Join us for Shaketember 2024 // Six plays, which ones for you? A Day of Small Things 2024-08-03 | Shaketember is coming! Every year in September we spend the month having fun reading, watching and talking about Shakespeare and his works. Whether you participated in Shaketember before, I look forward to having you this year. I’m hosting it the second time with Jason from Old Blue’s Chapter and Verse, and Kelly from Books I’m Not Reading. Thanks very much Jason and Kelly for inviting me again - it’s a pleasure working with you!Watch Kelly's announcement video:youtu.be/TeVhBpYUQhU?si=3uVwQZllq8YnlON4Watch Jason’s announcement video:youtu.be/f0zKkEUsA_w?si=_rJu0QN4-XfCcHwF
King Lear pt.2 // How does Lear change? What does their clothing say? A Day of Small Things 2024-09-28 | Welcome back to the last video of Shaketember 2024.We’re discussing two topics today on King Lear by William Shakespeare, one on self-knowledge, the other on the significance of clothes.
Cymbeline pt.2 // A tragedy with a happy ending? A Day of Small Things 2024-09-21 | Cymbeline by Shakespeare is listed as a tragedy in the First Folio. But it has a happy ending. Let's compare it with other Shakespeare's plays to try work out why and how.
King Lear pt.1 // How NOT to cut Britain in three… // Shaketember 2024 A Day of Small Things 2024-09-14 | Here's the second choice of mine for Shaketember 2024 - King Lear! I'll talk about Act 1: the old King Leir story that would have been in the first audience's mind; King James' very own Albany and Cornwall; Lear's awkward question kicking off the blazing row among the family; which characters do Edmund remind you of? and Lear's delusion of authority when he has none. Enjoy!Kelly's video on Twelfth Nightyoutu.be/pBFr3v_0SmE?si=MF62et5n-vAMj8X4My usual disclaimer: I’m not an academic, I’m just an enthusiastic amateur reader. Please feel free to disagree with me, I’d love to hear your thoughts!
Cymbeline pt.1 // A Jacobean play by Shakespeare // Shaketember 2024 A Day of Small Things 2024-09-07 | Welcome to Shaketember 2024! Thank you for joining me. Whether you’re interested to know a bit more about Cymbeline and find out if it’s worth reading, or maybe you’ve read it already and can’t wait to have a discussion, I’m really glad you’re here. In this video, I’m going to give a rough storyline of the first three Acts of Cymbeline and will come back in two weeks’ time with Cymbeline part 2, to discuss characters and themes in a bit more detail. So if you haven’t started reading it already, you have about two weeks in between. I’ll do the same thing for King Lear, which is the second play I chose for this year. I’ll talk about the storyline of Act 1 of King Lear next Saturday and discuss a couple of themes that have caught my attention, on the last Saturday. I’ll not spoil the ending of either story in part 1 videos.Jason is discussing Titus Andronicus this week:youtu.be/hjRVqNkgB20?si=ZYiNq5kYuHaiK2d2Kelly’s video this week is on one of my favourite non-fiction on Shakespeare: 1606 The Year of Lear:youtu.be/Ol_PkMHAk0M?si=SfXdUyv8Ia975O6T
Hedda Gabler by Ibsen // A Tragedy of Sublime Beauty A Day of Small Things 2024-08-22 | Here are some of my thoughts on a play Hedda Gabler by 19th century Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen, about a woman who’s dissatisfied with her life, takes hold of an opportunity to achieve some meaning for her life, but ends with a fatal consequence. Ibsen is one of the founders of modernism in theatre, often referred to as "the father of realism".
Books and dramas to read and watch before the end of 2024 A Day of Small Things 2024-08-15 | It’s the middle of August, we only have four and a bit months left till the end of the year. How are you doing with your reading and life in general? I made a planning video at the beginning of the year, sharing my four big categories that I’d like to focus on for the year; I also did a midyear review a few weeks ago. So here are the titles I’d like to get to in the next few months. I’m keeping three out of the four categories: English Classics, Shakespeare and his contemporaries, and drama.Videos mentioned:2024 reading goals:youtu.be/wcOhAWHY4Mc2024 reading plans:youtu.be/aFn4jjFZhcASheridan vs Austenyoutu.be/pIFkjUB-UTEFrankenstein vs Poor Thingsyoutu.be/ElzMaQTeujI2024 Midyear reviewyoutu.be/EV-3V099h-82024 Shaketember announcementyoutu.be/GO8Xmyn5JxA
Secondhand Haul of Scholarly Books // York Summer 2024 A Day of Small Things 2024-08-08 | You might have watched my vlog recently. These are all the books I bought in York. They're secondhand, heavy and academic. And they're all in really good condition, as good as new!
Books I read in July 2024 A Day of Small Things 2024-08-01 | I read four titles this month, an essay from the early 19th century, A Dissertation upon Roast Pig; two memoirs, one from 20th century Cider with Rosie, the other from 21st century called Wild; and a speculative fiction published in the last couple of years, Babel. 00:00 Intro00:31 R. F. Kuang08:33 Laurie Lee19:40 Charles Lamb26:11 Cheryl Strayed28:49 Outro
A Play That Influenced Sense & Sensibility // Jane Austen July 2024 A Day of Small Things 2024-07-25 | I read The Rivals (1775) by Richard Brinsley Sheridan for this year's Jane Austen July and learnt about the influence of theatre on Jane Austen's writing, especially on her novel Sense and Sensibility. In this video, I introduce Sheridan, The Rivals and pick out a couple of similarities between the two works. Enjoy!A few videos mentioned:Jane Austen July wrap up from 2023, mentioning The History of England, The Genius of Jane Austen, Lovers’ Vows and Mansfield Park.youtu.be/EDguFa4aeNcJane Austen July wrap up from 2022, including her letters, Jane Austen at Home, What Matter in Jane Austen.youtu.be/VlTMzVObtCEMy thoughts on Selected Letters by Jane Austenyoutu.be/r35J2rprz4w0:00 Intro & The Genius of Jane Austen3:00 Sheridan6:41 The Rivals16:07 Sense & Sensibility
Book shopping in York! // Holiday vlog July 2024 A Day of Small Things 2024-07-18 | I had a little trip so York recently. I visited five new and secondhand bookshops and wandered around the beautiful old city in the drizzling rain. Hope you enjoy seeing the place as much as I did!
2024 Mid Year Review & A Favourite so far A Day of Small Things 2024-07-11 | This is the annual Midyear review. As usual I’d like to look back at the first half of the year and see how I’ve been doing with my goals, and share a favourite book from 2024 so far. Here are all the titles and videos I mentioned:2024 Planning & TBRyoutu.be/aFn4jjFZhcA1606 the Year of Lear youtu.be/7CueK6NbB48The Canterbury Talesyoutu.be/So9cGj9f1T4The Duchess of Malfiyoutu.be/F16fFYGsOE8Frankensteinyoutu.be/ElzMaQTeujILesser Known Poets: Aemilia Lanyeryoutu.be/V-oYDCb69y8Lesser Known Poets: John Clareyoutu.be/hEnWIOxImlELesser Known Poets: Sir Thomas Wyattyoutu.be/9IAYjgiVhbALove’s Labour’s Lostyoutu.be/4anG_qmIbwEMarianayoutu.be/So9cGj9f1T4Mrs Dallowayyoutu.be/bnd-VXtU6kcPhantasteyoutu.be/IUfvsJm62D0Richard IIyoutu.be/VMzMMQHN_B4youtu.be/4id94R0_4CMShakespeare the Man Who Pays the Rentyoutu.be/IUfvsJm62D0Twelfth Nightyoutu.be/TFrLsFxD_scThe Wind in the Willowsyoutu.be/9i3yRtI0diQ
Books I read in May & early June 2024 A Day of Small Things 2024-06-20 | Here are all the books I read in May and early June. I won't repeat the titles that I've talked about in stand alone videos already. Enjoy!2:08 James Shapiro7:40 Andrew Peterson13:13 Emily St John Mandel
Loves Labours Lost by Shakespeare // Campus Rom-Com! A Day of Small Things 2024-06-13 | Today we're looking at an early comedy by Shakespeare, Love's Labour's Lost!0:00 Intro1:51 Act 114:31 Act 210:00 The rest
Aemilia Lanyer // Defending Eve // Introducing lesser-known English poets A Day of Small Things 2024-06-06 | I’d like to introduce the 17th Century feminist poet Aemilia Lanyer to you. Lanyer was born five years after Shakespeare and died at the age of 76. She was the first Englishwoman to publish a substantial volume of original poems and to attract patronage. We're looking at a small section of her feminist poetry collection Salve Deus Rex Judaeorum today.0:00 Her Person4:12 Her Poetry Collection8:07 Eve’s Apology in Defence of Women
3 Brand New Biographies of 17th Century Women Writers A Day of Small Things 2024-05-30 | Let me introduce you to three brand new biographies of a few little known but fascinating 17th Century women writers!0:00 Intro1:17 The Scandal of the Century4:35 Shakespeare’s Sisters6:34 Pure Wit
If you like Frankenstein, try Poor Things! A Day of Small Things 2024-05-23 | Poor Things is a wonderful and wacky 1992 novel by Alastair Gray that's like a twin story or a sequel to Frankenstein by Mary Shelley. Would you like to give it a try?
My 5 Favourite Novels of the 21st Century so far A Day of Small Things 2024-05-16 | Today I share with you five of my favourite fictional works that are published since 2000. Enjoy!0:00 Intro3:23 Never Let Me Go12:39 The Three Body Problem22:32 Wolf Hall28:18 Station Eleven37:27 Transcendent Kingdom
Books I read in April 2024 // Poor Things, The Canterbury Tales, Richard II A Day of Small Things 2024-05-02 | In April I read Poor Things by Alasdair Gray, Mariana by Monica Dickens, The Canterbury Tales by Chaucer and Richard II by Shakespeare.0:00 Intro0:56 Monica Dickens6:04 Alastair Gray11:08 Chaucer15:28 May planning
Richard II by Shakespeare ep.2 // What makes a king? A Day of Small Things 2024-04-25 | I read once that great literature often doesn’t provide answers to life’s questions, it poses the questions. I’ve been wondering what Shakespeare tries to ask and explore in the story of Richard II. What makes a king? What marks out a king from an ordinary human being? Here's Richard II episode two!
Richard II by Shakespeare ep.1 // The Fall of King and the Rise of Poet A Day of Small Things 2024-04-18 | Richard II is comparatively a less well known play by Shakespeare. I’ll give you a brief summary of the story and mostly, the person of Richard, his theatricality and his incredible speeches.
My Persephone Collection // UK indie publisher Persephone Books A Day of Small Things 2024-04-11 | Continuing my bookshelf tour, let me show you all the Persephone books I have and introduce you to the wonderful UK independent publisher and bookseller Persephone Books, who reprint neglected works mostly by mid-20th century women writers. Enjoy!Here's Persephone's website to start with:persephonebooks.co.uk0:00 The Publisher & the Physical Books4:39 William: An English Man8:26 Mariana10:18 Few Eggs and No Orange12:07 Greenery Street13:06 Miss Buncle’s Book14:05 Ways to engage
Books I read in March 2024 // John Webster, Shakespeare, English classics A Day of Small Things 2024-04-04 | This month I read one Jacobean play, one Elizabethan play, one urban fantasy and a children’s story from the early 20th century. I also have a podcast to recommend: The Rest is History!0:16 John Webster2:59 Shakespeare4:35 Tom Holland & Dominic Sandbrook7:00 Ben Aaronovitch12:37 Kenneth Grahame
My Penguin Classics Collection A Day of Small Things 2024-03-21 | I’m going to show you all my black spine Penguin classics today. I’ll do the English classics from the latest to the earliest in terms of time period, and then classics from around the world at the end. Enjoy!
Introducing Shakespeares Contemporaries // The Duchess of Malfi by John Webster A Day of Small Things 2024-03-14 | One of my reading goals this year is to read Shakespeare’s contemporaries. I want to get a sense of what the theatre scene was like during that time. The first play I tried was The Duchess of Malfi by John Webster. I loved many things about this play, but in this video, I’ll focus on the Duchess as a character. I was surprised to see such a strong and three dimensional female protagonist. It's a fabulous story and the Globe production in the candlelit Wanamaker Playhouse is superb!
Books I read in February 2024 // Shakespeare, Victorian fantasy, Elizabethan poetry A Day of Small Things 2024-03-07 | In February, for my Shakespeare category I read Twelfth Night and the new book by Judi Dench - The Man Who Pays the Rent; for English classics, I read Phantastes a Victorian fantasy novel by George MacDonald; for poetry, I read Sir Thomas Wyatt; to prepare for watching a show, I read a YA novel called A Song for Ella Grey by David Almond. I also started reading Henslowe’s Diary.00:37 Judi Dench04:16 Shakespeare & others on Twelfth Night06:26 David Almond09:19 George MacDonald11:28 Henslowe14:04 Sir Thomas Wyatt
Reading your responses! // 100th Video & 2K Subscriber Celebration A Day of Small Things 2024-02-29 | A few weeks ago, to celebrate this YouTube channel’s 100th video and 2K subscribers, I asked you to answer a few questions. The questions are, please introduce yourself, what’s your highlight of 2023 and what’s your favourite book. Thank you for all the lovely responses. I’m going to read them out in this video. Some of you also asked me questions so I’ll try to answer them at the end of the video.0:00 Responses from you31:55 Questions for me
Sir Thomas Wyatt // Introducing lesser-known English poets // He brought Sonnet into English A Day of Small Things 2024-02-22 | He entered Henry VIII's court at age of 13. He had a love affair with Anne Boleyn. He brought Sonnet into English language before Shakespeare made it its own. Let's me introduce you Sir Thomas Wyatt! We'll also look at his poem They Flee From Me and a sonnet Divers Doth Use.0:00 His Person7:54 His Poems
Twelfth Night by Shakespeare // Twins and the Duality of Words A Day of Small Things 2024-02-15 | The twins, the songs, the love triangle. The letters, the messengers, the man in a dark room. Who are you? What would you? Are all the people mad? Welcome to Twelfth Night!
Books I read in December 2023 & January 2024 A Day of Small Things 2024-02-01 | Here are the books I read in December 2023 and January 2024!0:00 Intro2:32 Mervyn Peake6:00 Mary Webb10:39 Virginia Woolf15:54 Emily Dickinson17:20 John Lithgow20:09 John Clare
John Clare the “peasant poet” // Introducing lesser-known English poets A Day of Small Things 2024-01-25 | I started my 2024 poetry journey with the early 19th century English poet John Clare, the "peasant poet” and “the English Burns”. I’ll introduce him with a few key facts, then I’ll read you a poem of his and share some thoughts, lastly, I’ll read you a short letter from Charles Lamb to John Clare, giving his opinion and advice on Clare’s poetry and eating frogs.0:00 Introducing John Clare4:45 The Nightingale’s Nest14:01 Charles Lamb’s letter
I have questions for you! // Announcement for 100th Video & 2K Subscribers Celebration A Day of Small Things 2024-01-18 | I have small milestones to celebrate! This YouTube channel has hit the 2K subscribers mark at the beginning of 2024 and I also posted my 100th video in October last year. So I’d like to organise us a little celebration. I want to know more about you. So I’m going to take this opportunity to ask you a couple of questions, and in a future video I’ll share your answers.1. What's your name? Where are you based?2. What's your one highlight of 2023?3. What's your favourite book of all time?4. Have you got any questions for me?
Mrs Dalloway & Virginia Woolfs letters and diary entries about the novel A Day of Small Things 2024-01-11 | Today we’re talking about Mrs Dalloway by Virginia Woolf. I finished reading it for the first time recently. The subject of death struck me so that’s what I’ll be sharing today. I’ll also read you a few snippets of letters and diary entries by Virginia Woolf about Mrs Dalloway from the point she started writing the novel, to revising, to receiving reviews and how she used the money from the sales.
My 2024 reading plans // key authors and titles I want to read in 2024 A Day of Small Things 2024-01-04 | I’ve sat on my 2024 reading goals for a month and I’m now ready to share with you more specific reading plans and potential titles. My goals for 2024 are in four categories: English Classics, Shakespeare, Drama and Poetry. If you haven’t seen my annual reading goals video and would like some ideas for your own goals, I’ll link it here. youtu.be/wcOhAWHY4Mc00:00 Intro02:29 Shakespeare06:09 English Classics08:54 Drama12:40 Poetry15:03 Others
Edinburgh bookshop tour: Tills Bookshop, Argonauts Books, Topping & Co. A Day of Small Things 2023-12-31 | ...
Year End Book Awards 2023 // My favourite books in 5 categories A Day of Small Things 2023-12-21 | Here are my favourite books from 2023 in five categories and the Book of the Year. I hope you find something you like the sound of!00:00 Intro00:42 Favourite supporting characters05:03 Favourite protagonist 09:47 Favourite audiobook12:07 Favourite novel14:33 Favourite non-fiction18:47 Book of the Year
Eight plays I watched in 2023 // Getting into Theatre A Day of Small Things 2023-12-14 | I got into theatre this year and watched a few plays, some live, some at home on a screen. Every single one a tragedy! I have eight plays to tell you about, in the order I watched them. I’ll tell you something about the story and then one thing that stood out to me about the production.A previous video of mine with more on Phedra and The Ocean at the End of the Laneyoutu.be/HsFRsDitVyc00:00 Intro00:25 The Seagull02:18 Phedre03:38 The Ocean at the End of the Lane06:11 Macbeth07:29 Antony & Cleopatra08:44 Macbeth10:55 Othello12:21 Amadeus15:51 My Favourites of 2023Watch the shows on National Theatre At Home online streaming service:The Seagullntathome.com/videos/the-seagull-full-playPhedrentathome.com/videos/phedre-full-playAntony & Cleopatrantathome.com/videos/antony-and-cleopatra-full-playOthellontathome.com/videos/othello-2022-full-playAmadeusntathome.com/videos/amadeus-full-play
Edinburgh bookshop tour: Armchair Books, Edinburgh Books, Main Point Books A Day of Small Things 2023-12-10 | ...
Books I read in November 2023 // Non-fiction, poetry, fantasy A Day of Small Things 2023-12-07 | I started six books in November and finished three of them: Rivers of London 5, a urban fantasy about a wizard apprentice police Constable; Rembrandt is in the Wind, a Christian non fiction book about art; One Two Three Four, a biography of the Beatles. The three I haven’t finished are: the Essential Emily Dickinson, poems selected and with an introduction by Joyce Carol Oates; Gormenghast and Reading Shakespeare’s Sonnets. 00:00 Intro00:39 Ben Aaronovitch02:47 Russ Ramsey05:16 Craig Brown10:31 Emily Dickinson, Don Paterson, Mervyn Peake
Setting 2024 reading goals with me A Day of Small Things 2023-11-30 | Today I’m setting reading goals for 2024. I’ll talk you through my review and planning process. If you’d like to set some goals for the new year as well, I hope this video gives you some ideas and motivation. If you’re interested in any of my goals, you’re most welcome to come along. I’ll share my channel goal at the end of the video too.00:00 Intro00:49 Goal 1 - English Classics01:33 Goal 2 - Shakespeare & his contemporaries03:53 - What happened to the Iliad and Metamorphoses05:59 Goal 3 - Drama08:41 Goal 4 - Poetry10:07 My Channel Goal
Edinburgh vlog // seeing Shakespeares First Folio // 400th anniversary! A Day of Small Things 2023-11-23 | I visited Edinburgh this month to celebrate the 400th anniversary of the publication of Shakespeare's First Folio. I got to see the pages of Julius Caesar in the National Library of Scotland.
Novels I read in August, September & October 2023 A Day of Small Things 2023-11-02 | This is a wrap up video for the novels I read in August, September and October. 00:00 intro00:43 Kazuo Ishiguro05:22 Josephine Tey07:55 Emily St John Mandel10:23 Ben Aaronovitch 14:17 Louisa May Alcott
Read & watch Othello for the first time // Shakespeare A Day of Small Things 2023-10-26 | A bit different to my routine, I quickly read through four acts of Othello and watched a production to find out the ending. I loved this new experience!Thanks @NationalTheatre for the wonderful show!
Durham Book Festival 2023 // Holiday vlog A Day of Small Things 2023-10-19 | I just came back from Durham Book Festival. I went to three events:- Professor Edith Hall talked to novelist Jennifer Saint about Ancient Classics and her new novel, Atlanta.- Helen Rebanks talks about her newly published memoir The Farmer's Wife (rhymes with her husband James' book, The Shepherd's Life, which is one my favourite non-fictional books!).- A dramatic live reading of Cuddy, a novel written by Benjamin Myers, performed by Toby Jones, Samatha Neale and the Shining Levels. An amazing experience!
Watch Othello for free on YouTube tonight at 7pm UK time! Thanks #nationaltheatre! A Day of Small Things 2023-10-19 | ...
Durham ep.3: waiting for 8.40pm // sorry it’s silly 😆 but I loved the clock! (Who’s Claire?) A Day of Small Things 2023-10-14 | ...
Durham ep.2: Jennifer Saint is writing a new book! Going to Cosin Library. A Day of Small Things 2023-10-14 | ...
Durham ep.1: Morning! I’m at Durham Book Festival :) #DBF23 #DurhamBookFestival A Day of Small Things 2023-10-14 | ...
