#OTD in 1535, Sir Thomas More was executed after refusing to take the Oath of Supremacy. In the 2018 #WolfsonHistoryPrize winning 'Heretics and Believers', author Peter Marshall reframes the overthrow of Catholic culture and the reshaping of the English Church. bit.ly/4fbzjVQ

WIN! This month we're giving you the chance to win a copy of 'Survivors: The Lost Stories of the Last Captives of the Atlantic Slave Trade' by Hannah Durkin. 📚 To enter: head to this post on our Instagram page! Entries close 10/07/2026 10AM GMT. UK Only. bit.ly/4vErZYh

We are delighted to announce celebrated author and historian Helen McCarthy as one of the judges for the 2026 #WolfsonHistoryPrize. Helen McCarthy is an historian of everyday worlds of work, family and politics in modern Britain from the late nineteenth century to the present.

#OTD in 1916, the Battle of the Somme began, one of history’s deadliest battles. The 1985 #WolfsonHistoryPrize winner 'Lloyd George: From Peace to War, 1912-1916' by John Grigg explores Lloyd George's time as a dynamic war minister during the years of the First World War. bit.ly/42yMQ2Q

We are now on Instagram! Follow our account for history insights, reading recommendations, and highlights from past winners, as we look ahead to the 2026 shortlist announcement on 17 September. www.instagram.com/wolfsonhisto...

#OTD in 1941, Nazi Germany launched Operation Barbarossa, invading the Soviet Union during World War II. The #WolfsonHistoryPrize–winning book 'The Wages of Destruction' by Adam Tooze examines the economic and strategic pressures within the Nazi war economy. bit.ly/4nxVAQa

#DidYouKnow that although Queen Victoria was named Empress of India, she never travelled there? The 2019 #WolfsonHistoryPrize shortlist book 'Empress: Queen Victoria and India' by Miles Taylor examines Queen Victoria's relationship with India and the years of her rule. bit.ly/4eLU8rc

#OTD in 1520, Pope Leo X threatened Martin Luther with excommunication in 'Exsurge Domine'. The 2017 Wolfson shortlist book 'Martin Luther: Renegade and Prophet' by Lyndal Roper examines the life and legacy of the founding father of the Protestant Reformation. bit.ly/4eG6scx

For those interested in medieval European history, here’s a suggested reading list featuring #WolfsonHistoryPrize alumni. ‘Going to Church in Medieval England’ by Nicholas Orme 'Living and Dying in England 1100-1540' by Barbara Harvey 'The World the Plague Made' by James Belich

Thank you to everyone who entered our June giveaway! Congratulations to the winner - we hope you enjoy reading 'Multicultural Britain: A People’s History' by @kieranconnell.bsky.social !

Which era of ancient history fascinates you most? Ancient Egypt Classical Greece Ancient Rome Mesopotamia

WIN! This month we're giving you the chance to win a copy of 'Multicultural Britain: A People’s History' by @kieranconnell.bsky.social! 📚 To enter: Follow us Like and reshare this post Entries close 11/06/2026 10AM GMT. UK only.

#OTD in 1953, Queen Elizabeth II was crowned at Westminster Abbey, as King George V had been in 1911. Kenneth Rose's 1983 #WolfsonHistoryPrize-winning 'King George V' dives into the monarch’s complex reign, which encompassed a time of unprecedented political unrest. bit.ly/49LEcBM

In the lead‑up to the #WolfsonHistoryPrize awards season, we’ll be giving away one book each month from the 2025 shortlist. Follow @wolfsonhistory.bsky.social to be the first to hear about upcoming giveaways.

Thank you to everyone who entered our May giveaway! Congratulations to the winner - we hope you enjoy reading 'The Eagle and the Hart: The Tragedy of Richard II and Henry IV' by Helen Castor.

Which era of European history fascinates you most? Tell us below! Medieval Europe Renaissance & Reformation Enlightenment & Revolutions 20th-century Europe

WIN! This month we're giving you the chance to win a copy of 'The Eagle and the Hart: The Tragedy of Richard II and Henry IV' by Helen Castor! 📚 To enter: Follow us Like and reshare this post Entries close 29/05/2026 10AM GMT. UK only.

We are delighted to welcome Helen McCarthy @historianhelen.bsky.social to the Wolfson History Prize judging panel for 2026. Find out more about Helen’s remarkable work, from the history of the working mother to the first female diplomats, here: bit.ly/4tK6ILy

Dates for your diary: this year’s shortlist will be revealed on Thursday 17 September 2026 with the 2026 Wolfson History Prize winner being announced on Tuesday 1 December 2026.

On International Museum Day, we’re celebrating the brilliant history museums across the UK and the work their curators do to preserve our past. What’s the best museum you’ve ever visited?

The Hay Festival is bringing together some of the world’s leading historians, writers and thinkers for its upcoming programme in Wales. Enjoy a packed season of live talks, debates and conversations across dozens of events. Learn more. ⬇️ bit.ly/41DMfMH

The Firsts London Rare Book Fair returns to the Saatchi Gallery, 14 – 17 May. From manuscripts that shaped history to remarkable first editions, discover one of the world’s leading rare book fairs in the heart of Chelsea. Book your tickets below. ⬇️ www.firstslondon.com

#OTD in 1945, Victory in Europe was declared, bringing an end to the Second World War in Europe. 'Out of the Darkness' by Frank Trentmann, shortlisted for the 2024 #WolfsonHistoryPrize, offers a well-judged account of Germany’s transformation after the Second World War. ⬇️ bit.ly/48W2okw

#OTD in 2023, Charles III was crowned at Westminster Abbey. If you have an interest in monarchical history, we recommend 'The Eagle and the Hart' by Helen Castor, shortlisted for the 2025 #WolfsonHistoryPrize, which explores the reign of Richard II. ⬇️ bit.ly/4sHBu78

Happy May Day! #DidYouKnow that the May Day festival can be traced back to the Roman Republic? Modern celebrations include dancing around a maypole, crowning the May Queen, and Jack in the Green. The May Day Bank Holiday combines these traditions with marking International Workers’ Day.

#OTD in 1429, Joan of Arc entered the besieged city of Orléans. In the 2010 #WolfsonHistoryPrize winning book ‘The Hundred Years War, vol. III: Divided Houses’, Jonathan Sumption explores this complex political and military era. ⬇️ bit.ly/4sIMmBZ

Want to see 700 years of history come to life before your eyes? The Avoncroft Living History Festival at Avoncroft Museum is this weekend. 300 reenactors will represent life from the Stone Age all the way to the 1940s. Find out more at the link below. ⬇️ bit.ly/3OYZR2b

We are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Dame Averil Millicent Cameron. A distinguished historian, she served as a judge of the Wolfson History Prize from 1993 to 2010. Our thoughts and condolences are with her family, friends, colleagues, and the many who admired her work.

Cannot believe I've won the entire Wolfson History Prize shortlist in their competition here on Bluesky. Thank you soooo much! [email protected] (The only one I already had was the brilliant Embers of theHands by Eleanor Barraclough).

#DidYouKnow the spring season in medieval and early modern Europe was often associated with outbreaks of plague? In the 2023 shortlisted book 'The World the Plague Made', James Belich explores how the Black Death reshaped European society. ⬇️ bit.ly/4bj163v

We are greatly saddened by the death of Robert Skidelsky, winner of the 1993 Wolfson History Prize for ‘John Maynard Keynes, Vol. 2: The Economist as Saviour, 1920–1937’. Lord Skidelsky also served as a judge for the prize from 1997 to 2001. Our thoughts are with his family, friends and readers.

Leading up to the #WolfsonHistoryPrize awards season, we’ll be giving away a book each month from the 2025 shortlist. Follow @wolfsonhistory.bsky.social to be the first to know about upcoming giveaways.

Thank you to everyone who entered our April giveaway! Congratulations to the winner, we hope you enjoy reading ‘Embers of the Hands: Hidden Histories of the Viking Age' by Eleanor Barraclough. 📚

#DidYouKnow that some of the last survivors of the Atlantic slave trade built a community known as Africatown in Alabama? Discover their compelling history in 2025 #WolfsonHistoryPrize winning book 'Survivors: The Lost Stories of the Last Captives of the Atlantic Slave Trade'. ⬇️ bit.ly/46Yml9C

WIN! This month we're giving you the chance to win a copy of 'Embers of the Hands: Hidden Histories of the Viking Age' by Eleanor Barraclough! 📚 To enter: Follow us Like and reshare this post Entries close 17/04/2026 10AM GMT. UK only.

#DidYouKnow Easter celebrations in England were transformed by the Reformation? #WolfsonHistoryPrize winner Peter Marshall’s 'Heretics and Believers: A History of the English Reformation' explores how these religious upheavals reshaped English faith and society. ⬇️ bit.ly/4djZER4

Step back into Tudor England this Easter weekend. @chilternoam.bsky.social is hosting Tudors: Life, Falconry and Folk from 3 - 6 April. See Tudor re-enactors replicating everyday life in the period, including the ancient noble sport of falconry. Find out more at the link below.⬇️ bit.ly/4uszKki

#DidYouKnow Britain recruited thousands of nurses from the Commonwealth after WWII? In the 2024 #WolfsonHistoryPrize shortlisted book 'Our NHS: A History of Britain’s Best-Loved Institution’, Andrew Seaton brings together an engaging account of the institution. ⬇️ bit.ly/4kU2gXz

Looking for something to listen to on your commute? The Authors of History Podcast interviewed 2025 #WolfsonHistoryPrize winner Hannah Durkin, and shortlisted authors @victoriandetective.bsky.social and Helen Castor. Listen at the link below. ⬇️ shows.acast.com/authors-of-h...

#DidYouKnow that King Richard II was only 10 years old when he inherited the throne? In the 2025 #WolfsonHistoryPrize shortlisted book 'The Eagle and the Hart: The Tragedy of Richard II and Henry IV', Helen Castor explores how Richard’s youth shaped events that followed.⬇️ bit.ly/4qQLyul

#DidYouKnow that the last time England was successfully invaded was 1066? For the first time since it was made, the Bayeux Tapestry is returning to England. This 70-metre tapestry provides a profound insight into 11th century life. To learn more, visit the link below. ⬇️ bit.ly/40AWzo0

#WolfsonHistoryPrize winner and judge Diarmaid MacCulloch is taking part in the discussion 'Sex and the Church and the Scandal in Königsberg' at @oxfordlitfest on 23 March. Learn more below. ⬇️ bit.ly/4acNMx4

We’re excited to announce that, leading up to the 2026 Wolfson History Prize shortlist announcement, we’ll be giving away a book each month from the 2025 shortlist. Follow us at @wolfsonhistory.bsky.social for more.

Thank you to everyone who entered our giveaway! Congratulations to the winner, we hope you enjoy reading the 2025 #WolfsonHistoryPrize shortlist.

On #WorldBookDay, we’re celebrating the power of history to deepen our understanding of yesterday and respond to the present. Dive into the stories that have shaped our world and explore our curated collection of winning and shortlisted titles on our @bookshop_org_UK page. 📚 bit.ly/4aMgUwP

It's competition time! 📚 We're giving away an entire set of the 2025 #WolfsonHistoryPrize shortlist. For a chance to win, you must: 1) Follow us on Bluesky 2) Like and reshare this post on Bluesky Entries close 13/03/2026 10AM GMT. UK only.

#DidYouKnow that women have been doing detective work for centuries? In the 2025 #WolfsonHistoryPrize shortlisted book 'The Mysterious Case of the Victorian Female Detective', alumna @victoriandetective.bsky.social explores the morally ambiguous work of real women detectives.⬇️ bit.ly/49PezAu

#OTD in 1455 many believe that the first European book was printed using moveable metal type. Learn more about the human relationship to books in 2023 #WolfsonHistoryPrize alumna Emma Smith's ‘Portable Magic: A History of Books and Their Readers’.⬇️ bit.ly/49orqZ1

#DidYouKnow that seabirds formed a significant part of the St Kildan diet? Discover more about the island and its inhabitants in 2025 #WolfsonHistoryPrize shortlisted author Andrew Fleming's book 'The Gravity of Feathers: Fame, Fortune and the Story of St Kilda'.⬇️ bit.ly/4aRJlKd

Looking for history book recommendations from your favourite historians? Our @bookshop-org-uk.bsky.social page has over 30 lists curated by some of the UK's best authors of history. Happy reading.⬇️ uk.bookshop.org/shop/wolfson...