An African in Imperial London

'A must read.' 'A brilliant biography . . . [Jones] has given a vivid picture of London one hundred years ago.' 'An engaging, worthwhile biography. ... Jones uncovers the life of a historical ghost, nearly lost to the world' -- Choice 'The richness and wider implications of Merriman-Labor's life and sojourn in England come out vividly in [this] book because of Jones' careful research, analytical rigor, and lively writing.' -- Journal of African History 'Written with great verve, An African in Imperial London reconstructs the life of A.B.C. Merriman-Labor... Both he and his biographer provide a rich picture of London, particularly in his most important work... an enlightening account of what it meant to be black in the most powerful country in the world'. -- Peter Stansky 'Historical rigour, literary skill and a deep sense of humanity pervades this splendid biography which recovers from the condescension of the past the world of Augustus Merriman-Labor.' -- David Killingray 'The moving and surprising story of A.B.C. Merriman-Labor, both insider and outsider in nineteenth- and twentieth-century Africa and England, is also a compelling contemporary parable about the interaction between individuals and society.' -- Edward Mendelson Elegantly written and meticulously researched for over seven years, An African in Imperial London presents the life and times of Augustus Merriman-Labor: Sierra Leonean writer, barrister, munitions worker during the First World War, and much more besides. This is an important addition to the history of Africans in Britain.' -- Hakim Adi