Philippa Gregory in conversation

26 Jan 2024 7-8pm

Overview

Celebrated novelist, Philippa Gregory, introduces her new book, Normal Women: 900 Years of Making History, published in November 2023 by Harper Collins. Normal Women is a radical retelling of our nation’s story – not of the rise and fall of kings and the occasional queen, but of social and cultural change, powered by the determination, persistence and effectiveness of women – from 1066 to modern times. Hear from Philippa as she discusses her motivation in turning to non-fiction and how she approached the gargantuan task of researching and writing a book that aims to remember and celebrate the diverse achievements of countless ordinary – and too often anonymous – women over nine centuries of British history.

About this event:
This event will take place at the National Portrait Gallery and will also be livestreamed to watch online. Select 'Book now' to buy tickets either to attend in person or to watch the livestream online.

One online ticket enables you to watch the livestream on a single device. Once you have purchased a ticket, further details of how to watch will be sent via email ahead of the event. The online event will require you to have access to a device with internet connectivity to watch.

Philippa Gregory is one of the world’s foremost historical novelists. She wrote her first novel, Wideacre, when she was completing her PhD in eighteenth-century literature and it sold worldwide, heralding a new era for historical fiction. Her flair for blending history and imagination developed into a signature style and Philippa went on to write many bestselling novels, including The Other Boleyn Girl and The White Queen. A recognised authority on women’s history, Philippa graduated from the University of Sussex and received a PhD from the University of Edinburgh, where she is a Regent and was made Alumna of the Year in 2009. She holds honorary degrees from Teesside University and the University of Sussex. She is a fellow of the Universities of Sussex and Cardiff and an honorary research fellow at Birkbeck University of London.
In 2020 Philippa was made a CBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours for her services to literature and charity. She is a member of the Society of Authors and in 2016, was presented with the Outstanding Contribution to Historical Fiction Award by the Historical Writers’ Association. In 2018, she was awarded an Honorary Platinum Award by Nielsen for achieving significant lifetime sales across her entire book output.

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