Intrigued by her African ancestry, Noosa resident, Jo Braithwaite, has spent years burrowing down the rabbit holes of history, searching for her great x6 grandfather, John Black Randall.
The journey took her through slavery in pre-revolutionary Connecticut, The American War of Independence, industrial Manchester, the rotting prison hulks of the Thames, and finally, a ship on the First Fleet to the penal colony that would become known as Australia.
Although highly fictionalised, the resultant novel, Black Randall, is highly evocative of the historical period and has kept faithfully to the known facts of his life.
“There’s no doubt he was a flawed and broken man, but his efforts helped that tiny starving settlement to survive,“ Jo said.
“And yet, not only do few people know his name, hardly anyone realises that there were 11 African convicts on that fleet. It puts a lie to the notion that Australia was settled only by white people.
“There is a lot of information recorded about him, but I wanted to understand him, stick a toe in the muck of his experiences, explore the roots of his resilience, the costs of his survival.“
The book has been praised by authors, including Shelley Davidow who said, “Black Randall is a beautiful book – almost Dickensian in its tragic scope and careful sensitive rendition of a character and his time deserving of our attention.“
Angela Meyer, award-winning author of a Superior Spectre, said, “Black Randall is a vivid reimagining of the life of John Black Randall. John’s complex inner world, relationships, and motivations, are fascinating and the narrative moves along at pace. Jo’s beautiful sentences bring the historical world to life.“
Award-winning author of Meet me at Lennon’s, Melanie Myers, said, “With sensitivity and imaginative flair and empathic curiosity, Jo Braithwaite reimagines the extraordinary life of convict John Randall to create an evocative and engrossing tale that seamlessly blends fact with fiction.“
The book will be launched at Peregian Beach Community House, 5-7 Rufous St, Peregian Beach on Friday 17 February from 5pm to 6.30pm.
Wine and nibbles will be served on arrival.
A donation of $10 at the door will be appreciated.
Copies of Black Randall will be available for sale. All welcome.
The book is available to buy from the author’s website at jobraithwaite.com.au; or from most major online distributors.
For more information, contact Jo Braithwaite at joannebraithwaite@bigpond.com
