Following the publication of his acclaimed book, “White Debt: The Demerara Uprising and Britain’s Legacy of Slavery”, we are honoured to welcome Thomas Harding to join us for an intimate conversation about his own discoveries of his family links to the slave trade and the legacy of slavery today. Is it enough to acknowledge the crimes of the past, or do we have a responsibility to learn from our history and, going forward, do something about it?

When Thomas Harding discovered that his mother’s family had made money from plantations worked by enslaved people, what began as an interrogation into the choices of his ancestors soon became a quest to learn more about Britain’s role in slavery. It was a history that he knew surprisingly little about – the myth that we are often taught in schools is that Britain’s role in slavery was as the abolisher, but the reality is much more sinister.

In WHITE DEBT, Harding vividly brings to life the story of the uprising by enslaved people that took place in the British colony of Demerara (now Guyana) in the Caribbean in 1823. It started on a small sugar plantation called ‘Success’ and grew to become a key trigger in the abolition of slavery across the empire. We see the uprising through the eyes of four people: the enslaved man Jack Gladstone, the missionary John Smith, the colonist John Cheveley, and the politician and slaveholder John Gladstone, father of a future prime minister. Charting the lead-up to the uprising right through to the courtroom drama that came about as a consequence, through this one event we see the true impact of years of unimaginable cruelty and incredible courage writ large.

*In order to fully appreciate and participate in the evening’s discussion, it is highly recommended that attendees read the book in advance of the evening. Copies are available to purchase here or from all good booksellers. Please bring your copy on the night for Thomas to sign!*

More about the author

Thomas Harding is a bestselling author whose books have been translated into more than 16 languages. He has written for the Sunday Times, the Washington Post and the Guardian, among other publications. He is the author of HANNS AND RUDOLF, which won the JQ-Wingate Prize for Non-Fiction; THE HOUSE BY THE LAKE, which was shortlisted for the Costa Biography Award; BLOOD ON THE PAGE, which won the Crime Writers’ Association “Golden Dagger Award for Non-Fiction” and FUTURE HISTORY, which was shortlisted for the German Children’s Literature Award 2021. His book, WHITE DEBT, will be published in January 2022.

REGISTER: Please email anne-marie.foster@circlesq.co to reserve your place