@jamesafox
Social historian of numeracy, communication, knowledge, books | Postdoc at Glasgow Uni researching early modern how-to books howtobook.eu | PhD from St Andrews on numeracy in early modern Britain | Writer and co-editor at scilicet.org.uk
"Perhaps the greatest life hack of all is to stop reducing the world to mere utility, and instead to dwell in life’s quiet, unruly, exquisite imperfection"
Words of wisdom from Stefan Laube in our latest blog post - read more here 👇
howtobook.hypotheses.org/5869
In our latest blog post, Alina Lange explores the material, sensory-affective world of early modern pattern books 🧵
Read more here 👉 howtobook.hypotheses.org/5815
#crafts #needlework #earlymodern #bookhistory
New our blog, @jamesafox.bsky.social on Robert Burns and the how-to of barrel gauging 📏🛢📖🍺
howtobook.hypotheses.org/5697
#bookhistory #robertburns #taxes
📚 What made plants undesirable according to #earlymodern how-to books?
In our latest #blog Stefan Laube explores household books on the practice of weeding 🌿
howtobook.hypotheses.org/5594
Pleased to see this out in the open at last 😀
@nconstantinidou.bsky.social Thanks again for a fascinating conference!
📚 New on our blog, @jamesafox.bsky.social in search of how-to Sammelbände...
howtobook.hypotheses.org/5519
#bookhistory #booksky
Thames firework 1749 with music from Handel, Public Domain, Wikimedia
#Fireworks shifted from expert knowledge at court to bourgeois #DIY & finally to mass consumption. What was once controlled craft & symbolic order is now a deregulated spectacle with social, ecological & psychological costs.
howtobook.hypotheses...
#EverydayHistory @howtobooks.bsky.social
Feeling the winter chill? ❄️
Ever wondered “Should royal monkeys wear sweaters” when it's cold out? You’re not alone! Let's take a look at a letter letter from Olof von Dalin to Carl Linnaeus, translated by @nataliesmith.bsky.social on the topic:
scilicet.org.uk/should-royal...
#Skystorians
Reminder for anyone wanting to submit an abstract before the holidays!
Happy St Lucy’s Day! To mark the Feast of St Lucy, we thought we would share this petition from Pistoia regarding the renovation of her chapel.
In our latest blog post, Clément Poupard discusses his research on early modern memory manuals, which he shared at our recent workshop on 'Body - Health - Home' at the Herzog August Bibliothek.
👉 Find out more here: howtobook.hypotheses.org/4960
This post brings together some reflections on the themes I explored in my Rettig Fellowship, funded by the Swedish National Heritage Board and the Royal Swedish Academy of Letters, History and Antiquities. The sources (travel diaries, military maps, antiquarian accounts) have been fun to work with!
Last week we ran a 2-day workshop at the Herzog August Bibliothek on the theme of 'Body-Health-Home', featuring a host of great papers, a 17th-century salad reconstruction, and, of course, some amazing how-to books 📚
Read more here: howtobook.hypotheses.org/4800
#bookhistory #library #workshop
Ashover’s parish church
Where would we be without Google? Before the age of the internet lots of questions went unanswered.
In this week's article @jamesafox.bsky.social takes us through a curious list of questions compiled by Leonard Wheatcroft, a 17th c. man from Derbyshire.
#Skystorians
scilicet.org.uk/where-would-...
Medieval manuscript
Making a medieval manuscript was an artful process that required many types of specialised knowledge.
Our latest article by @guyfassler.bsky.social is a catalogue of everything you need to know about making medieval books that would last a millennium.
scilicet.org.uk/everything-y... #skystorians
An etching of the Royal Fireworks display on the Thames, London, England 1749
🎆Happy #GuyFawkesDay!
Before and after the 1605 gunpowder plot, fireworks were an important part of celebrations. But what were they made of?
In our latest article, @jamesafox.bsky.social explores the fascinating book that taught the art of making fire
scilicet.org.uk/before-and-a... #Skystorians
My latest post for Scilicet, on Frederick the Great's Anti-Machiavel
Black and white drawing of Frederick the Great of Prussia and Voltaire meeting for the first time.
What does a Prince need to know?
In our latest article, @nataliesmith.bsky.social analyses Frederick the Great's fiery rebuttal to Machiavelli's "the Prince", and examines what it can tell us about #EarlyModern ideas of morality, war and governance:
scilicet.org.uk/is-ruling-th... #Skystorians
👀 Want to find out more about our project?
Team members Alina Lange and Stefan Laube recently appeared on the Herzog August Library podcast to discuss the fascinating world of early modern how-to books.
👉 Listen along (in German) here: www.hab.de/podcast-22-v...
#bookhistory #libraries #podcast
Navigating flu season is bad enough, but what are you meant to do when the Black Death strikes in your city? 💀In our latest article, @guyfassler.bsky.social looks at some lessons learned from #medieval Pistoia: scilicet.org.uk/the-black-de...
#Skystorians #historyofknowledge #MedievalHistory
This week we have a special article in which we share our thoughts about the History of Knowledge and what it means to us.
It was great fun to write and we hope you will find it thought provoking!
#skystorians #historyofknowledge
scilicet.org.uk/what-is-the-...
The #cfp deadline for our 2026 conference on 'Print and Education is now just under 2 months away!!
If anyone would like to discuss a proposal with me, feel free to get in touch.
#bookhistory #Education #conference
We've joined the blue sky! Just as the skies darken for winter too
Please let your followers know that the Scottish History Society has arrived!
Find out more about memberships, the society, and events at our website: scottishhistorysociety.com
Thomas Simpson (1710–1761)
In our latest article, @jamesafox.bsky.social charts the meteoric rise and eventual decline of #18thcentury mathematician 🧮 Thomas Simpson.
👉 Read more here: scilicet.org.uk/becoming-a-m...
#history #mathematics #skystorians
Title page of Ein köstlich new kochbuck (1598)
In our latest blog post, intern Sandrine Hoppe explores the earliest known recipe book authored by a woman in vernacular German, Anna Wecker's Ein köstlich new kochbuck (1598)
howtobook.hypotheses.org/4596
#bookhistory #cookbook #blog
Leon Battista Alberti, (possibly) Self-Portrait, c. 1435
🤔 Is it better to learn from the wisdom of the ancients or from your experience gained over time?
📚 In our latest blog post, @guyfassler.bsky.social explores a 15th-century Tuscan dialogue debating that very question...
scilicet.org.uk/whats-the-po...
#bookhistory #medieval #knowledge
An early pamphlet printing of The World Turn’d Upside Down (1647).
What do beekeeping books tell us about changes in early modern science and society? @jamesafox.bsky.social has some suggestions, especially in relation to #17thCentury England scilicet.org.uk/the-hive-tur...
#Skystorians #EarlyModern #Bees #AnimalHistory
We're back from our summer break, and are ready for a new season ☀️ Keep an eye on this page tomorrow, there's something buzzing...
Great to see the latest issue of Scottish Archives in print! I've written a wee something about James VI's Scottish menagerie 🐆 🐪 👑
Looking forward to reading all the other fantastic contributions when my copy arrives!