Heather Williams
@heatherhmw.bsky.social
Literature in French and Welsh/Cymraeg, travel writing, translation studies, comparative literature, minority studies, nineteenth century, Brittany/Breizh, Society of Dix-neuviémistes
Reposted by Heather Williams
Not just a national asset but an international asset. Trashed, ignored, diminished.
The worst of times: Trouble at the British Library
Cyber chaos, striking staff and a crisis of leadership. Claudia Cockerell investigates a national treasure’s year of reckoning
www.standard.co.uk
December 22, 2025 at 10:49 AM
Not just a national asset but an international asset. Trashed, ignored, diminished.
Congratulations Max and Michael. I would love to get my hands on this one!
My co-editor, Michael Cronin, and I are pleased to announce the publication of The Irish Proust: Cultural Crossings from Beckett to McGahern with @bloomsburyacad.bsky.social. @uksdn.bsky.social @tcddublin.bsky.social
www.bloomsbury.com/uk/irish-pro...
www.bloomsbury.com/uk/irish-pro...
The Irish Proust
This collection of essays is the first book devoted to exploring Marcel Proust's influence on Irish literature and Irish themes within his work. Featuring contr…
www.bloomsbury.com
December 17, 2025 at 8:48 PM
Congratulations Max and Michael. I would love to get my hands on this one!
Reposted by Heather Williams
Calling all of our members interested in women in/and musical history! This promises to be a very exciting few days!
CfP: Women and Musical Histories, 1789–1914
Submit by 31 Jan 26
Royal Academy of Music, London; 3-4 Sept 2026
They welcome papers (20 mins) & lecture-recitals (30 mins) that address the broad theme of women in/and musical history across the period 1789–1914.
www.ram.ac.uk/research/wom...
Submit by 31 Jan 26
Royal Academy of Music, London; 3-4 Sept 2026
They welcome papers (20 mins) & lecture-recitals (30 mins) that address the broad theme of women in/and musical history across the period 1789–1914.
www.ram.ac.uk/research/wom...
Women and Musical Histories, 1789–1914 | Royal Academy of Music
Find out more about the Academy's upcoming research conference: Women and Musical Histories, 1789-1914.
www.ram.ac.uk
December 17, 2025 at 7:17 PM
Calling all of our members interested in women in/and musical history! This promises to be a very exciting few days!
Reposted by Heather Williams
If confirmed, this is great news, offering thousands of young people in the UK and EU the life-changing opportunity to immerse in the language and culture of another country by studying there. Would make good a highly damaging consequence of Brexit. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Erasmus scheme to return for UK students, BBC understands
The UK ended its participation in the scheme in 2020 after agreeing a Brexit deal with the EU.
www.bbc.co.uk
December 17, 2025 at 8:54 AM
If confirmed, this is great news, offering thousands of young people in the UK and EU the life-changing opportunity to immerse in the language and culture of another country by studying there. Would make good a highly damaging consequence of Brexit. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Reposted by Heather Williams
Reposted by Heather Williams
'I am less inclined to call on the Government for a solution to the British Library’s ongoing issues since, despite repeated calls for action, the UK Government has largely ignored the similar crisis within UK Higher Education.' 1/3
Don’t rely on government to save the British Library - Impact of Social Sciences
Following a catastrophic hack British Library remains in crisis. Can it recover by refocusing on the people, skills and systems that enable it to function?
blogs.lse.ac.uk
December 3, 2025 at 9:34 AM
'I am less inclined to call on the Government for a solution to the British Library’s ongoing issues since, despite repeated calls for action, the UK Government has largely ignored the similar crisis within UK Higher Education.' 1/3
Reposted by Heather Williams
The CFP for the 2026 Society for the Study of French History conference has just been launched. Come join us in Groningen! frenchhistorysociety.co.uk/conference2/
Conference2 – SSFH
frenchhistorysociety.co.uk
December 1, 2025 at 4:50 PM
The CFP for the 2026 Society for the Study of French History conference has just been launched. Come join us in Groningen! frenchhistorysociety.co.uk/conference2/
Reposted by Heather Williams
Today is the deadline! Send us those last minute abstracts!
We are delighted to announce that our call for papers for the next annual SDN conference, on the theme of 'Health and happiness/La santé et le bonheur', to take place in Cardiff 8-10 April, is now online, and our new abstract submission form is open for business!
December 1, 2025 at 12:33 PM
Today is the deadline! Send us those last minute abstracts!
Reposted by Heather Williams
Anonymised submissions should be sent by email by 5pm on Friday 30 January 2026 to Heather Williams ([email protected]).
Full details are available on our website: uksdn.co.uk/sdn-publicat...
Full details are available on our website: uksdn.co.uk/sdn-publicat...
SDN Publication Prize
Society of Dix-Neuviémistes (SDN) Publication Prize 2026 The 2026 SDN Publication Prize is now open for entries. About the prize One of the chief aims of the Society of Dix-Neuviémistes is to promo…
uksdn.co.uk
December 1, 2025 at 12:34 PM
Anonymised submissions should be sent by email by 5pm on Friday 30 January 2026 to Heather Williams ([email protected]).
Full details are available on our website: uksdn.co.uk/sdn-publicat...
Full details are available on our website: uksdn.co.uk/sdn-publicat...
Reposted by Heather Williams
💫SDN Publication Prize 2025 💫
The 2026 SDN Publication Prize is now open for entries. The Society awards an annual prize for the best journal article published by a PG student, or an early-career researcher who has not yet entered her or his first permanent full-time post.
The 2026 SDN Publication Prize is now open for entries. The Society awards an annual prize for the best journal article published by a PG student, or an early-career researcher who has not yet entered her or his first permanent full-time post.
December 1, 2025 at 12:34 PM
💫SDN Publication Prize 2025 💫
The 2026 SDN Publication Prize is now open for entries. The Society awards an annual prize for the best journal article published by a PG student, or an early-career researcher who has not yet entered her or his first permanent full-time post.
The 2026 SDN Publication Prize is now open for entries. The Society awards an annual prize for the best journal article published by a PG student, or an early-career researcher who has not yet entered her or his first permanent full-time post.
Reposted by Heather Williams
We would be particularly delighted to see Postgraduate and Early Career colleagues submitting abstracts for this conference - from training sessions to a specific reception and just good company, there is plenty for you at SDN!
We are delighted to announce that our call for papers for the next annual SDN conference, on the theme of 'Health and happiness/La santé et le bonheur', to take place in Cardiff 8-10 April, is now online, and our new abstract submission form is open for business!
November 28, 2025 at 1:33 PM
We would be particularly delighted to see Postgraduate and Early Career colleagues submitting abstracts for this conference - from training sessions to a specific reception and just good company, there is plenty for you at SDN!
Reposted by Heather Williams
Only a few days till the deadline! Still time to get your proposal in...
We are delighted to announce that our call for papers for the next annual SDN conference, on the theme of 'Health and happiness/La santé et le bonheur', to take place in Cardiff 8-10 April, is now online, and our new abstract submission form is open for business!
November 26, 2025 at 11:26 AM
Only a few days till the deadline! Still time to get your proposal in...
Reposted by Heather Williams
The SDN has written to Senior Management at the University of Leicester to urge them to reconsider their threatened closure of Modern Languages. #SaveLeicesterML.
Please consider signing this petition shared by a member of our nineteenth
C19 French studies community: www.change.org/p/save-moder...
Please consider signing this petition shared by a member of our nineteenth
C19 French studies community: www.change.org/p/save-moder...
Sign the Petition
Save Modern Languages courses at the University of Leicester!
www.change.org
November 27, 2025 at 11:51 AM
The SDN has written to Senior Management at the University of Leicester to urge them to reconsider their threatened closure of Modern Languages. #SaveLeicesterML.
Please consider signing this petition shared by a member of our nineteenth
C19 French studies community: www.change.org/p/save-moder...
Please consider signing this petition shared by a member of our nineteenth
C19 French studies community: www.change.org/p/save-moder...
Reposted by Heather Williams
What makes historic collections difficult? And how do researchers work with “difficult” collections?
New CFP from Paper Trails here:
blogs.ucl.ac.uk/special-coll...
Deadline for proposals 31/1/2026
🗃️
New CFP from Paper Trails here:
blogs.ucl.ac.uk/special-coll...
Deadline for proposals 31/1/2026
🗃️
Call for Papers: Difficult Collections | UCL UCL Special Collections
UCL Homepage
blogs.ucl.ac.uk
November 27, 2025 at 6:21 PM
What makes historic collections difficult? And how do researchers work with “difficult” collections?
New CFP from Paper Trails here:
blogs.ucl.ac.uk/special-coll...
Deadline for proposals 31/1/2026
🗃️
New CFP from Paper Trails here:
blogs.ucl.ac.uk/special-coll...
Deadline for proposals 31/1/2026
🗃️
The procession of university language closures will trip up UK diplomacy www.timeshighereducation.com/opinion/proc...
The procession of university language closures will trip up UK diplomacy
The government needs to signal its demand for elite foreign language skills before more universities leave provision to inferior alternatives, says Ian Proud
www.timeshighereducation.com
November 25, 2025 at 8:53 AM
The procession of university language closures will trip up UK diplomacy www.timeshighereducation.com/opinion/proc...
Reposted by Heather Williams
The SDN has written to Senior Management at the University of Nottingham to urge them to reconsider their threatened suspension of Modern Languages. #SaveNottinghamLanguages #WeAreUoN @uniofnottingham.bsky.social Please sign, comment on, and share, the linked petition: x.com/uk_sdn/statu...
SDN on X: "https://t.co/ns3doOek9I" / X
https://t.co/ns3doOek9I
x.com
November 24, 2025 at 12:17 PM
The SDN has written to Senior Management at the University of Nottingham to urge them to reconsider their threatened suspension of Modern Languages. #SaveNottinghamLanguages #WeAreUoN @uniofnottingham.bsky.social Please sign, comment on, and share, the linked petition: x.com/uk_sdn/statu...
Reposted by Heather Williams
🚨 One week until the deadline! 🚨
We are delighted to announce that our call for papers for the next annual SDN conference, on the theme of 'Health and happiness/La santé et le bonheur', to take place in Cardiff 8-10 April, is now online, and our new abstract submission form is open for business!
November 24, 2025 at 12:14 PM
🚨 One week until the deadline! 🚨
Reposted by Heather Williams
I’ve written a piece on the curious lack of media and political interest in the issues faced by our national @britishlibrary.bsky.social. This is strange given we live in a world where ideas, knowledge and research are a long-term source of innovation and insight
www.cityam.com/the-british-...
www.cityam.com/the-british-...
The British library is in crisis: why does nobody care?
The widespread indifference to the British Library's crippling cyberattack demonstrates a perilous failure to value the knowledge infrastructure vital for national prosperity
www.cityam.com
November 18, 2025 at 6:27 AM
I’ve written a piece on the curious lack of media and political interest in the issues faced by our national @britishlibrary.bsky.social. This is strange given we live in a world where ideas, knowledge and research are a long-term source of innovation and insight
www.cityam.com/the-british-...
www.cityam.com/the-british-...
Reposted by Heather Williams
'Nottingham will be the only Russell Group university not to teach modern foreign languages degrees if it approves plans to close a swath of courses including Spanish and French as well as music and dozens of others.' 1/3
University of Nottingham considers axing language and music degrees
Total of 48 degrees could disappear from Russell Group institution, with falling revenues and rising costs blamed
www.theguardian.com
November 18, 2025 at 7:01 PM
'Nottingham will be the only Russell Group university not to teach modern foreign languages degrees if it approves plans to close a swath of courses including Spanish and French as well as music and dozens of others.' 1/3
Reposted by Heather Williams
I am beyond thrilled to announce that my first solo article has just come out in French History!
The article can be accessed in open access using the link below: doi.org/10.1093/fh/c...
The article can be accessed in open access using the link below: doi.org/10.1093/fh/c...
La liberté de récolter: seaweed, conflict and citizenship in coastal communities in Brittany during the Third Republic
Abstract. In Brittany, in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, seaweed was more than just a fundamental element of coastal ecologies. It sust
doi.org
November 17, 2025 at 12:11 PM
I am beyond thrilled to announce that my first solo article has just come out in French History!
The article can be accessed in open access using the link below: doi.org/10.1093/fh/c...
The article can be accessed in open access using the link below: doi.org/10.1093/fh/c...
Reposted by Heather Williams
Submissions for this year's R. Gapper Postgraduate Essay Prize – awarded to an essay of outstanding academic merit at postgraduate level – will open tomorrow, 1 November 2025.
For more information about eligibility and how to submit an entry, see the link below:
www.sfs.ac.uk/prizes/r-gap...
For more information about eligibility and how to submit an entry, see the link below:
www.sfs.ac.uk/prizes/r-gap...
R. Gapper Postgraduate Essay Prize
The Society for French Studies is the UK's premier scholarly organisation for encouraging and supporting intellectual enquiry in French studies at all levels.
www.sfs.ac.uk
October 31, 2025 at 10:44 AM
Submissions for this year's R. Gapper Postgraduate Essay Prize – awarded to an essay of outstanding academic merit at postgraduate level – will open tomorrow, 1 November 2025.
For more information about eligibility and how to submit an entry, see the link below:
www.sfs.ac.uk/prizes/r-gap...
For more information about eligibility and how to submit an entry, see the link below:
www.sfs.ac.uk/prizes/r-gap...
Reposted by Heather Williams
Times Higher article out today explains the folly of yet more proposed closures in languages (also music, film, philosophy, and others). This time at the Universities of Leicester and Nottingham. Oversight of the changing UK HE landscape for our disciplines has never been more needed or vital.
Every university should renovate the disciplinary framework of its courses and ask whether it is responding to its global responsibilities. But no university should recognise any merit in withdrawing from the study of other languages, cultures & societies
www.timeshighereducation.com/opinion/late...
www.timeshighereducation.com/opinion/late...
The latest threat to UK modern languages is yet another faux pas
Nottingham and Leicester are taking a swing at language departments. But those proposing closures have taken their eye off the ball, say four linguists
www.timeshighereducation.com
November 14, 2025 at 12:22 PM
Times Higher article out today explains the folly of yet more proposed closures in languages (also music, film, philosophy, and others). This time at the Universities of Leicester and Nottingham. Oversight of the changing UK HE landscape for our disciplines has never been more needed or vital.
Reposted by Heather Williams
🚨 Postponed 🚨
Unfortunately we have to postponed this afternoon’s ECR training session. A new date will be circulated in due course.
Unfortunately we have to postponed this afternoon’s ECR training session. A new date will be circulated in due course.
Sign up for our ECR training session on impact: www.eventbrite.com/e/edn2025-im....
This session will consider how to engage non-academic audiences by designing and implementing effective impact, and escaping the ivory tower.
This session will consider how to engage non-academic audiences by designing and implementing effective impact, and escaping the ivory tower.
November 14, 2025 at 1:24 PM
🚨 Postponed 🚨
Unfortunately we have to postponed this afternoon’s ECR training session. A new date will be circulated in due course.
Unfortunately we have to postponed this afternoon’s ECR training session. A new date will be circulated in due course.
Reposted by Heather Williams
The latest threat to UK modern languages is yet another faux pas
www.timeshighereducation.com/opinion/late...
www.timeshighereducation.com/opinion/late...
The latest threat to UK modern languages is yet another faux pas
Nottingham and Leicester are taking a swing at language departments. But those proposing closures have taken their eye off the ball, say four linguists
www.timeshighereducation.com
November 14, 2025 at 8:07 AM
The latest threat to UK modern languages is yet another faux pas
www.timeshighereducation.com/opinion/late...
www.timeshighereducation.com/opinion/late...
Reposted by Heather Williams
Every university should renovate the disciplinary framework of its courses and ask whether it is responding to its global responsibilities. But no university should recognise any merit in withdrawing from the study of other languages, cultures & societies
www.timeshighereducation.com/opinion/late...
www.timeshighereducation.com/opinion/late...
The latest threat to UK modern languages is yet another faux pas
Nottingham and Leicester are taking a swing at language departments. But those proposing closures have taken their eye off the ball, say four linguists
www.timeshighereducation.com
November 14, 2025 at 7:32 AM
Every university should renovate the disciplinary framework of its courses and ask whether it is responding to its global responsibilities. But no university should recognise any merit in withdrawing from the study of other languages, cultures & societies
www.timeshighereducation.com/opinion/late...
www.timeshighereducation.com/opinion/late...