Steve Sarson

Banjo vs Billy in shelf-space face-off.

It may well have gone downhill since, but even before then it was a purveyor of dishonesty and outrageous snobbery.

"To be the owner of this institution of quality British journalism is a privilege and a duty." Now that is funny....

Grotius is dead?

My talk on "The Original Declaration of Independence" at University College Cork. Thanks to host Clodagh Harrington, to Hiram Morgan too, and all who came along.

Thursday 26 February 2026 at 17:05:01 share.google/xQGtYb5u5KSE...

Happy St David's Day!

Obviously I mean near 25,000. Even better :)

Keep hearing that the by-election result is a disaster for Starmer and fine, yes, but a near 20,000 combined vote for Labour and Green with just over 10,000 for Reform is pretty much a disaster for the fascists, right?

Plus @gracemallon.bsky.social

The Last Best Hope? History Podcast · Updated weekly · Historian and broadcaster Professor Adam Smith explores the America of today through the lens of the past. Is America - as Abraham Lincoln once claimed - the last be...

It was a delight to do this podcast on the Declaration of Independence (The Last Best Hope, Rothermere American Institute at Oxford) with Adam Smith interviewing Lige Gould, me, and others. Part 1 today, Part 2 next week :)

podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/t...

Very happy to be heading to Ireland today for a talk tomorrow on "The Original Declaration of Independence" at University College Cork 😀

The Declaration of Independence in 1776 and Beyond: a Roundtable As the U.S. marks 250 years of independence, this event explores the origins, meaning, and global impact of the Declaration of Independence

Reminder that this happens in Paris today--John W. Boyer Center, U of Chicago. Me, Eric Slauter, et al on a Round Table about the US Declaration of Independence in 1776 and beyond, 5pm onwards. You can register up to 4pm using QR scanner in the poster below.

www.eventbrite.fr/e/the-declar...

It turns out it will be recorded. I'll let you know when it's available. Best, Steve

Good morning from St Cyr au Mont d'Or.

Doesn't look good....

250 Not Out: Understanding the Declaration of Independence Podcast Episode · A Chicken in Every Pot · 02/18/2026 · 49m

Really enjoyed doing this recording with Clodagh Harrington (UC Cork) and Alex Waddan (U of Leicester) for their A Chicken in Every Pot podcast.

podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/2...

Lovely sky in St Cyr tonight :)

Extremely looking forward to going to University College Cork for a book talk--the Irish launch of The Course of Human Events :)

Oh my goodness. Rest in Peace, Jesse Jackson. Saw him speak twice and he was mesmerising (in a good way) 😢

Shamefully, I'm not sure (it's only just been organized). I'll check, though, and let you know asap.

Yes, CET (apologies).

The speakers are me, Eric Slauter, and Bertand Van Ruymbeke, and we'll be moderated by Michele Lowrie. Open to all.

The Declaration of Independence in 1776 and Beyond: a Roundtable As the U.S. marks 250 years of independence, this event explores the origins, meaning, and global impact of the Declaration of Independence

Very much looking forward to this Round Table on "The Declaration of Independence in 1776 and Beyond" at the John W. Boyer Center of the University of Chicago, 41 rue des Grands Moulins, Paris: Monday 23 February, 5pm-6pm. You can register via the link below.

www.eventbrite.fr/e/the-declar...

Beautiful weird sky over Lyon tonight.

The Course of Human Events: The Declaration of Independence and the Historical Origins of the United States

Off to Oxford tomorrow for UK book launch at the Rothermere American Institute. Long train rides but well worth it....

www.rai.ox.ac.uk/event/the-co...

I'll send what I can as soon as I can, but I'm off to give a paper at Oxford this week so it may be the weekend. It's all on Moodle, intranet, so no externally accessible link. If you have an email address you can DM it to me and I'll send the course material that way if you like.

A very timely revival! I would love to set up a chapter with you here. Great idea. How do we start? I know some of the people here that you named, and some others who may be interested too. I probably know some of your UK colleagues as well. I'm British and worked in UK Higher Ed for many years.

Your website is on the bibliography for the course, so you are already being extremely helpful!

Thank you! At Jean Moulin University in Lyon, France (I'm prof of American civilization there). It's for final year undergrads and it's about Paine's Atlantic World, including Britain, the colonies/early US, and France. It's new and I'm thoroughly enjoying doing it--I love Thomas Paine!