Suzannah Lipscomb

The Women’s Prize for Non-Fiction 2024 has been quite the event in my life. Or, rather, series of events. My fellow judges and I read for it from August 2023, met from October, announced our wonderful longlist of 16 books in February and our shortlist of six superb books a month later. And this week, as chair of judges, I had the honour of announcing the inaugural winner of this important new prize. So here’s the journey in pictures: - with my brilliant fellow judges @venetialamanna @profnicolarollock @kshamsie @annesebba - judges with the shortlisted authors: @lauracummingart for Thunderclap @naomiaklein for Doppelganger @noreen_masud for A Flat Place @tiyamiles for All That She Carries @madhumitav for Code Dependent @safiyasinclair for How to Say Babylon - on stage as the shortlisted authors received flowers - announcing the Winner of the inaugural @womensprize for Non-Fiction: @naomiaklein , for Doppelganger

I am very excited to launch my new podcast, NOT JUST THE TUDORS, from @historyhit . Please subscribe at /not-just-the-tudors (link in my bio)

You know nothing, Dan Snow @thehistoryguy

I’ve been wanting to do this even since I first read @lauracummingart ’s magnificent book, Thunderclap. I’ve come to the @nationalgallery to stand and stare, to let the picture slowly reveal to me its secrets. I’m so grateful to Laura Cumming for teaching me to see.

Look at the size of my jewels, he seems to be saying. #henryviii #sixlives @npglondonevents @walkerartgallery

Professor Suzannah Lipscomb is visiting the USA for a two day event, and you can meet her (or join virtually)! July 12-13, 2024 Hilton City Center Salt Lake City, Utah USA Enjoy an opportunity to learn from one of Britain’s leading scholars and Professor Emerita of History at the University of Roehampton! Suzannah will share her expertise in the following areas as four separate presentations and one workshop: 1) The English Reformation 2) Shakespeare’s World 3) A Short History of Henry VIII’s Queens in Art 4) Witchcraft and the Witch-Trials 5) Evidence Workshop & Dinner Prices have also been reduced, so it has never been easier to learn from an amazing scholar like Suzannah Lipscomb! Utah educators will receive recertification credit for each hour of instruction attended. Visiting educators will receive a certificate verifying each hour of instruction attended. Virtual attendees may request a certificate verifying each hour of instruction viewed. For more information, details on virtual attendance, and registration, visit @sixteenthcgirl #authorfantravel #suzannahlipscomb #tudorhistory #saltlakecity #englishhistory #educatorsofinstagram #henryviii #katherineparr #catherineofaragon #katherineofaragon #anneboleyn #shakespeare #historiansofinstagram

SNEAK PEEK… The National Portrait Gallery @npglondonevents in London is opening a new exhibition called Six Lives, examining the portraits of Henry VIII’s queens. Having written for the catalogue, I got early access. It is an absolute treasure trove. But my favourite is the newly re-discovered and conserved portrait of Queen Kateryn Parr late in Henry VIII’s reign. In an extravagantly bejewelled gown (those massive black stones are diamonds!), she displays her wealth and status. But, discreetly, in enamel around the jewels in her bracelets, the picture also proclaims ‘LAUS DEUS’. Noting that this was incorrect Latin grammar, I tracked the expression down to the Latin Vulgate, where it only appears once, in Psalm 64. The full phrase is ‘Tibi silens laus Deus’ - ‘Remaining silent praise to you, O God’. The painted Kateryn remains silent and praises God, but the actual Kateryn was doing the same. At the time this was painted she had just survived an accusation of or was about to be accused of heresy. She was writing the personal and Protestant Lamentations of a Sinner, which would be published only after Henry’s death. She was remaining silent, but praising God in her secret heart, even as her outward appearance proclaimed magnificence. Find out more in a film coming soon from @historyhit .

Our winner: the winner of the inaugural @womensprize for Non-Fiction is Doppelganger by @naomiaklein . On her book, in hardback and paperback, is the winner’s statuette, ‘The Charlotte’ - a bronze-cast sculpture created by Ann Christopher RA FRSS.

What do the #WomensPrize judges look for in a prize-winning book? Over to @sixteenthcgirl chair of judges for the Women’s Prize for Non-Fiction and Monica Ali, chair of judges for the Women’s Prize for Fiction. Join us from 6:45pm as we announce the winners!

MAJOR NEW DISCOVERY! 400-year-old portrait identified for the first time by Emma Rutherford @portrait_miniature and Dr Elizabeth Goldring @elizabeth.goldring . Hear the full story on my podcast, Not Just the Tudors.

Professor Suzannah Lipscomb is visiting the USA for a two day event, and you can meet her (or join virtually)! July 12-13, 2024 Hilton City Center Salt Lake City, Utah USA Enjoy an opportunity to learn from one of Britain’s leading scholars and Professor Emerita of History at the University of Roehampton! Suzannah will share her expertise in the following areas as four separate presentations and one workshop: 1) The English Reformation 2) Shakespeare’s World 3) A Short History of Henry VIII’s Queens in Art 4) Witchcraft and the Witch-Trials 5) Evidence Workshop & Dinner Prices have also been reduced, so it has never been easier to learn from an amazing scholar like Suzannah Lipscomb! Utah educators will receive recertification credit for each hour of instruction attended. Visiting educators will receive a certificate verifying each hour of instruction attended. Virtual attendees may request a certificate verifying each hour of instruction viewed. For more information, details on virtual attendance, and registration, visit @sixteenthcgirl #authorfantravel #suzannahlipscomb #tudorhistory #saltlakecity #englishhistory #educatorsofinstagram #henryviii #katherineparr #catherineofaragon #katherineofaragon #anneboleyn #shakespeare #historiansofinstagram

I had an excellent time at @hayfestival with these fine folks: -discussing today’s news with @revrichardcoles , Dharshini David and Rebecca Jones; -interviewing debut novelist Sarah Marsh about her book, A Sign of Her Own; -and talking with three of the authors shortlisted for the inaugural @womensprize for Non-Fiction, @lauracummingart , @noreen_masud and @madhumitav . #hayfestival