Michael Durrant

Thank you Laura 😊

Meeting Henry Hills - a Roman Catholic printer - Manchester University Press ‘At the revolution, [Henry Hills] went abroad with his son, and I met with them at Watten, near St. Omer’s, on 13th Feb. 1689.’ This line appears in a letter on notable English Catholic printers publi...

I wrote a blog post for the @manchesterup.bsky.social website to introduce my forthcoming book. It’s out at the end of this month! manchesteruniversitypress.co.uk/blog/2026/03...

Unlocking the Islamic Literary Heritage: An Intensive Practical Introduction to Arabic Manuscripts Some three million Islamic manuscripts are thought to survive in collections around the world. Most of them are unedited and unpublished. This course offers an in-depth, hands-on introduction to th…

For Arabic readers, London’s palaeography school has a course on Islamic literary heritage. In person, 8-12 June. Places are limited, so book now 👇 📚☀️
palaeography.uk/study/short-...

Introduction to Making Medieval Manuscripts (Practice Based) This course introduces students to the complicated and messy processes of production through which pre-modern manuscripts were created. It offers a mixture of talks and practical sessions that give…

The “messy” course returns to London’s palaeography summer school, 8-12 June. A chance to make your own medieval manuscript. Places are limited so book now (tell your friends)! #medievalsky taught by the amazing @saracharles.bsky.social @stevelawesarts.bsky.social 👇🎨🫟
palaeography.uk/study/short-...

Now open!

Our new exhibition The English Print Revolution: Caxton and Beyond is now open!

Co-curated by Karen Attar (SHL) and @michaelwdurrant.bsky.social (IES, SAS) the display celebrates the 550th anniversary of William Caxton’s first printing press!

Last night’s UCL/IES Stevenson Lecture, ‘Richard Oswald’s Library: Slavery, Collecting, and the Invention of Rare Books’, was fantastic. Thanks to all who attended, and of course thank you to @oldfortunatus.bsky.social for putting on such a great talk!

😍

Part of the #UCL200 programme of activities and events celebrating UCL’s Bicentenary, the lecture tonight examines the economic and racialised foundations of bibliophile taste, and the consequences for rare book libraries 📚

Opening tomorrow! 🎉

Tonight! 6pm-8pm

The Book in the Renaissance This course offers a comprehensive overview of the printed book in the Renaissance.

For all the @warburginstitute.bsky.social fans out there, this summer the Renaissance Book returns to London Rare Books School #LRBS 📚📖👇
ies.sas.ac.uk/book-renaiss...

Posters are up! 🎉

Some pics from this week’s student visits to @stationerscomms.bsky.social Archives (ft. Dr Ruth Frendo) and the British Jesuit Archives (ft. @ies-sas.bsky.social LAHP CDA student Ted Simonds)

The Institute of English Studies performs a vital advocacy role, championing the study of English within the academy and beyond. As English Studies responds to the challenges and opportunities of the twenty first century, the IES is working to shape the conversation about its future: ies.sas.ac.uk/

Thank you! ☺️

A huge congratulations to our wonderful graduating cohort! 🎉

@sas-news.bsky.social

I’m told that the book has been sent to print and that it’ll be out on 31 March 😭

It was great to get to talk about print culture at the National Gallery’s ‘At the time of Wright of Derby’ salon series, which coincides with the Wright exhibition. 3 more exhibition member talks coming up: www.nationalgallery.org.uk/events/at-th...

Coming soonish…

Lead Curator: Modern Archives & Manuscripts (1601 – 1800) at British Library Explore an exciting academic career as a Lead Curator: Modern Archives & Manuscripts (1601 – 1800). Don't miss out on other academic jobs. Click to apply and explore more opportunities.

JOB ALERT: Lead Curator, Modern Archives & Manuscripts (1601-1800) at The British Library - closing date: 18th Feb

www.jobs.ac.uk/job/DQH179/l...

Introduction to Handwriting in England c. 700-1700 Introduction to Handwriting in England c. 700-1700

Want something to look forward to in these dark days? Booking is open for the London International Palaeography Summer School in June. We have a range of in-person, 5 day courses, including Introduction to Handwriting in England c.700-1700 👇 #MedievalSky

ies.sas.ac.uk/study-traini...

In case you missed it, here is a set of academic book proposals that I wrote and that succeeded. I do not claim them as exemplars of the genre, but offer them for any interested parties to see what form they took.

Update! Alongside the exhibition @senatehouselib.bsky.social also seeks to appoint a Printer in Residence to produce a contemporary response to the exhibition and to be an important part of the public engagement programme for the project: www.london.ac.uk/senate-house... @ies-sas.bsky.social

Read more about the London Rare Book School on the International League of Antiquarian Booksellers website!

"LRBS offers a vibrant and exciting way in which to study the history of the book, learn new skills, and meet book-minded people."

ilab.org/article/buil...

An Introduction to Book Collecting and Book Cultures This course will pursue a panoptic view of the growth of book culture and the practice of book collecting.

I’m teaching the history of book collecting at London Rare Book School this summer. It will be fun! 👇

ies.sas.ac.uk/study-traini...

The English Print Revolution: Caxton and Beyond See the first book in which Caxton was ever involved, one of the books he printed in England, and examples of later genres, typefaces and illustrations for which he paved the way.

‘The English Print Revolution: Caxton and Beyond’, a collab between @ies-sas.bsky.social and @senatehouselib.bsky.social celebrating 550 years of printing in England, opens @senatehouselib.bsky.social on 26 Feb 2026! www.london.ac.uk/about/servic...

Inscription 6 on cuts/tears ft. academic articles + art by Dave Beech, Stephen Emmerson, Lucio Fontana, Jo Hamill, Simon Morris, Buzz Spector, Carolyn Thompson, Patrick Wildgust, Steven Zultanski.

Cover: Abigail Reynolds' St Paul’s

Advance copies: inscriptionjournal.com/how-to-buy/

A 🧵on all the courses on offer for our London Rare Books Summer School.

All information about the summer school, bursaries and booking information can be found here:

buff.ly/A5B4G2p

Stevenson Lecture 2026 | Richard Oswald’s Library: Slavery, Collecting, and the Invention of Rare Books

ies.sas.ac.uk/news-events/...