Neneh Cherry and Anne Applebaum longlisted for Women's prize for nonfiction

The Buffalo Stance singer Neneh Cherry, historian Anne Applebaum and Labour MP Yuan Yang are among those longlisted for the Women's prize for nonfiction.
16 authors, 11 of whom are British, are in contention for this year's £30,000 prize, which was launched last year to redress the gender imbalance in nonfiction prizes in the UK.
Autocracy, Inc. by Anne Applebaum (Allen Lane)
Embers of the Hands by Eleanor Barraclough (Profile)
The Eagle and the Hart by Helen Castor (Allen Lane)
A Thousand Threads by Neneh Cherry (Vintage)
The Story of A Heart by Rachel Clarke (Abacus)
Raising Hare by Chloe Dalton (Canongate)
Ootlin by Jenni Fagan (Hutchinson Heinemann)
Why Fish Don't Exist by Lulu Miller (Pushkin)
Agent Zo by Clare Mulley (Weidenfeld)
By the Fire We Carry by Rebecca Nagle (William Collins)
Wild Thing by Sue Prideaux (Faber)
What the Wild Sea Can Be by Helen Scales (Atlantic)
The Peepshow by Kate Summerscale (Bloomsbury)
Sister in Law by Harriet Wistrich (Transworld)
Tracker by Alexis Wright (And Other Stories)
Private Revolutions by Yuan Yang (Bloomsbury)
The longlisted titles 'boast so many different disciplines and genres', said journalist Kavita Puri, who is this year's judging chair. 'What unites them all is the quality of the writing, the authority of the voice and the originality of their storytelling, and just the depth and incisiveness of the research.'
Cherry was longlisted for her memoir A Thousand Threads, while Yang was chosen for Private Revolutions, her portrait of modern China told through the lives of four young women. Applebaum appears on the list for Autocracy, Inc., which explores the kleptocratic financial structures that underlie autocracies.
While the selected books are 'all quite different', said Puri, themes that emerged were 'power and control – how it's used, how it's abused', injustice, human connections 'with each other, but also the natural world' and climate change.
There are also books featuring 'perspectives that have been overlooked', said Puri, including Indigenous voices, such as By the Fire We Carry by Native American activist Rebecca Nagle which looks at the 'battles of the Muscogee people', while Tracker by Australian writer Alexis Wright is a 'very personal' story of an Indigenous Australian leader.
Other 'striking personal stories' include Ootlin by Jenni Fagan, about her experience growing up in care, and The Story of a Heart by Rachel Clarke, 'an exquisite story about one family giving the heart of their child, so that another can live, and the wonder of science and medicine'.
The shortlist of six books will be announced on 26 March, with the winner revealed on 12 June, alongside the winner of the fiction prize, which turns 30 this year.
Also on the longlist are What the Wild Sea Can Be by Helen Scales, Wild Thing by Sue Prideaux, Embers of the Hands by Eleanor Barraclough, The Eagle and the Hart by Helen Castor, Raising Hare by Chloe Dalton, Why Fish Don't Exist by Lulu Miller, Agent Zo by Clare Mulley, The Peepshow by Kate Summerscale and Sister in Law by Harriet Wistrich.
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The nonfiction prize was announced in 2023 following research which found that only 35.5% of books awarded a nonfiction prize over the prior decade were written by women, across seven UK nonfiction prizes.
Given that 'female writers in the nonfiction area don't do as well' as their male counterparts in terms of book advances and newspaper coverage, Puri sees this prize as an opportunity to 'elevate brilliant female writing in a whole array of genres'. Women's perspectives on the 'most pressing' issues of the day 'need to be heard', she added. 'So there is a huge need for this prize today'.
This year's prize was open to books published in the UK between 1 April 2024 and 31 March 2025. Alongside Puri on the judging panel are the writers Leah Broad, Elizabeth Buchan, Elizabeth-Jane Burnett and Emma Gannon.
The inaugural nonfiction prize was won by Naomi Klein for her book Doppelganger.

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Daily Mail​

11-06-2025

• Daily Mail​

Queen Camilla makes surprise appearance at London book show

appeared in high spirits as she made a surprise appearance at a book event in central London on Wednesday. The royal, 77, dropped in at the event's open-air venue in Bloomsbury, central London, to congratulate finalists for the Women's Prize for Fiction and Non-fiction and hail the founders of the award for having 'brought the female voice from the margins of the literary world to its very centre'. The avid reader was snapped basking in London's 23-degree weather while conversing with those who were invited to the occasion, as they posed for pictures together in a picturesque garden. Founder and author Kate Mosse, who invited Her Majesty to attend the anniversary event, said her presence had been kept secret: 'Nobody knew, which is why people were so surprised. If you're going to lay on the Queen, if it's not Beyoncé, it's got to be the actual Queen.' She added: 'You can tell when someone has read your book genuinely and when they've been given a briefing sheet. And she's a reader, a genuine reader, and someone who genuinely champions women.' Camilla looked regal as she stepped out in the eye-catching Grace dress made with Liberty Green Peacock Manor Silk from Bombshell London. The frock has a green peacock pattern with long sleeves and a collared neckline, along with a belted waist to show off her slim frame. It retails for £599 and is described as being 'inspired by Grace Kelly and Dior dresses of the 1950s'. The mother-of-two paired her ensemble with suede indigo-coloured heels and accessorised with gold jewellery, sporting her glitzy £4,500 Van Cleef & Arpels 18 carat gold bracelet featuring the famous blue clover motifs and vibrant turquoise earrings. The queen wore her signature platinum blonde tresses down in a wavy blow-dry and opted for natural makeup with a hint of pink lipstick. In the Green Room area, she was introduced to the six authors shortlisted for the Women's Prize for Fiction, including Nussaibah Younis, whose novel Fundamentally tells the story of an academic who travels to Iraq to deradicalise a teenage Islamic State recruit. She joked that the competition was stiff between finalists, telling Camilla, 'We are trying to take each other out. The Champagne glasses are spiked – there could be one less standing by this afternoon!' The Queen recognised Yael van der Wouden, author of The Safekeep, telling her: 'We met at the Booker [Prize]. Good to see you again.' And turning to Tell Me Everything writer Elizabeth Strout, she said: 'I have read your books, they are lovely.' 'Good luck to you all,' she told the group. 'I shall be thinking of you.' Her Majesty was then introduced to the six shortlisted authors for the Women's Prize for Non-Fiction, which include Neneh Cherry, Rachel Clarke, Chloe Dalton, Clare Mulley, Helen Scales and Yuan Yang. The Women's Prize for Non-Fiction is held annually and is open to all female writers from around the world who are published in the UK and are writing in English. Each winner receives a cheque for £30,000 and a piece of limited-edition artwork known as the 'Charlotte', both gifted by the Charlotte Aitken Trust. The shortlist consists of six books described as being united 'by the power of hope and the necessity of resistance to initiate change'. Camilla including singer-songwriter and rapper Neneh Cherry, whose debut book, A Thousand Threads tells the story of her career. 'I wrote a memoir, a book about my life,' she told Camilla. 'It took more than four years to write it and I'm still slightly recovering. It's out there now, I have let it go, it's out in the world.' The Queen told Claire Mulley, whose Agent Zo tells the story of the Polish wartime resistance fighter Elzbieta Zawakca, 'I think I will put that on my holiday reading list.' And she delighted author Chloe Dalton by telling her she had read her memoir Raising Hare about swapping the rat race for a rural life. 'Thank you so much, I am honoured,' she replied. The Queen was then reunited with Girl, Woman, Other author Bernardine Evaristo, winner of The Women's Prize Outstanding Contribution Award – a special one-off award for the 30th anniversary year. There was a quick stop off in a pop-up Waterstones tent, where authors had been signing their books and Camilla was told the bar was kept open late for those queuing to meet their favourite writers. 'Quite right,' she agreed. On a visit to an audio stand playing a recording of readers' favourite literary quotes, she chatted to Aurelie de Troyer, Audible's head of regional content for Europe, about audiobooks. 'The nice thing about it is that you can take it with you wherever you go,' said Camilla. Making a speech in the Woolf tent in Bedford Square, Her Majesty said the launch of the women's only prize in 1995 had 'brought the female voice from the margins of the literary world to its very centre.' And she hailed it for having 'transformed the literary landscape for women.' She said: 'Three decades later, your achievements are impressive. Budding authors have benefitted from the wisdom of those who have trodden the same path. 'Careers have been launched, bestsellers have flown off the shelves into the hands and hearts of the public, and each year you distribute 3,000 books to people in need. And you have forged a community of 16 million readers who love, in your own words, 'original, accessible and brilliant' literature. 'In short, you have transformed the literary landscape for women. If I might return to Virginia Woolf – who never won any kind of award for her work, but who did have this tent named after her – and misquote her, 'A woman must have a prize of her own if she is to write fiction. 'Happy birthday, congratulations and thank you to every one of you who has been involved over the last 30 years. 'And the best of British luck to all our wonderful finalists tomorrow!' Camilla is highly passionate about promoting literacy in the UK and internationally, with a focus on encouraging children to read from a young age. She is patron of several organisations which promote and support literacy, including the National Literacy Trust, Book Trust, First Story, the Wicked Young Writer Awards and Beanstalk. During a talk on World Book Day in 2020, the queen stressed the importance of reading to children at a school and said: 'If can give you one piece of advice, it is to put down your phones and pick up a book, especially before you go to bed. 'Books never lose their signal or run out of battery and they will always take you to a thousand different worlds with every turn of a page.' This comes as the queen braved the rainy weather to visit what she called 'the most beautiful racecourse' and open a new stand that was named in her honour last week. Despite the downpour, Camilla, who took shelter under a sheer umbrella, was on jolly form and smiled broadly as she chatted to locals after touring privately-owned Hexham Racecourse - Northumberland's only track. The Queen was shown around the venue, 600ft above the town, which boasts views across the county and an undulating jump track which sits in a natural amphitheatre. Camilla, under a photograph of the late Queen's horse No Trumps, which won a race at the course in 2019, said she hoped to come back with a runner one day. She wore a pale-blue Bruce Oldfield outfit and a horseshoe brooch marked Minoru, which was a horse owned by Edward VII. After officially opening the Queen Camilla Stand, she said: 'How thrilled I am to be here in Hexham. 'I haven't been here, I am ashamed to say, before but it really is the most beautiful racecourse. It has the most wonderful views. 'Unfortunately, I didn't bring the weather with me, I can imagine what it is like on a sunny day because it looks pretty good on a day like this. Next time, I hope to come back with a runner. Hopefully it emulates No Trumps.' The Queen intermittently used an umbrella during the visit and even conducted a walkabout outside the Abbey in a downpour to meet members of the public, which included her tactful avoidance of a group of anti-monarchy protesters from Republic. The Queen spoke to racing industry figures including trainer Charlie Brooks, who said afterwards: 'She is very engaged in racing issues and, without putting words in her mouth, is understanding of the challenges – she knows her stuff.' Robert Whitelock, racecourse manager, showed the Queen around the site and said afterwards: 'It is wonderful that she came up here and I think she is delighted about the stand being named in her honour.' Racing has been held in Hexham since 1670 and National Hunt Racing started at the current site in 1890. The Queen, like her late mother-in-law before her, is a long-standing supporter of horse racing and has loved horses since she was a girl. She once told ITV Racing: 'I could probably ride before I could walk.' A follower of jump racing from her teenage years, Camilla recognised the odds were against being a winning racehorse owner. Speaking to the channel in 2021, she said: 'I think people go into racing who don't know a lot about it and think 'Oh, we will buy a horse and it will win a race', but it's terribly difficult to win any race anywhere. 'The odds are actually stacked against winning, aren't they?' Queen Camilla is a longtime and avid supporter of the sport and along with the King, has inherited Elizabeth II's beloved thoroughbreds.

Daily Record

10-06-2025

• Daily Record

Penny Lancaster receives mass support after big announcement following Sir Rod's health woes

Rod Stewart's wife Penny Lancaster has made a huge announcement in the midst of her husband's ongoing health battle which has seen him cancel eight of his recent shows. Penny Lancaster is set to release a tell-all autobiography about her life alongside her famous rockstar husband, Sir Rod Stewart. The 54-year-old recently penned a deal with publishers, Bloomsbury for her book, Someone Like Me, which will launch on September 25. Penny's exciting new career move comes as her 80-year-old hubby continues to battle the flu after already cancelling several gigs ahead of his highly anticipated Glastonbury Legends Slot at the end of this month. The mum-of-two has The mum of two has packed a lot into her life and her book will explore all aspects of her life, including the good, the bad and the ugly as well as new information about her life that not much had been known about until now. ‌ Penny is set to discuss a range of difficult topics including her upbringing, the cruel bullying she suffered through at school, how she coped with undiagnosed dyslexia and a harrowing sexual assault she suffered as a young girl. She will also open up about what it was like working in the fashion industry, her life with her Rod, their children and their blended family as well as her campaigning efforts for women's health and safety and her work as a special constable, the Express reports. ‌ A release for the publication says: "Told with her trademark empathy and humour, Penny shares her wisdom from her hard-earned lessons, showing that the key to navigating both storms and sunshine is always staying true to yourself." Katy Follain, Head of Bloomsbury General, teased fans: "Her book is a heady mix of royalty, rock legends and renegades, one that will entertain but also inspire other women, and hopefully help them on their own life journey." Speaking about her new venture Penny said: "I'm really delighted to be publishing my memoir with Bloomsbury. Through this process, what I've ultimately learnt is that living your most fulfilling life means being kind, cherishing your friendships, finding your passion, realising your potential and staying true to yourself. My hope is that you enjoy reading my story as much as I enjoyed writing it." ‌ Since she personally relates to the struggles of dyslexics, Penny's book will be in a dyslexia friendly format and she will voice the audiobook herself rather than having an actor do it. Fans were thrilled by the announcement and expressed their excitement to read the book after Penny revealed the news in an Instagram post this morning. ‌ Flocking to the comment section, one wrote: "Congratulations, can't wait to read!" ‌ Another chimed in: "I look forward to reading it. Penny has such dignity and grace". Someone else penned: "Can't wait! You have a very interesting life xx" Meanwhile a fourth shared: " Really looking forward to reading this Penny." ‌ Penny's announcement comes just days after Sir Rod had to cancel a string of shows on doctors orders. Taking to Instagram last week, Rod said he was "devastated" to be cancelling six of his US shows, four in Las Vegas and two in California, while he continues to recover from the flu. This brings the total of performances the Maggie May star has cancelled in recent weeks to eight, while he rests before he is due to take to the Pyramid stage at Glastonbury Festival's Legends Slot later this month. He wrote: "I have to cancel and reschedule my next six concerts in June as I continue to recover from the flu. So sorry my friends. I'm devastated and sincerely apologise for any inconvenience to my fans. I'll be back on stage and will see you soon." He has now postponed all shows up until June 15, which is just a fortnight before he is due to perform at Glastonbury on Sunday June 29.

The Herald Scotland

09-06-2025

• The Herald Scotland

Beware white women: a Dickensian masterpiece of modern Africa

Or I could simply say that when I got within 50 pages of the end of Theft by Abdulrazak Gurnah I panicked that it would all soon be over and I'd have to say goodbye to its world and its characters, some of whom I'd come to love, some of whom I despised. All the learning would come to end, the lessons I'd been taught about the food and fashions of east Africa, the history of Zanzibar, the culture of people far removed from me through distance but exactly the same as me, my friends and my family in their shames and ambitions, failings and braveries. This is the first book Gurnah has written since he won the Nobel Prize. Be in no doubt, his talents remain undimmed. If anything this is his most affecting book, in terms of its emotional heft, and his most important given its ruthless dissection of colonialism and the hangover which remains for both Africans and Europeans. Theft is intensely political, but its politics are almost invisible. It isn't hectoring. You aren't being lectured. You aren't even aware that history is being laid on the anatomy table. Theft by Abdulrazak Gurnah (Image: Bloomsbury) This is a book about family and friendships. Yet its message reaches right to the poisoned root of the relationship between Africa today and the Europe which exploited the continent for two centuries. This is a book you want to stand up and applaud when you finish. The comparison with Dickens is apt. Like Dickens, Gurnah's lead character is the classic 'orphaned boy'. Badar has no mother and father. He's raised by distant relatives who care little for him, then farmed out to another family as a servant. I must tread carefully, for fear of ruining the plot, but we're in David Copperfield territory here, Oliver Twist, Nicholas Nickleby. It feels somehow wrong to equate Gurnah with Dickens. To do so is almost the kind of inward-gazing colonial act he takes his scalpel to, but the comparisons are too strong to avoid. Theft, like any Dickens novel, is driven relentlessly forward by character. You cannot resist the company of his creations. The story is addictive and page-turning. Again like Dickens. This blend of character and story is so heady it hides the very powerful, very political points the writer makes. Again like Dickens. Though Gurnah has a subtlety Dickens lacks. Read more Midway through, Badar is falsely accused of theft. Initially, it seems this gives us the book's title. However, as the novel closes, we learn that the theft Gurnah is exploring isn't one of property or money. To understand the theft Gurnah is really investigating, we must turn to the white characters - specifically, and uncomfortably, white women. It's the action of white women who explain the metaphor of theft. Again, I'll say no more, lest I ruin a moment in the book, which for white readers is deeply troubling but horribly and shamefully recognisable. After all, who are history's great thieves if not our colonial ancestors who stole the very land from under the feet of the peoples they invaded and ruled? Are we more like them even today than we care to acknowledge? Do we still have the thief's mind? Like Dickens, Gurnah expertly dissects broken families. There's no family here not carrying some secret, some shame, some guilt. Children are abandoned, raised by relatives, shipped off. Parents disappear, sleep around, hurt their kids. There's one scene of physical violence when a character we began by loving but come to loath harms their own baby in the most ghastly way. It's a moment of shocking horror in a novel that's otherwise tender, even when dealing with the pain of poverty and humiliation. In essence, Theft tells the story of young and impoverished Badar, taken under the wing of the slightly older and much wealthier Karim. The pair set out to make their way in 1990s Tanzania as it juggles modernity and tradition: a nation trying to maintain its dignity amid the interference of western charity workers who use Africa to burnish their own fake sense of virtue. They're nothing but modern missionaries, dressing the colonial mindset in the clothes of progressive liberalism. Much more harm is done than good, and those harms crowbar their way into the lives of Badar and Karim. While Badar and Karim are the twin poles the book revolves around, the supporting cast is dominated by strong women characters, from Karim's feckless and selfish mother, to the modern but diffident Fauzia. This isn't a book which simply turns white characters into monsters, though. Indeed, white characters cause harm through thoughtlessness, self-absorption and carelessness. Black characters can be just as unpleasant: vengeful, cruel, petty, intolerant. Damage is inherited. Damaged parents create broken children, and it takes great courage to overcome this inheritance. The same is true of countries. How do they recover from the damage of colonialism? Do they inherit the sins of the coloniser? What matters to Gurnah is the simple contents of a human soul. It's irrelevant if you're rich or poor, had good parents or bad, come from a country of colonisers or the colonised. It's the heart inside you which shapes your humanity. Badar wonders to himself if white people come to Africa as they 'feel entitled to please themselves because in the end it was they who mattered'. The same is true of men in their behaviour towards women in this book, and parents towards their children. Damaged people hurt others as they believe they are all that matters. In their pain, they cannot see the lives of others. What Gurnah does is paint a picture of how empathy is the escape mechanism. If we can find that key within us we can save ourselves from the horror of history and the pain of family. In the end, if we're to be human, empathy is all we've got.