A psalter owned by Henry VIII offers something that fans of the Tudors have craved for centuries: a window into the mind of the tyrannical English ruler. (Illustration by Meilan Solly / Images courtesy of the British Library)

Henry VIII’s Book of Psalms Reflects His Quest for Legitimacy—and His Fear of Death

Handwritten annotations in the Tudor king's psalter show how he looked to scripture to justify his break from Rome and the annulment of his first marriage

V.M. Braganza

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On this day in 1896, Chinese Ambassador to the United States Li Hongzhang served chop suey to his American guests. While some credit Li’s cooks with creating the dish that night, other origin stories of the popular recipe abound.

Read why some believe its roots can actually be traced to San Francisco—where, as legend has it, it began as an epic culinary joke.

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© Henry Taylor