Mathew Lyons
@mathewlyons.bsky.social
Writer, historian. FRHistS. Recent work: History Today, The Spectator, Slightly Foxed, New Humanist, Engelsberg Ideas.
I've been reading these over the weekend. Two superb new books out in the next couple of months from @yalebooks.bsky.social
January 18, 2026 at 12:47 PM
I've been reading these over the weekend. Two superb new books out in the next couple of months from @yalebooks.bsky.social
Delighted to get a proof of this in the post. It looks spectacular. Can't wait to read it.
January 14, 2026 at 2:33 PM
Delighted to get a proof of this in the post. It looks spectacular. Can't wait to read it.
Some excellent recent book post!
January 6, 2026 at 11:48 AM
Some excellent recent book post!
Our favourite show is back on telly and all is right with the world…
January 5, 2026 at 7:29 PM
Our favourite show is back on telly and all is right with the world…
Some lunchtime reading. I particularly liked this bit:
January 5, 2026 at 1:21 PM
Some lunchtime reading. I particularly liked this bit:
This new US TV adaptation of Maigret sounds dreadful. Cliché after cliché.
January 1, 2026 at 6:00 PM
This new US TV adaptation of Maigret sounds dreadful. Cliché after cliché.
Christmas isn't Christmas without…
December 18, 2025 at 9:48 PM
Christmas isn't Christmas without…
This is really poor. Apart from anything else, why are Books Etc selling uncut US copies into the UK market? Can you advise @yalebooks.bsky.social?
December 17, 2025 at 7:18 PM
This is really poor. Apart from anything else, why are Books Etc selling uncut US copies into the UK market? Can you advise @yalebooks.bsky.social?
This is the first of the extended editions of the Bootleg series I've bought. It does a fantastic job of showing Dylan growing into Dylan.
December 14, 2025 at 1:09 PM
This is the first of the extended editions of the Bootleg series I've bought. It does a fantastic job of showing Dylan growing into Dylan.
Oh, I just got a lovely email from Donna Tartt too!
December 7, 2025 at 11:24 PM
Oh, I just got a lovely email from Donna Tartt too!
A few months back someone on here recommended this. I think it might have been @eggsbened.bsky.social or @mariephillips.bsky.social. Whoever it was, thank you!
December 7, 2025 at 10:10 PM
A few months back someone on here recommended this. I think it might have been @eggsbened.bsky.social or @mariephillips.bsky.social. Whoever it was, thank you!
Could this be fake? Hard to say…
December 2, 2025 at 3:47 PM
Could this be fake? Hard to say…
Magical evening last night watching Duke Special in Hoxton. We didn’t know his work at all but we fell in love with it all the same. I mean, songs about Bede & Modigliani. A song based on a Michael Longley poem. Another on the Velveteen Rabbit. Three Kurt Weill songs. Fabulous.
November 28, 2025 at 6:27 PM
Magical evening last night watching Duke Special in Hoxton. We didn’t know his work at all but we fell in love with it all the same. I mean, songs about Bede & Modigliani. A song based on a Michael Longley poem. Another on the Velveteen Rabbit. Three Kurt Weill songs. Fabulous.
Yes. Here’s the Bonham’s info abt it. There is more in the catalogue, I think.
November 16, 2025 at 11:21 PM
Yes. Here’s the Bonham’s info abt it. There is more in the catalogue, I think.
A maquette for Barbara Hepworth’s Winged Figure, up for auction at Bonham’s.
November 16, 2025 at 11:00 PM
A maquette for Barbara Hepworth’s Winged Figure, up for auction at Bonham’s.
Absolutely thrilled to have a poem in the latest issue of Poetry London!
November 11, 2025 at 10:11 PM
Absolutely thrilled to have a poem in the latest issue of Poetry London!
Delighted to be at the launch of @historylauren.bsky.social's new biography of the extraordinary Margaret Beaufort last night. Lauren’s such a brilliant writer and historian. I can’t wait to read it!
November 6, 2025 at 2:12 PM
Delighted to be at the launch of @historylauren.bsky.social's new biography of the extraordinary Margaret Beaufort last night. Lauren’s such a brilliant writer and historian. I can’t wait to read it!
This was pretty enjoyable. No-one’s finest hour, but some delightful performances and the Degas-sequence set-designs are superb.
November 2, 2025 at 11:01 PM
This was pretty enjoyable. No-one’s finest hour, but some delightful performances and the Degas-sequence set-designs are superb.
Now watching, and wondering if @divinecomedyhq.bsky.social was inspired by the musical number about Catherine the Great. (I mean, Neil’s is different and better, but it’s still quite niche.)
November 1, 2025 at 10:11 PM
Now watching, and wondering if @divinecomedyhq.bsky.social was inspired by the musical number about Catherine the Great. (I mean, Neil’s is different and better, but it’s still quite niche.)
Fabulous evening at the Palladium last night! Don’t know Todd’s catalogue well at all - I didn’t recognise a song until the encore - but have come away besotted.
October 30, 2025 at 8:56 AM
Fabulous evening at the Palladium last night! Don’t know Todd’s catalogue well at all - I didn’t recognise a song until the encore - but have come away besotted.
Sorry to hear this, Sam. Hope you have a calm night and things get sorted quickly. You probably saw this doing the rounds the other day but this review of Keanu’s Godot might offer a little fleeting Beckettian cheer
October 13, 2025 at 10:15 PM
Sorry to hear this, Sam. Hope you have a calm night and things get sorted quickly. You probably saw this doing the rounds the other day but this review of Keanu’s Godot might offer a little fleeting Beckettian cheer
Fans of Tudor history, Hans Eworth’s portrait of Thomas Howard, the ill-fated fourth Duke of Norfolk, is coming up for auction at Sotheby’s!
October 13, 2025 at 1:11 PM
Fans of Tudor history, Hans Eworth’s portrait of Thomas Howard, the ill-fated fourth Duke of Norfolk, is coming up for auction at Sotheby’s!
Wonderful evening at the Barbican with @divinecomedyhq.bsky.social. And cocktails…
October 11, 2025 at 11:23 PM
Wonderful evening at the Barbican with @divinecomedyhq.bsky.social. And cocktails…