00:00Back then, 60% of the novels in the UK were written by women, but made up just only 9%
00:10of the books shortlisted for major prizes. Faced with these figures, a brave and determined group,
00:19led by the indomitable Kate Moss, decided that something needed to change.
00:25They believed that women's stories should be truly heard, understood and honoured.
00:32And it was time to disprove Virginia Woolf's famous statement that a non was often a woman.
00:41The Woman's Prize for Non-Fiction 2025 marked 30 years since the beginning of the award. At the
00:49open air event on Wednesday, the Queen's appearance was a welcome surprise, and she chatted to the
00:57six shortlisted authors who were Aria Arba, Sanam Maloudji, Elizabeth Strout, Nusayaba Eunice, Miranda
01:07July and Yael van der Woorden. The Queen was then introduced to the six shortlisted authors for the
01:16Woman's Prize for Non-Fiction, including singer, songwriter and rapper Lena Chari, whose debut book,
01:25A Thousand Threads, tells the story of her career. The Woman's Prize Trust says it enriches society by
01:36creating equitable opportunities for women in the world of books and beyond. As a registered charity,
01:44they say they improve access to and appreciation of women's writing for all readers, providing
01:53an awards platform that champions brilliant women writers and role models, while nurturing the
02:01supportive global community of readers and writers. They did this by establishing the Women's Prize for
02:09Fiction and its instantly recognisable statuette, the Bessie. This simple but radical step brought the
02:19female voice from the margins of the literary world to its very centre. Three decades later,
02:25two decades later. Your achievements are more than impressive.
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