Kate Williams

In this new book, celebrated historian Kate Williams leads us into the world of queens, empresses, princesses, mistresses and ladies-in-waiting, as she unveils their hidden stories and remarkable achievements in this enthralling historical journey. From the ancient civilisations of Egypt and Mesopotamia to the opulent courts of medieval Europe, this book delves deep into the lives of royal women, lifting the veil on both their trials and triumphs as they navigate political intrigue, family rivalries and personal sacrifices. From Hatshepsut and Cleopatra, through Tudor queens Catherine of Aragon and Lady Jane Grey, via Queen Victoria''s contemporaries Yaa Asentewaa of Ghana and Queen Lilioukulani of Hawaii and right up to Princess Diana, this is an inspiring celebration of the oft-overlooked women who played pivotal roles in shaping history, and can teach us much about the place of royal women in society today.

Have you ever heard someone say, “I’m trying to make it work,” and thought, “That sounds like a great idea”? Probably not. Because the thing about trying is that it’s tiring; it’s labor. Anyone who has tried to have fun or to relax or to fall asleep knows this to be true. And yet: we exist within a culture that encourages us—often with a frantic urgency—to try, and try harder. We are told to try a different approach, try to do or be better, try to squeeze in a little bit more. This is especially true of women, who not only have to try harder than men to receive access to the same opportunities and resources, but who are also conditioned to try in the name of meeting others' needs and expectations, often at the expense of their own well-being. In this galvanizing and illuminating read, Kate tackles hustle culture head-on, exploring the ways in which women are primed to become relentless strivers. From the workplace to motherhood, from relationships to “self-care”—no arena of a woman’s life is safe from the pressure to exceed expectations. This conflation of self-worth with achievement, she argues, is both toxic and counterproductive, as the qualities we most seek—happiness, meaning, purpose—are not earned but rather owned. Known for her astute cultural analysis and pitch-perfect observations of generational trends, Williams takes readers on a journey rooted in her own struggle to divest from an overachieving identity, including the realizations that came in the wake of a painful fertility challenge. Deeply felt, passionately argued, and often laugh-out-loud funny, this is a book for every woman who has ever wondered what would happen if she stopped trying so hard—and just let go.

An unflinchingly honest and sometimes hilarious look at hustle culture, exploring the forces that have shaped a generation of overachieving women who now find themselves in search of a better way forward.Have you ever heard someone say, ?I?m trying to make it work,? and thought, ?That sounds like a great idea?? Probably not. Because the thing about trying is that it?s tiring; it?s labor. Anyone who has tried to have fun or to relax or to fall asleep knows this to be true.And yet: we exist within a culture that encourages us?often with a frantic urgency?to try, and try harder. We are told to try a different approach, try to do or be better, try to squeeze in a little bit more. This is especially true of women, who not only have to try harder than men to receive access to the same opportunities and resources, but who are also conditioned to try in the name of meeting others'' needs and expectations, often at the expense of their own well-being.In this galvanizing and illuminating read, Kate tackles hustle culture head-on, exploring the ways in which women are primed to become relentless strivers. From the workplace to motherhood, from relationships to ?self-care??no arena of a woman?s life is safe from the pressure to exceed expectations. This conflation of self-worth with achievement, she argues, is both toxic and counterproductive, as the qualities we most seek?happiness, meaning, purpose?are not earned but rather owned.Known for her astute cultural analysis and pitch-perfect observations of generational trends, Williams takes readers on a journey rooted in her own struggle to divest from an overachieving identity, including the realizations that came in the wake of a painful fertility challenge. Deeply felt, passionately argued, and often laugh-out-loud funny, this is a book for every woman who has ever wondered what would happen if she stopped trying so hard?and just let go.

"A tail, a beak? A roar? A squeak?" There''s so much to choose from in the animal world. Kate Williams''s collection is a zoological excursion populated by a colorful and characterful range of creatures. Some of the poems are lyrical, like the beautifully atmospheric red deer in A Vision on the Moor, or Fox Trot with its final lines: "Quick dash?red flash?vanish." Many are comic, as with Rover, the globe-trotting sheep in Woolly But Cool, or the problematic dental patient in Can''t Snap Out of It who turns out to be a crocodile. Others acknowledge the fragility and vulnerability of some birds and animals like the thrush and the turtle. Stick insects, wombats, hippos, snakes, woodlice and many more find a place in this collection, as diverse in its moods and forms as the animal world it depicts.