Luke Seaber
@thelong1930s.bsky.social
Senior Teaching Fellow in Modern European Culture, UCL. Proudly Cornish and quasi-Italian. Interested in the 1930s (1848-1950). Biographer of Celia Fremlin.
Reposted by Luke Seaber
a cancer nurse in a state I've never been to told messaged me and said that reading out Rice Truck aloud as it happened was the only day in her entire 14 year career on chemo ward that nobody cried and it's probably the best compliment I will ever get in my life
What is the best compliment you ever received? Putting aside whether or not you believed it.
November 27, 2025 at 1:21 PM
a cancer nurse in a state I've never been to told messaged me and said that reading out Rice Truck aloud as it happened was the only day in her entire 14 year career on chemo ward that nobody cried and it's probably the best compliment I will ever get in my life
Reposted by Luke Seaber
I'm super pleased to announce that my book, Psychic Connection and the Twentieth-Century British Novel is out in paperback with Edinburgh University Press next month!
The paperback is already very reasonably priced (if I do say so myself), but the code PAPER30 will get you 30% off.
The paperback is already very reasonably priced (if I do say so myself), but the code PAPER30 will get you 30% off.
Psychic Connection and the Twentieth-Century British Novel
Psychic Connection and the Twentieth-Century British Novel
edinburghuniversitypress.com
November 27, 2025 at 1:15 PM
I'm super pleased to announce that my book, Psychic Connection and the Twentieth-Century British Novel is out in paperback with Edinburgh University Press next month!
The paperback is already very reasonably priced (if I do say so myself), but the code PAPER30 will get you 30% off.
The paperback is already very reasonably priced (if I do say so myself), but the code PAPER30 will get you 30% off.
Reposted by Luke Seaber
If you want some good news this morning, I showed my three boys the PM doing the six/seven thing and now they have all stopped doing it.
November 27, 2025 at 7:03 AM
If you want some good news this morning, I showed my three boys the PM doing the six/seven thing and now they have all stopped doing it.
Reposted by Luke Seaber
You know what we won't need once handwriting recognition software has done its thing? Archivists, curators, conservators, catalogers, codicologists, or paleographers. We won't need archives either. We won't need diplomatics, editorial theory, book or media history, or material culture studies 🗃️🧵
November 26, 2025 at 10:12 PM
You know what we won't need once handwriting recognition software has done its thing? Archivists, curators, conservators, catalogers, codicologists, or paleographers. We won't need archives either. We won't need diplomatics, editorial theory, book or media history, or material culture studies 🗃️🧵
Reposted by Luke Seaber
What else won't matter? Evidence from an author's handwriting, watermarks, paper, parchment, mold, folds, stains, seals, signatures, or other signs of usage. Guido Fawkes' signature after having been tortured will look the same as after he recovered; Emily's Dickinson's dashes will be em-dashes
November 26, 2025 at 10:12 PM
What else won't matter? Evidence from an author's handwriting, watermarks, paper, parchment, mold, folds, stains, seals, signatures, or other signs of usage. Guido Fawkes' signature after having been tortured will look the same as after he recovered; Emily's Dickinson's dashes will be em-dashes
Reposted by Luke Seaber
I'm an "A.i." abolitionist.
No consumer-facing LLMs or generative "A.i." in anything.
Sure, machine learning in science and a few other limited applications is fine.
But consumer-facing LLMs and generative "A.i." that are based on theft, push disinfo, and can be manipulated by billionaires?
No.
No consumer-facing LLMs or generative "A.i." in anything.
Sure, machine learning in science and a few other limited applications is fine.
But consumer-facing LLMs and generative "A.i." that are based on theft, push disinfo, and can be manipulated by billionaires?
No.
July 8, 2025 at 11:53 PM
I'm an "A.i." abolitionist.
No consumer-facing LLMs or generative "A.i." in anything.
Sure, machine learning in science and a few other limited applications is fine.
But consumer-facing LLMs and generative "A.i." that are based on theft, push disinfo, and can be manipulated by billionaires?
No.
No consumer-facing LLMs or generative "A.i." in anything.
Sure, machine learning in science and a few other limited applications is fine.
But consumer-facing LLMs and generative "A.i." that are based on theft, push disinfo, and can be manipulated by billionaires?
No.
Reposted by Luke Seaber
It appears that the source of the Observer’s #Orwell tagline may well be a 1980s tv commercial. #TheEnemyofNonsense www.darcymoore.net/2025/11/27/t...
‘The Enemy of Nonsense’ - Darcy Moore
George Orwell, who wrote for The Observer, described it as “the enemy of nonsense”. Now, more than ever, it has a job to do. James Harding, Editor-in-Chief It was with great interest I read James ...
www.darcymoore.net
November 27, 2025 at 7:35 AM
It appears that the source of the Observer’s #Orwell tagline may well be a 1980s tv commercial. #TheEnemyofNonsense www.darcymoore.net/2025/11/27/t...
Reposted by Luke Seaber
New Celia Fremlin novel drops.
He got married again just before Xmas & Jacky did not like it & kept abusing his wife over the telephone.
November 25, 2025 at 3:44 PM
New Celia Fremlin novel drops.
Reposted by Luke Seaber
Lots of people sharing this clip because it's funny and cathartic but I also genuinely believe it's important.
We have to win the narrative battle between "I live in a corrupt society and that's just how it is" and "I live in a corrupt society and we are going to defeat and humiliate these ghouls."
We have to win the narrative battle between "I live in a corrupt society and that's just how it is" and "I live in a corrupt society and we are going to defeat and humiliate these ghouls."
Good morning to Brazilian reporter Manuela Borges, who’s been waiting eleven years for this petty moment. ❤️ 🇧🇷
November 26, 2025 at 4:07 PM
Lots of people sharing this clip because it's funny and cathartic but I also genuinely believe it's important.
We have to win the narrative battle between "I live in a corrupt society and that's just how it is" and "I live in a corrupt society and we are going to defeat and humiliate these ghouls."
We have to win the narrative battle between "I live in a corrupt society and that's just how it is" and "I live in a corrupt society and we are going to defeat and humiliate these ghouls."
I’m oddly convinced that this is (unlikelily) something the UK is really good at: the lionization of eccentricity allows people to like a very ‘eclectic’ range of things, far more so than anywhere else I know.
So many men go through life like that. You can play poker because it's right-coded, you can't enjoy fruity alcoholic drinks because they're women-coded, you can't lick an ice cream cone because it's gay-coded. All day, every day, choosing and judging things based on coding for narrow norms.
November 26, 2025 at 4:25 PM
I’m oddly convinced that this is (unlikelily) something the UK is really good at: the lionization of eccentricity allows people to like a very ‘eclectic’ range of things, far more so than anywhere else I know.
Reposted by Luke Seaber
Here is your Wednesday lunchtime/shouty budget emergency fluffy kitten
November 26, 2025 at 1:53 PM
Here is your Wednesday lunchtime/shouty budget emergency fluffy kitten
Reposted by Luke Seaber
Good morning to Brazilian reporter Manuela Borges, who’s been waiting eleven years for this petty moment. ❤️ 🇧🇷
November 26, 2025 at 1:04 PM
Good morning to Brazilian reporter Manuela Borges, who’s been waiting eleven years for this petty moment. ❤️ 🇧🇷
My true and only guilty pleasure is watching videos of people eating English mustard in this unfortunate way.
No. The English equivalent was putting an inch thick layer of Colemams yellow mustard on a small cracker.
I felt bad for laughing at her as she was in genuine distress.
I felt bad for laughing at her as she was in genuine distress.
November 26, 2025 at 9:39 AM
My true and only guilty pleasure is watching videos of people eating English mustard in this unfortunate way.
Reposted by Luke Seaber
Proud of a property lawyer friend who, asked by students at a university society talk, whether London property was ‘still a good investment’ replied no, because to regard houses and flats as an investment rather than somewhere to live is immoral. Not the answer they expected, she said.
November 26, 2025 at 9:26 AM
Proud of a property lawyer friend who, asked by students at a university society talk, whether London property was ‘still a good investment’ replied no, because to regard houses and flats as an investment rather than somewhere to live is immoral. Not the answer they expected, she said.
The book to which - by chance - I owe my getting back into academia…
I love this book.
I love this book.
After listening to the second iteration of the @backlisted.bsky.social on All the Devils are Here (Una’s Version?) (the Miller redux?) i’m finally diving in.
November 25, 2025 at 9:48 PM
The book to which - by chance - I owe my getting back into academia…
I love this book.
I love this book.
Reposted by Luke Seaber
It certainly lingers, and can see why @backlisted.bsky.social went back. It’s a ‘what did I just read?’, ‘was any of that true?’… go back start again, trace the descent into darkness rather than follow the particular plot of the ‘histories’. Well that’s what I’ll do.
November 25, 2025 at 9:47 PM
It certainly lingers, and can see why @backlisted.bsky.social went back. It’s a ‘what did I just read?’, ‘was any of that true?’… go back start again, trace the descent into darkness rather than follow the particular plot of the ‘histories’. Well that’s what I’ll do.
Reposted by Luke Seaber
After listening to the second iteration of the @backlisted.bsky.social on All the Devils are Here (Una’s Version?) (the Miller redux?) i’m finally diving in.
November 16, 2025 at 9:04 PM
After listening to the second iteration of the @backlisted.bsky.social on All the Devils are Here (Una’s Version?) (the Miller redux?) i’m finally diving in.
Reposted by Luke Seaber
Wow! This systemic problem is really structural and far-reaching. Anyway, here are three tips for how you an individual can fix your conduct
November 25, 2025 at 2:06 PM
Wow! This systemic problem is really structural and far-reaching. Anyway, here are three tips for how you an individual can fix your conduct
Reposted by Luke Seaber
Stop. Doing. Government. By. Uninformed. Vibes. Checks.
Poll these exact same people after any of us have explained that international students are who keep unis afloat, that staff is already being shrunk & overworked, that this will 100% tank unis, and they'll tank the local economy with them.
Poll these exact same people after any of us have explained that international students are who keep unis afloat, that staff is already being shrunk & overworked, that this will 100% tank unis, and they'll tank the local economy with them.
With Rachel Reeves reportedly set to apply a new tax on tuition fees paid by overseas students, most Britons support such a move at the previously mooted level of 6%
Support: 57%
Oppose: 18%
yougov.co.uk/topics/socie...
Support: 57%
Oppose: 18%
yougov.co.uk/topics/socie...
November 24, 2025 at 6:34 PM
Stop. Doing. Government. By. Uninformed. Vibes. Checks.
Poll these exact same people after any of us have explained that international students are who keep unis afloat, that staff is already being shrunk & overworked, that this will 100% tank unis, and they'll tank the local economy with them.
Poll these exact same people after any of us have explained that international students are who keep unis afloat, that staff is already being shrunk & overworked, that this will 100% tank unis, and they'll tank the local economy with them.
Reposted by Luke Seaber
The airframe of a Spitfire or comparable a/c was never expected to last much beyond 150-200 flying hours. Chuck em together and get them up there was the QC philosophy.
one thing i don't think people appreciate about military technology of the WW2 era is that there was a vastly lower expectation of what counted as "reliable"
November 24, 2025 at 12:07 PM
The airframe of a Spitfire or comparable a/c was never expected to last much beyond 150-200 flying hours. Chuck em together and get them up there was the QC philosophy.
Reposted by Luke Seaber
The second problem with this — after the fact that it will bankrupt a bunch of institutions — is that the government doesn’t seem to know if it wants to a) raise lots of money from intentional students or b) discourage universities from relying on international students. You can’t have both!!
These are HEPI estimates of the 20 institutions affected: I think this illustrates the impact if the tariff is absorbed in full by institutions.
What share of the 6% tariff different universities may try to pass on to fees - or the impact might be on demand if they did - is not publicly known.
What share of the 6% tariff different universities may try to pass on to fees - or the impact might be on demand if they did - is not publicly known.
November 24, 2025 at 11:06 AM
The second problem with this — after the fact that it will bankrupt a bunch of institutions — is that the government doesn’t seem to know if it wants to a) raise lots of money from intentional students or b) discourage universities from relying on international students. You can’t have both!!
Reposted by Luke Seaber
Anyone who can look at the current underfunded state of UK universities and think there's half a billion quid you can take out of the sector without doing catastrophic damage is just not fit for office.
November 24, 2025 at 7:56 AM
Anyone who can look at the current underfunded state of UK universities and think there's half a billion quid you can take out of the sector without doing catastrophic damage is just not fit for office.
Reposted by Luke Seaber
We pour billions into saving an economically tiny steel industry whilst actively destroying one of our largest export industries. (Yes, higher education to overseas students who already massively subsidise UK students, are counted as exports).
i: Reeves to unveil £600m raid on foreign student
university fees #TomorrowsPapersToday
university fees #TomorrowsPapersToday
November 24, 2025 at 7:37 AM
We pour billions into saving an economically tiny steel industry whilst actively destroying one of our largest export industries. (Yes, higher education to overseas students who already massively subsidise UK students, are counted as exports).
Reposted by Luke Seaber
We hear a lot about the ideological reasons for the attack on HE, but I think we underestimate the effect of practically everyone in government being bloody stupid and having no interest whatsoever in how anything works.
November 24, 2025 at 8:25 AM
We hear a lot about the ideological reasons for the attack on HE, but I think we underestimate the effect of practically everyone in government being bloody stupid and having no interest whatsoever in how anything works.
Reposted by Luke Seaber
Seriously, UK establishment, try to show your humane side in this.
International students are reading these headlines, and they are seeing how they’re turned into a political football, not the learners in a very precarious position that they are.
International students are reading these headlines, and they are seeing how they’re turned into a political football, not the learners in a very precarious position that they are.
Props to the first journalist who asks how international students are actually doing while being turned into a political football.
Could start with the dangers of reporting bullying and the way university’s research reputations are upheld by those they make most precarious (and try to silence):
Could start with the dangers of reporting bullying and the way university’s research reputations are upheld by those they make most precarious (and try to silence):
November 24, 2025 at 7:36 AM
Seriously, UK establishment, try to show your humane side in this.
International students are reading these headlines, and they are seeing how they’re turned into a political football, not the learners in a very precarious position that they are.
International students are reading these headlines, and they are seeing how they’re turned into a political football, not the learners in a very precarious position that they are.