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rjskitt's review against another edition
informative
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
lucyatoz's review
challenging
informative
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
The Secret Diaries of Charles Ignatius Sancho by Paterson Joseph is the author's lifelong passion project, having spent years researching Sancho's life.
The story of Charles Ignatius Sancho is told in a fictionalised narrative based on some of the facts known about his life, with a mixture of diary entries and letters peppering the novel. Charles was the first Black Briton to vote and was an advocate for the abolition of slavery.
It was really interesting to learn more about this key figure in history, who I had never heard of before finding this book. I really appreciated the fact that the author was also the narrator of his own audiobook.
I borrowed a copy of this book from Taunton Library and listened to it on CloudLibrary. I read this for prompt 48, the word "secret" in the title, for the 52 Book Club Reading Challenge 2024.
The story of Charles Ignatius Sancho is told in a fictionalised narrative based on some of the facts known about his life, with a mixture of diary entries and letters peppering the novel. Charles was the first Black Briton to vote and was an advocate for the abolition of slavery.
It was really interesting to learn more about this key figure in history, who I had never heard of before finding this book. I really appreciated the fact that the author was also the narrator of his own audiobook.
I borrowed a copy of this book from Taunton Library and listened to it on CloudLibrary. I read this for prompt 48, the word "secret" in the title, for the 52 Book Club Reading Challenge 2024.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual assault, and Slavery
Moderate: Death, Gun violence, Violence, Blood, Suicide attempt, and Injury/Injury detail
librarydancer's review against another edition
I was really enjoying this book, but I lost the momentum in reading the story and wasn't able to get back into it.
mychemicalseal's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
4.5
really brilliantly written, made me really want to go and research the real life man behind the character of this book. i loved the format being a mix of diary and letters, put forward to someone else.
deadfictionalcharacters's review against another edition
hopeful
informative
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
irgendwieantonia's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
reflective
medium-paced
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
2.5
shropgirl's review against another edition
5.0
Based on the life of Charles Ignatius Sancho, Joseph Patterson says that he has spent years researching Sancho's life. Born a slave, brought to England and given to three spinster ladies residing in Greenwich, London, the book tells of Sancho's life in Georgian England. Sancho, as a child is really an exhibit for his three ladies and although fed and treated reasonably, he remains aware that he is not free. He attempts to run away and is found by the enlightened Duke of Montague. The Duke returns the boy to the sisters, as required by law, but is interested in teaching Sancho to read, recognising an intelligence which the sisters do not encourage. Secretly Sancho learns to read, is taken to the theatre and sees a life that is not really open to many of his kind. However, always in the background are the slave catchers, always on the lookout for runaways.
Making a veiled threat to one of the sisters results in Sancho being imprisoned in the cellar and only by chance is he released and he escapes to the city.
In the book, Patterson has Sancho meeting David Garrick, Samuel Johnson, Hogarth and Gainsborough, real people in this fictionalised story of the real Sancho.
Based on correspondence and contemporary anecdotes, Patterson has pieced together the story of a remarkable man who not only wrote music, but was one of the first black property owners, who was able to vote and did so and who lead the fight against slavery.
This book was extremely well written, with inserts from Sancho's diary, given to Sancho's son who later became the librarian of the Montague estates. I enjoyed reading this book which was recommended by a friend, her judgement I trust.
Joseph Patterson is an actor who recently starred as the Captain in Vigil along with Suranne Jones.
Making a veiled threat to one of the sisters results in Sancho being imprisoned in the cellar and only by chance is he released and he escapes to the city.
In the book, Patterson has Sancho meeting David Garrick, Samuel Johnson, Hogarth and Gainsborough, real people in this fictionalised story of the real Sancho.
Based on correspondence and contemporary anecdotes, Patterson has pieced together the story of a remarkable man who not only wrote music, but was one of the first black property owners, who was able to vote and did so and who lead the fight against slavery.
This book was extremely well written, with inserts from Sancho's diary, given to Sancho's son who later became the librarian of the Montague estates. I enjoyed reading this book which was recommended by a friend, her judgement I trust.
Joseph Patterson is an actor who recently starred as the Captain in Vigil along with Suranne Jones.