The Island Britain Bought: Author Talk with Diane M Hinds

Diane M. Hinds is coming to Oxford Westgate Library on Monday 2 November to talk about her debut novel, Conquerabia: The Struggle for Identity. It's a book that takes Trinidad's history back to Spanish colonial rule in the 15th century and follows it through to the island's transfer to Britain in 1797, with conquest, resistance and identity running through the whole thing.

The talk is run by Oxfordshire Libraries, and Hinds will be talking through the history she's traced in the book, as well as the themes of resistance and identity that sit against that backdrop. There's a Q&A session with her at the end, so you'll have a chance to ask your own questions rather than just listening. It's the kind of thing that works better in person than on a page, and the Q&A gives you a bit of a say in where the conversation goes.

If you're not already familiar with Trinidad's history, Conquerabia is a good place to start. It covers a long stretch of time—from the early Spanish days right through to the British takeover—and looks at a side of the island's past that doesn't always get much attention. The talk does the same, digging into those often-overlooked parts of the story and letting Hinds talk through the research and the writing that went into it.

It runs from 5:00 to 7:00pm at Oxford Westgate Library / BIPC, 228 The Westgate, Queen Street, OX1 1PE. Entry is free, though booking is advised, so it's worth getting your name down in advance if you're planning to go.