Ancestors

It is the late eighteenth century. Aboard a slave ship bound from West Africa to Jamaica, a terrified young boy is cared for by Ami, a fellow captive, who becomes his surrogate mother during that nightmare voyage. They are sold to separate owners, but their lives remain curiously intertwined, and the boy, now a man named August, marries Ami’s daughter, Sarah. Ancestors tells the story of their lives, their part in the struggle for emancipation, and the hope and faith that sustains them. At the age of ten, Paul Crook’s great-great-great-grandfather John Alexander Crooks was captured and put aboard a slave ship bound for Jamaica. Ancestors is the fictionalized account of John’s experiences from 1798 to 1838, the year that slaves in the British West Indies were set free.

'A moving account of a Black British family that travels through the ages from slavery and beyond'

Bonnie Greer, The Guardian

'I was moved...'

Baroness Doreen Lawrence, And Still I Rise

'An inspiring piece of literature'.

The New Nation, Newspaper

'It is his riveting account of how he, as a young Black Londoner, learned how to research family history and trace his origins back to the Caribbean and Africa that will most inspire those on a similar quest'

Madge Dresser, BBC Who Do You Think You Are Magazine

'Ancestors, is more than a novel. It is a family odyssey’

Unison Magazine

‘Fantastic’
'Groundbreaking ...… a riveting read'

The Voice, Newspaper

'Exceptional debut novel. Highly recommended for the whole family.'

Woman 2 Woman

A Tree Without Roots: The Guide to Tracing British, African, and Asian Caribbean Ancestry

From a man who dedicated more than 13 years of his life uncovering the saga of his African slave ancestors. Discover just what it means to know where you’re from. Offering ground-breaking insights into how to delve into one's past. This book is intended for beginners, educationalists, and experienced researchers.

A Tree Without Roots is an instructive guide for those interested in finding out more about their family connections with the Caribbean islands.

A Tree Without Roots offers techniques and approaches that can be applied to anyone researching their ancestry around the world. It provides inspiration to those who believe that their search may be hampered by having mixed heritage, or a history of migration through the ages.

This is a guide for others to capitalise on Paul Crooks' informed techniques.

 

A Tree Without Roots ... is packed full of excellent advice for anyone researching their origins – regardless of where they come from.’

Viv Carter

Canterbury Branch – Kent Family History Society

Ancestors

It is the late eighteenth century. Aboard a slave ship bound from West Africa to Jamaica, a terrified young boy is cared for by Ami, a fellow captive, who becomes his surrogate mother during that nightmare voyage. They are sold to separate owners, but their lives remain curiously intertwined, and the boy, now a man named August, marries Ami’s daughter, Sarah. Ancestors tells the story of their lives, their part in the struggle for emancipation, and the hope and faith that sustains them. At the age of ten, Paul Crook’s great-great-great-grandfather John Alexander Crooks was captured and put aboard a slave ship bound for Jamaica. Ancestors is the fictionalized account of John’s experiences from 1798 to 1838, the year that slaves in the British West Indies were set free.

'A moving account of a Black British family that travels through the ages from slavery and beyond'

Bonnie Greer, The Guardian

'I was moved...'

Baroness Doreen Lawrence, And Still I Rise

'An inspiring piece of literature'.

The New Nation, Newspaper

'It is his riveting account of how he, as a young Black Londoner, learned how to research family history and trace his origins back to the Caribbean and Africa that will most inspire those on a similar quest'

Madge Dresser, BBC Who Do You Think You Are Magazine

'Ancestors, is more than a novel. It is a family odyssey’

Unison Magazine

‘Fantastic’
'Groundbreaking ...… a riveting read'

The Voice, Newspaper

'Exceptional debut novel. Highly recommended for the whole family.'

Woman 2 Woman

Ancestry Talks Events Calendar

A Tree Without Roots: The Guide to Tracing British, African, and Asian Caribbean Ancestry

Offering groundbreaking insights into how to delve into one's past. This book is intended both for beginners, educationalists, and experienced researchers and provides inspiration to those who believe that their search may be hampered by having mixed heritage or a history of migration through the ages.

From a man who [expand title="..."]

dedicated more than 13 years of his life to uncovering the saga of his African slave ancestors. This is guide for others to capitalise on Paul Crooks' informed techniques. Discover just what it means to know where one is from.

An instructive guide for those interested in finding out more about their family connections with the Caribbean islands, it nevertheless offers techniques and approaches that can be applied to anyone researching their ancestry around the world. 

[/expand]

A Tree Without Roots ... is packed full of excellent advice for anyone researching their origins – regardless of where they come from.’

Viv Carter

Canterbury Branch – Kent Family History Society