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1782: Some things are earned. Some things are worth fighting for…
The Blackbirds of St Giles
What you need to know before your trail
It’s 1782, Daniel and his sister Pearl arrive in London with the world at their feet and their future assured. Having escaped a Jamaican sugar plantation, Daniel fought for the British in the American War of Independence and was rewarded with freedom and an inheritance.
But the city is not a place for men like Daniel and he is callously tricked and finds himself, along with his sister Pearl, in the rookeries of St Giles – a warren of dark and menacing alleyways, filled with violence and poverty.
The underworld labyrinth is run by Elias, a man whose cruelty knows no bounds. But under his dangerous rule is a brotherhood of Black men, the Blackbirds of St Giles, whose intention is to set their people free.
Can Daniel use his strength, wit and the fellowship of the other Blackbirds to overthrow Elias and truly find the freedom he fought for…?
Locations
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London
Some facts about St Giles!
St Giles is an area in London, England and is located in the London Borough of Camden. It is in Central London and part of the West End.
The crossroads which is now St Giles Circus, where Oxford Street, Charing Cross Road, Tottenham Court Road, and New Oxford St meet, was the site of a gallows until the fifteenth century.
The 1665 Great Plague started in St Giles and the first victims were buried in the St Giles churchyard.
Trail Gallery
Booktrailer Review
Take two writers from different backgrounds, add a story of heartbreak and despair but also hope fresh from history and you have a story to remember.
This historical story looks at two slaves who escape a plantation in Jamaica and flee to London. The story of their search for freedom and the fight for justice – well it takes you on an emotional journey that’s for sure! The first chapter throws you in the deep end in a rebellion but it was a sign for how brilliant this novel was going to be.
Jamaica and its plantation is evoked well as are the dirty streets of London. It was a joy to read about St Giles as it’s all very Dickensian but with a unique twist. The sense of place is stunning!
You will feel very in tune with the two siblings as they explore themes of identity and resilience against a backdrop of society’s grim realities. I hope there is more from this writing duo!
BookTrail Boarding Pass: The Blackbirds of St Giles
Destination/Location: London Author: Lila Cain Departure: 1782
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