from Scotland, Ireland and England to Appalachia, Hawaii, Pakistan, India and more!
Check out our playlist
www.youtube.com/watch?v=O8nz...
Check out our playlist
www.youtube.com/watch?v=O8nz...
This was such a great talk exploring Bengali Folklore and modern iterations in movies.
Really engaging and well worth a watch.
If it's not a topic you know about, this is a great introduction!
If you already know about it, this offers a fascinating exploration of some modern reimaginings.
Really engaging and well worth a watch.
If it's not a topic you know about, this is a great introduction!
If you already know about it, this offers a fascinating exploration of some modern reimaginings.
If you missed this week's Romancing the Gothic talk, you can catch it here.
It was an absolutely fantastic exploration. Highly recommended.
youtu.be/bgmV4Sz1AC8
It was an absolutely fantastic exploration. Highly recommended.
youtu.be/bgmV4Sz1AC8
‘Thakumar Jhuli’ – The Ghost Stories of Bengali Folklore with Arya Ray
YouTube video by Romancing the Gothic
youtu.be
November 25, 2025 at 11:56 AM
This was such a great talk exploring Bengali Folklore and modern iterations in movies.
Really engaging and well worth a watch.
If it's not a topic you know about, this is a great introduction!
If you already know about it, this offers a fascinating exploration of some modern reimaginings.
Really engaging and well worth a watch.
If it's not a topic you know about, this is a great introduction!
If you already know about it, this offers a fascinating exploration of some modern reimaginings.
Reposted by Dr Sam Hirst
Frankenstein is the story of a lonely sea captain who hears such a great story that he decides not to kill his entire crew in the arctic.
November 25, 2025 at 4:59 AM
Frankenstein is the story of a lonely sea captain who hears such a great story that he decides not to kill his entire crew in the arctic.
What are your favourite biographical Bronte reads?
46) The Brontes: A Life in Letters by Juliet Barker
This is an enjoyable, and often moving, read which offers a basic biography of the Bronte siblings using letters to, from and about them. Definitely worth a read and a good introduction for those starting their Bronte explorations!
This is an enjoyable, and often moving, read which offers a basic biography of the Bronte siblings using letters to, from and about them. Definitely worth a read and a good introduction for those starting their Bronte explorations!
November 25, 2025 at 4:17 AM
What are your favourite biographical Bronte reads?
Reposted by Dr Sam Hirst
If you missed this week's Romancing the Gothic talk, you can catch it here.
It was an absolutely fantastic exploration. Highly recommended.
youtu.be/bgmV4Sz1AC8
It was an absolutely fantastic exploration. Highly recommended.
youtu.be/bgmV4Sz1AC8
‘Thakumar Jhuli’ – The Ghost Stories of Bengali Folklore with Arya Ray
YouTube video by Romancing the Gothic
youtu.be
November 24, 2025 at 3:15 PM
If you missed this week's Romancing the Gothic talk, you can catch it here.
It was an absolutely fantastic exploration. Highly recommended.
youtu.be/bgmV4Sz1AC8
It was an absolutely fantastic exploration. Highly recommended.
youtu.be/bgmV4Sz1AC8
Reposted by Dr Sam Hirst
This Saturday at 8pm via Zoom is our next online lecture
Rich Blackett, @ofwolfandmanbook.bsky.social will be discussing werewolves in folklore and myth, from early wolf cults to today
Tickets are £5 and include video replay access if you can’t be there live
Order now at bit.ly/flaevents
Rich Blackett, @ofwolfandmanbook.bsky.social will be discussing werewolves in folklore and myth, from early wolf cults to today
Tickets are £5 and include video replay access if you can’t be there live
Order now at bit.ly/flaevents
November 24, 2025 at 2:08 PM
This Saturday at 8pm via Zoom is our next online lecture
Rich Blackett, @ofwolfandmanbook.bsky.social will be discussing werewolves in folklore and myth, from early wolf cults to today
Tickets are £5 and include video replay access if you can’t be there live
Order now at bit.ly/flaevents
Rich Blackett, @ofwolfandmanbook.bsky.social will be discussing werewolves in folklore and myth, from early wolf cults to today
Tickets are £5 and include video replay access if you can’t be there live
Order now at bit.ly/flaevents
If you missed this week's Romancing the Gothic talk, you can catch it here.
It was an absolutely fantastic exploration. Highly recommended.
youtu.be/bgmV4Sz1AC8
It was an absolutely fantastic exploration. Highly recommended.
youtu.be/bgmV4Sz1AC8
‘Thakumar Jhuli’ – The Ghost Stories of Bengali Folklore with Arya Ray
YouTube video by Romancing the Gothic
youtu.be
November 24, 2025 at 3:15 PM
If you missed this week's Romancing the Gothic talk, you can catch it here.
It was an absolutely fantastic exploration. Highly recommended.
youtu.be/bgmV4Sz1AC8
It was an absolutely fantastic exploration. Highly recommended.
youtu.be/bgmV4Sz1AC8
Reposted by Dr Sam Hirst
This weekend's Romancing the Gothic Blast from the Past is Dr Tim Jones talking about the
Non-fiction Gothic: Vampires and Ghosts in the 1960s/70s
Dive in!
youtu.be/yiV7_E2Bgyw
Non-fiction Gothic: Vampires and Ghosts in the 1960s/70s
Dive in!
youtu.be/yiV7_E2Bgyw
The Non-Fiction Gothic: Ghosts and Vampires in the 60s and 70s with Dr Tim Jones
YouTube video by Romancing the Gothic
youtu.be
November 24, 2025 at 3:55 AM
This weekend's Romancing the Gothic Blast from the Past is Dr Tim Jones talking about the
Non-fiction Gothic: Vampires and Ghosts in the 1960s/70s
Dive in!
youtu.be/yiV7_E2Bgyw
Non-fiction Gothic: Vampires and Ghosts in the 1960s/70s
Dive in!
youtu.be/yiV7_E2Bgyw
This weekend's Romancing the Gothic Blast from the Past is Dr Tim Jones talking about the
Non-fiction Gothic: Vampires and Ghosts in the 1960s/70s
Dive in!
youtu.be/yiV7_E2Bgyw
Non-fiction Gothic: Vampires and Ghosts in the 1960s/70s
Dive in!
youtu.be/yiV7_E2Bgyw
The Non-Fiction Gothic: Ghosts and Vampires in the 60s and 70s with Dr Tim Jones
YouTube video by Romancing the Gothic
youtu.be
November 24, 2025 at 3:55 AM
This weekend's Romancing the Gothic Blast from the Past is Dr Tim Jones talking about the
Non-fiction Gothic: Vampires and Ghosts in the 1960s/70s
Dive in!
youtu.be/yiV7_E2Bgyw
Non-fiction Gothic: Vampires and Ghosts in the 1960s/70s
Dive in!
youtu.be/yiV7_E2Bgyw
I had to take a bit of a break, or slow down at least, for the inevitable exhaustion and weird sleep patterns following travel across continents. Back on the wagon next week... and then hopefully I can take some actual holiday as well. Imagine!
Week 3 Summary
I went on holiday to Canada this week so everything slowed down a bit!
5 articles
2 novels
2 chapbooks
I went on holiday to Canada this week so everything slowed down a bit!
5 articles
2 novels
2 chapbooks
November 24, 2025 at 3:42 AM
I had to take a bit of a break, or slow down at least, for the inevitable exhaustion and weird sleep patterns following travel across continents. Back on the wagon next week... and then hopefully I can take some actual holiday as well. Imagine!
This is one of those books that people get put off because of the title but it is such a great read! It's also consistently been one of my most successful recommendations. If you haven't read it, give it a go!
39) The Memoirs and Confessions of a Justified Sinner by James Hogg
This is always a great read and I'm very much looking forward to discussing it with my Gothic class on Tuesday!
This is always a great read and I'm very much looking forward to discussing it with my Gothic class on Tuesday!
November 23, 2025 at 11:04 PM
This is one of those books that people get put off because of the title but it is such a great read! It's also consistently been one of my most successful recommendations. If you haven't read it, give it a go!
Details of a women's writing online conference!
Looks interesting!
Looks interesting!
November 23, 2025 at 10:46 PM
Details of a women's writing online conference!
Looks interesting!
Looks interesting!