William Dalrymple
@willdalrymple.bsky.social
Scottish historian & art historian; @EmpirePodUK.bsky.social podcaster & Jaipur Lit Fest co-director. Visiting Fellow at All Souls, Oxford. Writes the occasional book.
Pinned
Today we launch a new @empirepoduk.bsky.social mini-series to mark the beginning of the Ashes:
A FOREIGN FIELD:
THE HISTORY OF COLONIAL CRICKET
With Tim Wigmore @timwig
Author of Test Cricket: A History
Winner of this year's William Hill Sports Book of the Year
share.google/rukQ1zLzMQT8...
A FOREIGN FIELD:
THE HISTORY OF COLONIAL CRICKET
With Tim Wigmore @timwig
Author of Test Cricket: A History
Winner of this year's William Hill Sports Book of the Year
share.google/rukQ1zLzMQT8...
Reposted by William Dalrymple
A dog’s paw print on a Roman clay tile 🐾 🐕 😍
About 2,000 years-ago, a dog made its mark for ‘pawsterity’ when it wandered across the wet tile laid out to dry before firing.
From Richborough Roman fort
📷 by me
#TilesonTuesday
#Archaeology
About 2,000 years-ago, a dog made its mark for ‘pawsterity’ when it wandered across the wet tile laid out to dry before firing.
From Richborough Roman fort
📷 by me
#TilesonTuesday
#Archaeology
November 25, 2025 at 2:54 PM
A dog’s paw print on a Roman clay tile 🐾 🐕 😍
About 2,000 years-ago, a dog made its mark for ‘pawsterity’ when it wandered across the wet tile laid out to dry before firing.
From Richborough Roman fort
📷 by me
#TilesonTuesday
#Archaeology
About 2,000 years-ago, a dog made its mark for ‘pawsterity’ when it wandered across the wet tile laid out to dry before firing.
From Richborough Roman fort
📷 by me
#TilesonTuesday
#Archaeology
Reposted by William Dalrymple
How is the history of cricket intertwined with the history of the British Empire?
linktr.ee/empirepoduk
linktr.ee/empirepoduk
November 26, 2025 at 3:54 AM
How is the history of cricket intertwined with the history of the British Empire?
linktr.ee/empirepoduk
linktr.ee/empirepoduk
Reposted by William Dalrymple
Today we launch a new @empirepoduk.bsky.social mini-series to mark the beginning of the Ashes:
A FOREIGN FIELD:
THE HISTORY OF COLONIAL CRICKET
With Tim Wigmore @timwig
Author of Test Cricket: A History
Winner of this year's William Hill Sports Book of the Year
share.google/rukQ1zLzMQT8...
A FOREIGN FIELD:
THE HISTORY OF COLONIAL CRICKET
With Tim Wigmore @timwig
Author of Test Cricket: A History
Winner of this year's William Hill Sports Book of the Year
share.google/rukQ1zLzMQT8...
November 26, 2025 at 3:51 AM
Today we launch a new @empirepoduk.bsky.social mini-series to mark the beginning of the Ashes:
A FOREIGN FIELD:
THE HISTORY OF COLONIAL CRICKET
With Tim Wigmore @timwig
Author of Test Cricket: A History
Winner of this year's William Hill Sports Book of the Year
share.google/rukQ1zLzMQT8...
A FOREIGN FIELD:
THE HISTORY OF COLONIAL CRICKET
With Tim Wigmore @timwig
Author of Test Cricket: A History
Winner of this year's William Hill Sports Book of the Year
share.google/rukQ1zLzMQT8...
Reposted by William Dalrymple
Today we launch a new @empirepoduk.bsky.social mini-series to mark the beginning of the Ashes:
A FOREIGN FIELD:
THE HISTORY OF COLONIAL CRICKET
With Tim Wigmore @timwig
Author of Test Cricket: A History
Winner of this year's William Hill Sports Book of the Year
share.google/rukQ1zLzMQT8...
A FOREIGN FIELD:
THE HISTORY OF COLONIAL CRICKET
With Tim Wigmore @timwig
Author of Test Cricket: A History
Winner of this year's William Hill Sports Book of the Year
share.google/rukQ1zLzMQT8...
November 26, 2025 at 4:49 AM
Reposted by William Dalrymple
You've likely covered it but here is a picture of the first Australian cricket team in 1868 who played in England.
November 26, 2025 at 4:52 AM
You've likely covered it but here is a picture of the first Australian cricket team in 1868 who played in England.
Reposted by William Dalrymple
After the @ifbookspod.bsky.social Sapiens ep mentioned yuvals "take" on colonialism and cricket, this is a good chaser to wash it down.
Today we launch a new @empirepoduk.bsky.social mini-series to mark the beginning of the Ashes:
A FOREIGN FIELD:
THE HISTORY OF COLONIAL CRICKET
With Tim Wigmore @timwig
Author of Test Cricket: A History
Winner of this year's William Hill Sports Book of the Year
share.google/rukQ1zLzMQT8...
A FOREIGN FIELD:
THE HISTORY OF COLONIAL CRICKET
With Tim Wigmore @timwig
Author of Test Cricket: A History
Winner of this year's William Hill Sports Book of the Year
share.google/rukQ1zLzMQT8...
November 26, 2025 at 4:50 AM
After the @ifbookspod.bsky.social Sapiens ep mentioned yuvals "take" on colonialism and cricket, this is a good chaser to wash it down.
Reposted by William Dalrymple
Oh heck yes, folding this in to my sports and politics class next academic year
Today we launch a new @empirepoduk.bsky.social mini-series to mark the beginning of the Ashes:
A FOREIGN FIELD:
THE HISTORY OF COLONIAL CRICKET
With Tim Wigmore @timwig
Author of Test Cricket: A History
Winner of this year's William Hill Sports Book of the Year
share.google/rukQ1zLzMQT8...
A FOREIGN FIELD:
THE HISTORY OF COLONIAL CRICKET
With Tim Wigmore @timwig
Author of Test Cricket: A History
Winner of this year's William Hill Sports Book of the Year
share.google/rukQ1zLzMQT8...
November 26, 2025 at 4:24 AM
Oh heck yes, folding this in to my sports and politics class next academic year
Reposted by William Dalrymple
This thread
Today we launch a new @empirepoduk.bsky.social mini-series to mark the beginning of the Ashes:
A FOREIGN FIELD:
THE HISTORY OF COLONIAL CRICKET
With Tim Wigmore @timwig
Author of Test Cricket: A History
Winner of this year's William Hill Sports Book of the Year
share.google/rukQ1zLzMQT8...
A FOREIGN FIELD:
THE HISTORY OF COLONIAL CRICKET
With Tim Wigmore @timwig
Author of Test Cricket: A History
Winner of this year's William Hill Sports Book of the Year
share.google/rukQ1zLzMQT8...
November 26, 2025 at 4:06 AM
This thread
Today we launch a new @empirepoduk.bsky.social mini-series to mark the beginning of the Ashes:
A FOREIGN FIELD:
THE HISTORY OF COLONIAL CRICKET
With Tim Wigmore @timwig
Author of Test Cricket: A History
Winner of this year's William Hill Sports Book of the Year
share.google/rukQ1zLzMQT8...
A FOREIGN FIELD:
THE HISTORY OF COLONIAL CRICKET
With Tim Wigmore @timwig
Author of Test Cricket: A History
Winner of this year's William Hill Sports Book of the Year
share.google/rukQ1zLzMQT8...
November 26, 2025 at 3:51 AM
Today we launch a new @empirepoduk.bsky.social mini-series to mark the beginning of the Ashes:
A FOREIGN FIELD:
THE HISTORY OF COLONIAL CRICKET
With Tim Wigmore @timwig
Author of Test Cricket: A History
Winner of this year's William Hill Sports Book of the Year
share.google/rukQ1zLzMQT8...
A FOREIGN FIELD:
THE HISTORY OF COLONIAL CRICKET
With Tim Wigmore @timwig
Author of Test Cricket: A History
Winner of this year's William Hill Sports Book of the Year
share.google/rukQ1zLzMQT8...
Reposted by William Dalrymple
This is a lovely piece in the RA mag. I was immediately hooked on the story of these bold, beautiful, unconventional women and their extraordinary cultural life (quite a family..!)
The Watts Gallery being conveniently near my sister's house, I feel a road trip to Surrey coming on...
#art
The Watts Gallery being conveniently near my sister's house, I feel a road trip to Surrey coming on...
#art
Very excited about the exhibition on the Pattle Sisters, the Franco-Bengali sisterhood who helped shape 19thC art, one of whom was Julia Margaret Cameron and another of whom, Sophia, was my great great grandmother. The exhibition opens next week the Watts Gallery
November 24, 2025 at 10:32 PM
This is a lovely piece in the RA mag. I was immediately hooked on the story of these bold, beautiful, unconventional women and their extraordinary cultural life (quite a family..!)
The Watts Gallery being conveniently near my sister's house, I feel a road trip to Surrey coming on...
#art
The Watts Gallery being conveniently near my sister's house, I feel a road trip to Surrey coming on...
#art
Very excited about the exhibition on the Pattle Sisters, the Franco-Bengali sisterhood who helped shape 19thC art, one of whom was Julia Margaret Cameron and another of whom, Sophia, was my great great grandmother. The exhibition opens next week the Watts Gallery
November 24, 2025 at 9:41 PM
Very excited about the exhibition on the Pattle Sisters, the Franco-Bengali sisterhood who helped shape 19thC art, one of whom was Julia Margaret Cameron and another of whom, Sophia, was my great great grandmother. The exhibition opens next week the Watts Gallery
Very pleased to see that both Sammy & I are on the list for the NPR Non Fiction Books of the Year
#GoldenRoad #ShatteredLands
apps.npr.org/best-books/#...
#GoldenRoad #ShatteredLands
apps.npr.org/best-books/#...
Books We Love
Here are 380+ great reads from 2025 handpicked just for you by NPR staffers and trusted critics.
apps.npr.org
November 24, 2025 at 5:12 PM
Very pleased to see that both Sammy & I are on the list for the NPR Non Fiction Books of the Year
#GoldenRoad #ShatteredLands
apps.npr.org/best-books/#...
#GoldenRoad #ShatteredLands
apps.npr.org/best-books/#...
Reposted by William Dalrymple
Listen NOW wherever you get your podcasts.
While you're at it, join the Empire Club to listen ad-free to all our episodes, as well as lots of bonus content!
empirepod.supportingcast.fm
While you're at it, join the Empire Club to listen ad-free to all our episodes, as well as lots of bonus content!
empirepod.supportingcast.fm
November 20, 2025 at 5:52 PM
Listen NOW wherever you get your podcasts.
While you're at it, join the Empire Club to listen ad-free to all our episodes, as well as lots of bonus content!
empirepod.supportingcast.fm
While you're at it, join the Empire Club to listen ad-free to all our episodes, as well as lots of bonus content!
empirepod.supportingcast.fm
Reposted by William Dalrymple
What was the origin story of Hergé, the Belgian illustrator who created The Adventures of Tintin?
Why did he later regret his cartoon's depiction of Belgium's brutal rule in the Congo?
And, how did Tintin feature in anti-Soviet and Nazi propaganda?
Why did he later regret his cartoon's depiction of Belgium's brutal rule in the Congo?
And, how did Tintin feature in anti-Soviet and Nazi propaganda?
November 20, 2025 at 5:52 PM
What was the origin story of Hergé, the Belgian illustrator who created The Adventures of Tintin?
Why did he later regret his cartoon's depiction of Belgium's brutal rule in the Congo?
And, how did Tintin feature in anti-Soviet and Nazi propaganda?
Why did he later regret his cartoon's depiction of Belgium's brutal rule in the Congo?
And, how did Tintin feature in anti-Soviet and Nazi propaganda?
Reposted by William Dalrymple
💥NEW EPISODE OUT TODAY💥
Following on from last week, @willdalrymple.bsky.social and @anitaanand.bsky.social dive into the complex history of everyone's favourite journalist with a quiff ...
... Tintin!
Following on from last week, @willdalrymple.bsky.social and @anitaanand.bsky.social dive into the complex history of everyone's favourite journalist with a quiff ...
... Tintin!
November 20, 2025 at 5:52 PM
💥NEW EPISODE OUT TODAY💥
Following on from last week, @willdalrymple.bsky.social and @anitaanand.bsky.social dive into the complex history of everyone's favourite journalist with a quiff ...
... Tintin!
Following on from last week, @willdalrymple.bsky.social and @anitaanand.bsky.social dive into the complex history of everyone's favourite journalist with a quiff ...
... Tintin!
November 20, 2025 at 6:12 AM
Reposted by William Dalrymple
A reminder that seven years ago almost to the day, the CIA determined that Mohammed Bin Salman ordered the killing of @washingtonpost.com journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
I hired and worked with Jamal for a year.
www.washingtonpost.com/world/nation...
I hired and worked with Jamal for a year.
www.washingtonpost.com/world/nation...
CIA concludes Saudi crown prince ordered Jamal Khashoggi’s assassination
Audio recordings, intercepted phone calls and other intelligence link Mohammed bin Salman to killing that Saudis say was conducted by rogue elements.
www.washingtonpost.com
November 18, 2025 at 6:05 PM
A reminder that seven years ago almost to the day, the CIA determined that Mohammed Bin Salman ordered the killing of @washingtonpost.com journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
I hired and worked with Jamal for a year.
www.washingtonpost.com/world/nation...
I hired and worked with Jamal for a year.
www.washingtonpost.com/world/nation...
Reposted by William Dalrymple
Damn. William here is about to ruin Babar for me. I loved it as a kid and have not returned because I know it’s super problematic. Time to face the facts.
New from @EmpirePodUK
Our series on Writers of Empire continues with a look at colonial cartoons. How should we feel about racist depictions in our most beloved children’s books? @anitaanand.bsky.social & I wrestle with the conundrum of the colonial undercurrents in comics.
linktr.ee/empirepoduk
Our series on Writers of Empire continues with a look at colonial cartoons. How should we feel about racist depictions in our most beloved children’s books? @anitaanand.bsky.social & I wrestle with the conundrum of the colonial undercurrents in comics.
linktr.ee/empirepoduk
November 19, 2025 at 6:18 AM
Damn. William here is about to ruin Babar for me. I loved it as a kid and have not returned because I know it’s super problematic. Time to face the facts.
New from @EmpirePodUK
Our series on Writers of Empire continues with a look at colonial cartoons. How should we feel about racist depictions in our most beloved children’s books? @anitaanand.bsky.social & I wrestle with the conundrum of the colonial undercurrents in comics.
linktr.ee/empirepoduk
Our series on Writers of Empire continues with a look at colonial cartoons. How should we feel about racist depictions in our most beloved children’s books? @anitaanand.bsky.social & I wrestle with the conundrum of the colonial undercurrents in comics.
linktr.ee/empirepoduk
November 19, 2025 at 6:02 AM
New from @EmpirePodUK
Our series on Writers of Empire continues with a look at colonial cartoons. How should we feel about racist depictions in our most beloved children’s books? @anitaanand.bsky.social & I wrestle with the conundrum of the colonial undercurrents in comics.
linktr.ee/empirepoduk
Our series on Writers of Empire continues with a look at colonial cartoons. How should we feel about racist depictions in our most beloved children’s books? @anitaanand.bsky.social & I wrestle with the conundrum of the colonial undercurrents in comics.
linktr.ee/empirepoduk
Reposted by William Dalrymple
This is good news
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Powerful new antibiotic that can kill superbugs discovered in soil bacteria
Surprise discovery could pave the way for new treatments against drug-resistant infections.
www.nature.com
November 16, 2025 at 6:03 PM
This is good news
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Reposted by William Dalrymple
Artist’s painting of an acrobatic dancer on a flake of limestone, c. 1292 - 1077 BC.
Around 3,000 years ago in ancient Egypt, artists used stone fragments for painting and drawing instead of paper sketchpads!
From Deir el-Medina. Museo Egizio, Turin 📷 by me
#Archaeology
Around 3,000 years ago in ancient Egypt, artists used stone fragments for painting and drawing instead of paper sketchpads!
From Deir el-Medina. Museo Egizio, Turin 📷 by me
#Archaeology
November 15, 2025 at 4:05 PM
Artist’s painting of an acrobatic dancer on a flake of limestone, c. 1292 - 1077 BC.
Around 3,000 years ago in ancient Egypt, artists used stone fragments for painting and drawing instead of paper sketchpads!
From Deir el-Medina. Museo Egizio, Turin 📷 by me
#Archaeology
Around 3,000 years ago in ancient Egypt, artists used stone fragments for painting and drawing instead of paper sketchpads!
From Deir el-Medina. Museo Egizio, Turin 📷 by me
#Archaeology
Reposted by William Dalrymple
Was a delight to appear on @empirepoduk.bsky.social with @willdalrymple.bsky.social & @anitaanand.bsky.social- available to listen now…
⏰NEW EPISODE OUT TODAY⏰
Austen and Brontë: Unmasking Slavery Heiresses
@willdalrymple.bsky.social and @anitaanand.bsky.social are joined by Dr Miranda Kauffman, to discuss the often-ignored connections between these famous authors and slavery heiresses.
Austen and Brontë: Unmasking Slavery Heiresses
@willdalrymple.bsky.social and @anitaanand.bsky.social are joined by Dr Miranda Kauffman, to discuss the often-ignored connections between these famous authors and slavery heiresses.
November 15, 2025 at 5:16 PM
Was a delight to appear on @empirepoduk.bsky.social with @willdalrymple.bsky.social & @anitaanand.bsky.social- available to listen now…
Reposted by William Dalrymple
The latest Epstein email rumor is destined to be known as Cockwork orange
November 15, 2025 at 3:44 PM
The latest Epstein email rumor is destined to be known as Cockwork orange
Reposted by William Dalrymple
Listen NOW wherever you get your podcasts.
While you're at it, join the Empire Club to listen ad-free and binge the next 2 episodes in our Writers of Empire series!
empirepod.supportingcast.fm
While you're at it, join the Empire Club to listen ad-free and binge the next 2 episodes in our Writers of Empire series!
empirepod.supportingcast.fm
November 13, 2025 at 4:20 PM
Listen NOW wherever you get your podcasts.
While you're at it, join the Empire Club to listen ad-free and binge the next 2 episodes in our Writers of Empire series!
empirepod.supportingcast.fm
While you're at it, join the Empire Club to listen ad-free and binge the next 2 episodes in our Writers of Empire series!
empirepod.supportingcast.fm
Reposted by William Dalrymple
Was Charlotte Brontë's “madwoman in the attic” a Jamaican heiress? Did Jane Austen's Mansfield Park sideline the slave wealth of its characters? How was her own family tied to the Caribbean plantations?
November 13, 2025 at 4:20 PM
Was Charlotte Brontë's “madwoman in the attic” a Jamaican heiress? Did Jane Austen's Mansfield Park sideline the slave wealth of its characters? How was her own family tied to the Caribbean plantations?