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Sarah Peverley

@sarahpeverley

Medievalist, Cultural Historian, Writer, Broadcaster. Professor at University of Liverpool. Wars of the Roses, Medieval Literature & Mermaids. Lost in the 15th Century.

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18.09.2023
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Latest posts by Sarah Peverley @sarahpeverley

I think the 'forever' wording has been in there for a long time in relation to rights for work. It always surprised me that so many people uploaded new articles straight away, when their publishers will have also had a version of the 'forever' clause.

23.09.2025 12:12 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

Certainly felt that way!

23.09.2025 12:08 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

Hadn't heard of that one. Will check it out in a few weeks, when the exodus has died down.

23.09.2025 12:07 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

Agree!

23.09.2025 12:06 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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Deleting my Academia.edu account in light of their predatory new terms and conditions. There is no way of opting out. It's a shame because it has been useful over the years, but I'm not prepared to give them these rights.

Thanks to @downham.bsky.social for highlighting!

22.09.2025 09:19 πŸ‘ 38 πŸ” 14 πŸ’¬ 4 πŸ“Œ 0
The Mermaids of Staithes – a Zoom talk with Professor Sarah Peverley - The Last Tuesday Society The Mermaids of Staithes: Sea, Superstition, Egg-Broth and Loss in a Yorkshire Legend. An illustrated Zoom talk by Prof. Sarah Peverley.

This week I'm giving two talks on The Staithes Mermaids. Tomorrow a zoom talk for The Last Tuesday Society. Tickets here and it's on catch up if you can't make it: thelasttuesdaysociety.org/event/mermai...

Sunday I'll be at the Staithes Festival. Tickets here: www.tickettailor.com/events/stait...

09.09.2025 20:33 πŸ‘ 4 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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BBC Radio 4 - Ian Hislop's Oldest Jokes, Series 2, Useless Men Jokes Ian Hislop returns to unearth the oldest examples of five varieties of British joke.

Excited to share an episode of Ian Hislop's Oldest Jokes I did. It's about the timelessness of jokes and focuses on comedy in medieval mystery plays. Features bits of the York and Towneley Plays! www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...

@livunienglish.bsky.social @livunihss.bsky.social @sotauol.bsky.social

05.09.2025 13:59 πŸ‘ 5 πŸ” 3 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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Tracking the Mermaids of Staithes: Curses, Egg-Broth, and Inundation in a Yorkshire Legend The vengeful tale of the mermaids of Staithes is well known locally along the north-east coast of Yorkshire, England. Concerning the capture and escape of two mermaids, who speak enigmatically abou...

πŸ§œβ€β™€οΈ For #FolkyFriday, here's Prof @sarahpeverley.bsky.social's research into the vengeful tale of the mermaids of Staithes and what became of the humans who captured them πŸ§œβ€β™€οΈ www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....

27.06.2025 11:46 πŸ‘ 9 πŸ” 3 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

It's a rabbit hole (but with mermaids, or not-mermaids)!

25.06.2025 19:56 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

Thanks, I already have. Opinion is split about what precisely they are. They are defined as merpeople today by many, but they may be swallow-people (linked with seasonal water patterns), humans in a state of transformation, and a few other things...

25.06.2025 07:44 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

The Staithes mermaid legend deserves more love... so today is officially a #MermaidMonday for the village and its rich history.

#mermaids #mermaid #folklore #britishfolklore #britishlegends #maritimelegends #staithes #yorkshirelegends
@folkloresociety.bsky.social @folklorethursday.bsky.social

23.06.2025 08:20 πŸ‘ 18 πŸ” 6 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 1
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New Generation Thinkers 2025 selected to shape programming on BBC Radio 4 Six early-career university researchers will work with programme makers to bring new ideas and the latest academic scholarship to audiences

Fantastic to see the announcement of the 2025 cohort of BBC/AHRC New Generation Thinkers (though depressing to see that that cohort has shrunk from ten to just six). Very much looking forward to hearing about their work on radio!

16.06.2025 10:40 πŸ‘ 8 πŸ” 2 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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Teaching Fellow in Medieval English Literature at University of Birmingham Apply now for the Teaching Fellow in Medieval English Literature role on jobs.ac.uk - the leading job board for higher education jobs. View details.

Medieval job at Birmingham for early career scholars: www.jobs.ac.uk/job/DNG641/t...

09.06.2025 20:25 πŸ‘ 6 πŸ” 5 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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Happy to share my latest article (with Chloe Middleton-Metcalfe): Tracking the Mermaids of Staithes: Curses, Egg-Broth, and Inundation in a Yorkshire Legend, Folklore 136:2 πŸ§œβ€β™€οΈπŸ§œβ€β™€οΈ

#mermaids #staithes #folklore #yorkshire #legends

www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....

03.06.2025 13:13 πŸ‘ 13 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0
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Delighted to share my latest open access article on The Mermaids of Staithes (co-authored with Chloe Middleton-Metcalfe). It tracks the earliest recorded verbal and written accounts of the legend, draws comparisons with other mermaid tales, and the egg-broth motif. πŸ§œβ€β™€οΈπŸ§œβ€β™€οΈ

#mermaids #folklore #Yorkshire

03.06.2025 12:32 πŸ‘ 5 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
Poster advertising Sir Gawain and the Green Knight Performances. Black background with a green medieval knight's helmet in front of a knight's shield coloured red with a golden pentangle on it.

Poster advertising Sir Gawain and the Green Knight Performances. Black background with a green medieval knight's helmet in front of a knight's shield coloured red with a golden pentangle on it.

Our free family-friendly production of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight is this Saturday at Central Library, Liverpool. Performances 11am and 1.30pm (c. 35 mins). Suitable for all ages, but especially the young and young at heart!

@livunienglish.bsky.social @livunihss.bsky.social

14.05.2025 19:49 πŸ‘ 2 πŸ” 3 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
Career Opportunities: Full-time assistantship in medieval English (22147)

The University of Lausanne is advertising for a doctoral position. A truly wonderful place and wonderful department to spend 5 years in!
career5.successfactors.eu/career?caree...

17.03.2025 12:01 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 4 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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JIC Davies Doctoral Studentship in English at University of Liverpool on FindAPhD.com PhD Project - JIC Davies Doctoral Studentship in English at University of Liverpool, listed on FindAPhD.com

πŸŽ“An award is available within the our department for a Global Majority candidate wishing to undertake PhD research in English Literature, English Language, Creative Writing or TESOL. See more here: www.findaphd.com/phds/project...

17.03.2025 12:31 πŸ‘ 3 πŸ” 2 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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Sponsor a Tile If you can help, we are now offering you the chance to sponsor one or more of the new tiles in memory of a loved one or special event in return for a minimum donation of Β£10 per tile. If you would lik...

Gazeley's historic roof is still under threat and their fundraising efforts continue. The new 'sponsor a tile' initiative allows donors to commemorate a loved one or special event with an inscription on the new tiles. Please do considering helping for Β£10... gazeleychurch.org/save-our-cei...

25.03.2024 09:58 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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BBC Radio 4 - Mythical Creatures, 5. Mermaids Rhianna Pratchett dives into the world of mermaids, in her search for mythical creatures.

If you love the mythical, magical and folkloric, listen to the enchanting series on Myhtical Creatures by @rhi.bsky.social on BBCRadio4. There's everything from Dragons and mermaids to Red Caps and Kelpies... episode 5 is on the Conwy mermaid with me and Ffion Phillips! www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...

22.12.2023 14:30 πŸ‘ 17 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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Lovely write-up in this week’s Radio Times on Mythical Creatures (the show I’m hosting) which starts on Monday Dec 18th on BBC Radio 4 at 1.45pm and runs daily for 10 episodes. It will also be available as a boxset on BBC Sounds and RSS for listeners outside the U.K.

16.12.2023 22:18 πŸ‘ 54 πŸ” 17 πŸ’¬ 2 πŸ“Œ 1

That's great and not unexpected! But, yes I can imagine it's sad too. Hope to catch up soon x

12.12.2023 13:00 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

Oh no! And also wow congrats... that's the end of an era for sure. Lakes permanently now?

11.12.2023 20:45 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

No problem!

08.12.2023 21:33 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

Don't have online access, but apparently it's in our library, so I can check next time I'm in if nobody else can check sooner...

07.12.2023 23:38 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0
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I've been lax in advertising this, but I'm excited to be giving a talk on mermaids tomorrow. If you like merfolk or just mythical creatures and are interested in their uses through time, join us! Ticket holders can also watch a recording afterwards www.thelasttuesdaysociety.org/event/mermai...

07.12.2023 23:27 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
Noah carving his ark

Noah carving his ark

Angel playing a portable organ with bellows

Angel playing a portable organ with bellows

If you love medieval art and history, please consider donating to the Gazeley Church Roof fund. The unique roof with its stunning wooden bosses is under threat from water ingress and must be saved. You can find out more and donate here: gazeleychurch.org/save-our-cei...

31.10.2023 14:37 πŸ‘ 3 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

Aw thanks!

20.10.2023 20:35 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

Same here!

05.10.2023 16:14 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
Image of glynis johns as the mermaid miranda in a trade advert for the 1948 film.

Image of glynis johns as the mermaid miranda in a trade advert for the 1948 film.

Today the wonderful Glynis Johns is 100! Here she is as one of my favourite screen sirens in a 1948 trade advert for Miranda. It's from my personal mermaid archive and took years of searching to locate. Happy Birthday, dear Glynis! You rocked that dunlop tail and utterly beguiled younger me... 😍

05.10.2023 13:45 πŸ‘ 8 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0