Ordinary People, Extraordinary Times

Discover the compelling narrative of colonial life in Sheryllynne Haggerty's Ordinary People, Extraordinary Times, published by McGill-Queen's University Press in 2023. This meticulously researched book features a collection of approximately 350 letters bound for London from Jamaica, offering a unique glimpse into the lives of ordinary individuals during a tumultuous period in history. Spanning 368 pages, the book vividly illustrates the daily experiences of poor and middling whites, free people of color, and enslaved individuals, all set against the backdrop of transatlantic slavery and the eighteenth-century British Empire. Haggerty's insightful exploration invites readers to reflect on the complexities of life in Jamaica from 1714 to 1837, making it an essential read for anyone interested in history and social dynamics. Delve into this extraordinary collection and uncover the untold stories of those who lived through extraordinary times.