Black England

A powerful history of the forgotten lives of black Georgian Britain, with a foreword by ZADIE SMITH. 'The classic book on Black people in Georgian London' DAVID OLUSOGA'Deeply researched, lucidly written and utterly fascinating . . . If you ever thought Black British history started with Windrush, read this book' GREG JENNERGeorgian England had a large and distinctive Black community. There were special churches, Black-only balls, many became famous and respected. But all, whether prosperous citizens or newly freed slaves, lived under the constant threat of kidnap and sale to plantations. Black England tells their stories, bringing their triumphs and tortures to vivid life, revealing a dramatic forgotten chapter of our shared past.'Black England taught me more history than I ever learned at school. Gretchen Gerzina tells it as it was, so we know how it is . . . a book that will be relevant for ever' BENJAMIN ZEPHANIAH