Tweets from beyond the grave bring Ben Jonson to life

An epic journey undertaken on foot by the celebrated playwright Ben Jonson more than 400 years ago is being re-trod on social media by researchers from the Universities of Nottingham and Edinburgh. The literary detectives are using Twitter, Facebook and a blog to recreate the adventure using extracts from a recently-discovered account of his journey. The influential poet and dramatist - a favourite of King James and friend to William Shakespeare - set out on his 71-day trek from London to Edinburgh in July 1618. Professor Julie Sanders of The University of Nottingham's School of English is working with Professor James Loxley and Dr Anna Groundwater from The University of Edinburgh's School of Languages, Literatures and Cultures to bring the account to life 21st century-style. They will link diary extracts to the places he visited and the people he encountered on the way and track his daily itinerary in real time, drawing from events in the account, which runs from 8 July to 5 October. The researchers will highlight some of the many places and historic sites mentioned along the 450-mile route - including inns that are still in business today and properties now looked after by English Heritage, Historic Scotland and the National Trust for Scotland. Ben Jonson wrote an account of his 'foot voyage' shortly after his return from Edinburgh in 1619.