Catherine Fletcher's avatar

Catherine Fletcher

@cathfletcher.bsky.social

744 followers 567 following 182 posts

Writing history, usually in Manchester, when possible in Italy. THE ROADS TO ROME: A HISTORY now out in the UK - US edition coming Dec 24. Next up: early modern guns.

Catherine Fletcher's avatar Catherine Fletcher @cathfletcher.bsky.social
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Delighted to share this Art UK curation on the theme of The Roads to Rome, created with @lagoonii.bsky.social to tie into the release of my new book: artuk.org/discover/cur...

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Catherine Fletcher's avatar Catherine Fletcher @cathfletcher.bsky.social
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One of my favourite images of Rome is this painting of the Via Appia by William Crosbie, now in the @hunterian. Sadly we had to leave it out of the book because we couldn't track down the rights holder, but isn't it gorgeous?

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Catherine Fletcher's avatar Catherine Fletcher @cathfletcher.bsky.social
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It was great fun, especially after 18 months of no travel at all!

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Catherine Fletcher's avatar Catherine Fletcher @cathfletcher.bsky.social
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Are you concerned that you're not thinking enough about Ancient Rome? Don't worry, my new book will give you LOTS of things to think about.

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Catherine Fletcher's avatar Catherine Fletcher @cathfletcher.bsky.social
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Thank you - and yes, I'm sorry about the delay!

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Catherine Fletcher's avatar Catherine Fletcher @cathfletcher.bsky.social
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He's not directly mentioned though there are a lot of writers in there. It was tough to prioritise with 2300 years of history and only 300 pages for the main text!

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Catherine Fletcher's avatar Catherine Fletcher @cathfletcher.bsky.social
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I believe you can import a hard copy via Amazon UK but otherwise I'm sorry it's a wait!

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Catherine Fletcher's avatar Catherine Fletcher @cathfletcher.bsky.social
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That's when the US edition comes out. They decided to delay until after the election.

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Catherine Fletcher's avatar Catherine Fletcher @cathfletcher.bsky.social
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Bit of a wait, I'm afraid. It'll be out in December with Pegasus.

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Catherine Fletcher's avatar Catherine Fletcher @cathfletcher.bsky.social
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In the twentieth century, Italy's Fascist regime made many interventions around ancient monuments, cutting a parade route through the Forum, clearing the area around the Arch of Augustus in Rimini. The roads also became the site of major battles during the Allied invasion.

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Catherine Fletcher's avatar Catherine Fletcher @cathfletcher.bsky.social
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Over the centuries the roads saw many interventions and emulations, though by the nineteenth railways were becoming more popular.

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Catherine Fletcher's avatar Catherine Fletcher @cathfletcher.bsky.social
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Preservation of the roads as cultural heritage began with the Renaissance, and many Grand Tourists made journeys on the ancient routes.

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Catherine Fletcher's avatar Catherine Fletcher @cathfletcher.bsky.social
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It takes us through the rise of Christian pilgrimage which gave travellers new motivations to make journeys.

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Catherine Fletcher's avatar Catherine Fletcher @cathfletcher.bsky.social
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The book tells the story of the Roman road network and travellers to Rome, beginning with its original construction, featuring engineering marvels like the Furlo tunnel as well as milestones that made a statement about the imperial presence.

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Catherine Fletcher's avatar Catherine Fletcher @cathfletcher.bsky.social
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My new book, The Roads to Rome, is out today! Here's a thread with a few highlights of what's inside.

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Catherine Fletcher's avatar Catherine Fletcher @cathfletcher.bsky.social
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Having a new book out is always a bit nerve-wracking, so I'm delighted to see this lovely first review in the Observer:

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Catherine Fletcher's avatar Catherine Fletcher @cathfletcher.bsky.social
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One month to publication and it's great to see a finished copy of The Roads To Rome.

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Catherine Fletcher's avatar Catherine Fletcher @cathfletcher.bsky.social
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Keep going, we're all looking forward to your tarot as creative historical practice article

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Reposted by Catherine Fletcher

Catherine Fletcher's avatar Catherine Fletcher @cathfletcher.bsky.social
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I mean, in one sense it could be the job interview for the ages. I would hire the person who had the style to kick off a video recording explaining she was waiting in for the pest control and to bear with her through any incidents.

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Catherine Fletcher's avatar Catherine Fletcher @cathfletcher.bsky.social
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I've heard it offered up as a way to help candidates avoid interview nerves but imo it just introduces a whole new type of stress

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Catherine Fletcher's avatar Catherine Fletcher @cathfletcher.bsky.social
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I quite like the idea that The Prince is Machiavelli's YA book, and that adults read the Discourses on Livy (and watch the plays).

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Catherine Fletcher's avatar Catherine Fletcher @cathfletcher.bsky.social
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Manchester to Rome just isn't feasible in a day. It would be if the Paris-Rome sleeper still existed, but it doesn't look like that's coming back any time soon.

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Catherine Fletcher's avatar Catherine Fletcher @cathfletcher.bsky.social
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Trying hard to do some environmentally-friendly slow research travel during my sabbatical and the 3.5 hour delay between Manchester and London today is... not a good start.

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Catherine Fletcher's avatar Catherine Fletcher @cathfletcher.bsky.social
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Oh that's so frustrating. If they're going to be like that they need to be on-call. If they don't want to be on-call they should be giving you the authority to deal with it. Useless people.

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Catherine Fletcher's avatar Catherine Fletcher @cathfletcher.bsky.social
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Can you sort it out and just tell them you'll be deducting the cost from your future rent and you're sure they would prefer you to that than them continue to be in breach of the standards?

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Catherine Fletcher's avatar Catherine Fletcher @cathfletcher.bsky.social
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The course runs 10-3 across five Tuesdays, four online and one in Manchester (travel bursaries available). Open to anyone new(ish) to public-facing work whose research has a historical element.

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Catherine Fletcher's avatar Catherine Fletcher @cathfletcher.bsky.social
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Delighted to be back with TAKE YOUR RESEARCH PUBLIC 2024 - a very practical introduction to bringing historical research (broadly defined) to wider publics. Speakers from History Today, You're Dead to Me, Bad Ancient and beyond. Application deadline 26/4 #skystorians

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Kate Carpenter's avatar Kate Carpenter @katecarp.bsky.social
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At the risk of seeming a bit big for my britches, I wrote a newsletter with advice about pitching Drafting the Past (that might be useful for pitching other shows, too). As a bonus, you'll learn why I've been side-eyeing freelance book publicists: buttondown.email/draftingthep...

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Catherine Fletcher's avatar Catherine Fletcher @cathfletcher.bsky.social
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10) Mansion Party. For the Sexual Elite (straight blokes and their bi gf) €€€

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Catherine Fletcher's avatar Catherine Fletcher @cathfletcher.bsky.social
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Walking in the Lakes and would like to know if there were always loads of daffodils or if it's a post-Wordsworth invented tradition.

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Catherine Fletcher's avatar Catherine Fletcher @cathfletcher.bsky.social
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Yes, I think you have to stick to one or the other for any given piece of work. Either say you can't review revisions and help with the article, or point out to your friend that you're exactly the sort of person who might be asked to review it so you'd better not get involved.

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Catherine Fletcher's avatar Catherine Fletcher @cathfletcher.bsky.social
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This is government mandated, no? Because so many people have been ripped off by 'withdraw your pension for this miracle investment' schemes. It's frustrating if you're an experienced investor but probably a good thing overall.

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Catherine Fletcher's avatar Catherine Fletcher @cathfletcher.bsky.social
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Yes - my accountant is absolutely fine with books as a business expense.

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