Past is turned into prose in new book

Former L&D nurse Dr Jacquie Blackett, of Marsh Farm, has previously written about health issues, but has now turned her hand to historical fiction with ‘Journal of a Slave and His Descendants’.

The book is divided into three parts, starting with the journey of a young male captured in West Africa, taken to Guyana and sold into slavery.

The second part focuses on an Irishman who marries a mixed-race academic from the Caribbean.

And the third part follows the story of their daughter and her efforts to warn young people about the dangers of anti-social behaviour, drug taking and becoming sexually active too early in life.

Dr Blackett was inspired research and write the book by her own family history.

“I’ve always been conscious of my family history – my great, great, great-grandfather was kidnapped in Africa and sold into slavery,” she said.

Readers can buy the book and meet the author at a special launch at Luton Central Library on July 28, from 2pm to 3.30pm.