‘A powerful meditation on what it means to belong.’ The Times Literary Supplement ‘It took two decades for me to go in search of the parts of myself I had left behind in the Caribbean. What ghosts were waiting for me there? There was a thick, black journal in my flat, stuffed with letters, postcards, handwritten notes and diary entries. For the first time in years, I opened it.’ Twenty years after living there as a child, Alexis Keir returns to the Caribbean island of Saint Vincent. He is keen to uncover lost memories and rediscover old connections. But he also carries with him the childhood scars of being separated from his parents and put into uncaring hands. Inspired by the embrace of his relatives in the Caribbean, Alexis begins to unravel the stories of others who left Saint Vincent, searching through diary pages and newspaper articles, shipping and hospital records and faded photographs. He uncovers tales of exploitation, endeavour and bravery of those who had to find a home far away from where they were born. A child born with vitiligo, torn from his mother’s arms to be exhibited as a showground attraction in England; a woman who, in the century before the Windrush generation, became one of the earliest Black nurses to be recorded as working in a London hospital; a young boy who became a footman in a Yorkshire stately home. And Alexis’s mother, a student nurse who arrives in 1960s London, ready to start a new life in a cold, grey country – and the man from her island whom she falls in love with. From the Caribbean to England, North America and New Zealand, from windswept islands to the rainy streets of London, and spanning generations of travellers from the 19th century to the present, Windward Family takes you inside the beating heart of a Black British family, separated by thousands of miles but united by love, loss and belonging. Read what everyone is saying about Windward Family: ‘A powerful meditation on what it means to belong, both as a Black Briton in search of self-knowledge and acceptance… subtly explores the racism experienced by itinerant islanders and their children, and the long shadows cast by slavery and colonialism on St Vincent… a paean to the resilience and courage of those who travel to better the lot of their families and a loving recreation of “small island” Caribbean life… imbued with the pain of separation and loss, and the joy of homecoming.’ The Times Literary Supplement ‘Being Black British is more than an identity, it is a journey into uncharted waters of personal history. Alexis Keir’s deeply moving account will ring true for all of those navigating their own stories.’ David Lammy ‘Infused with hope… pertinent and timely… with beautiful touches of memories that will resonate with any child born of Caribbean parents in the UK… honest, poetic and deeply researched excellence.’ Paterson Joseph, actor and author of The Secret Diaries of Charles Ignatius Sancho ‘With a tender mix of prose and historical re-imagining, Alexis creates with words, a symphony of movement that mimics his travels and journeys across continents, in search of identity and belonging. A beautiful ode to migration, love and all that we do for family.’ Florence Ọlájídé, author of Coconut ‘By turns heartbreaking and hopeful. Deeply moving.’ Anita Sethi ‘Brilliant… Profound… written in lyrical cinematic prose. I reread many passages strictly for their beauty.’ H. Nigel Thomas ‘Poignant… like reading about your own ancestors, who were once lost but now found and brought to life… a joy to read.’ Anni Domingo ‘A beautiful, illuminating read. Full of heart and wisdom.’ Irenosen Okojie ‘Beautiful, evocative… tells the story of modern Britain as much as it does of this one man.’ Stella Duffy ‘An incredible memoir… truly compelling… truly heartbreaking… I was hooked.’ Goodreads reviewer ‘Heart wrenching… absolutely flawless!’ Goodreads reviewer ‘Beautifully written… had me hooked from the beginning. Refreshing and informative… Fab fab book.’ Goodreads reviewer ‘Heartbreaking… stunning and beautiful.’ Goodreads reviewer ‘Alexis Keir paints a picture so vivid that I could feel the sun on my face, I could smell the sea and taste the food… A brilliant and well deserved 5 stars. The narration was perfect too.’ Goodreads reviewer ‘Sheer beauty… an incredible ancestry, allowing those forgotten to be placed into history forevermore.’ Goodreads reviewer ‘Very powerful and gripping.’ Goodreads reviewer ‘I fell in love with this story.’ Goodreads reviewer ‘A labour of love, and every word is heartfelt.’ Goodreads reviewer

This New York Times bestseller intimately depicts urban life in a gripping book that slips behind cold statistics and sensationalism to reveal the true sagas lurking behind the headlines of gangsta glamour. In her extraordinary bestseller, Adrian Nicole LeBlanc immerses readers in the intricacies of the ghetto, revealing the true sagas lurking behind the headlines of gangsta glamour, gold-drenched drug dealers, and street-corner society. Focusing on two romances—Jessica’s dizzying infatuation with a hugely successful young heroin dealer, Boy George, and Coco’s first love with Jessica's little brother, Cesar—Random Family is the story of young people trying to outrun their destinies. Jessica and Boy George ride the wild adventure between riches and ruin, while Coco and Cesar stick closer to the street, all four caught in a precarious dance between survival and death. Friends get murdered; the DEA and FBI investigate Boy George; Cesar becomes a fugitive; Jessica and Coco endure homelessness, betrayal, the heartbreaking separation of prison, and, throughout it all, the insidious damage of poverty. Charting the tumultuous cycle of the generations—as girls become mothers, boys become criminals, and hope struggles against deprivation—LeBlanc slips behind the cold statistics and sensationalism and comes back with a riveting, haunting, and true story.

Ella Little Collins saw her brother Malcolm through some of the most significant times of his life, and knew him better than anyone else. Now, for the first time, she shares her poignant, vivid memories of him. Told to her son, Rodnell, to whom Malcolm was a much-loved uncle and mentor, "Seventh Child" contains bitter, haunting, as well as joyful, recollections by two people who knew him intimately in the context of the family. It reveals Malcolm not just as a leader, but also as a brother, cousin, nephew, uncle, father, husband, and friend. It also provides remarkable information about Malcolm's family genealogy that has never before been available to the general public. No other book about Malcolm X -- and there have been dozens -- offers such enlightenment on the man. With rare family photos, including one of Rodnell with Malcolm the night before his assassination, "Seventh Child" adds immeasurably to our knowledge of this great and controversial figure.

In a lifetime filled with exhilarating successes, heartbreaking failures, and tragic personal loss, Robert A. Mosbacher Sr. proved himself adept at navigating in calm seas and high winds alike. Whether besting the stiffest of national and international competition in a diverse array of amateur sailing championships over the course of a half century, or helping to chart his candidate’s course across the American political landscape on the way to the White House in 1989, Mosbacher was never one to turn his back on any goal to which he had dedicated himself. Now, in this informative, entertaining, and deftly written memoir composed with the assistance of writer and trusted friend James G. McGrath, Mosbacher chronicles, in his own words, a life well spent. His perspective informed by everything from his father’s meager childhood and remarkable successes as a trader on the New York Curb Exchange to his own three years of service as Secretary of Commerce in George H. W. Bush’s administration, Mosbacher, the grandson of immigrants, possessed a distinctive vantage point on U.S. business and politics. In this volume of tightly woven, lively memories, he takes readers on an unforgettable ride with his father through the New York City of the 1930s, narrates his discovery of a huge natural gas field in the 1950s, and tells of his deepening involvement with the business and political power structures of Texas and the nation, beginning in the 1970s. Along the way, Mosbacher offers insights from family, business, and public life, with stories that engage, charm, and instruct. A must-read for Texas, political, business, and energy historians as well as general readers everywhere, Going to Windward is an American success story that will warm the heart and capture the imagination.

Explores in words and pictures what a family is and how families vary in makeup and styles.