Join us for this free event to celebrate our Book Bingo reading challenge!

In Conversation with Aaron Jaffer at Bedworth Library

Aimee Hawkins (Reader Development Librarian) will be interviewing Aaron Jaffer about his new book Black and Asian Seafarers: A Visual History, a probing exploration of Black seafarers, lascars and Chinese seafarers in British maritime history from the French Revolutionary War to the Second World War. There will be an opportunity for the audience to ask Aaron questions at the end.

This session is great for:

Hearing directly from the author about their influences, writing process, and behind-the-scenes stories.

Gaining inspiration and writing tips from an experienced author.

Meeting like-minded book enthusiasts.

Discovering what our libraries offer.

This event is part of our Coffee and Chat series of events which take place weekly. Find out more on Eventbrite (https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/coffee-and-chat-tickets-1989989969568).

This event is part of our series for the 2027 Book Bingo reading challenge (https://www.warwickshire.gov.uk/bookbingo).

Why not take a book home after the event? You'll enjoy a great read, and it's a simple way to support your library. Every loan counts.

Black and Asian Seafarers: A Visual History

A probing exploration of Black seafarers, lascars and Chinese seafarers in British maritime history from the French Revolutionary War to the Second World War.

For centuries, these men supplied essential labour for Britain's trade, warfare, exploration, transport and colonial expansion - yet their interconnected stories have rarely been told together. Black and Asian Seafarers brings these histories into focus through a striking visual record that reveals both life at sea and the lasting cultural impact these communities had on Britain.

The book shows how images - illustrations, prints, paintings and photographs - are crucial to understanding the experiences of these seafarers, as much through what is depicted as through what is omitted. Many of these newly discovered visuals, all from the world-leading holdings of Royal Museums Greenwich, highlight the complexity and significance of their contributions, while also illuminating broader histories of colonialism and migration.

Although often overlooked in maritime collections, the presence of Black and Asian seafarers is unmistakable. Their stories remind us that maritime history is, and always has been, everyone's history.

About the author

Aaron Jaffer is Curator of World History and Cultures at Royal Museums Greenwich. Jaffer’s early research on lascars on board sailing ships has been published in journals and a book, Lascars and Indian Ocean Seafaring, 1780-1860: Shipboard Life, Unrest and Mutiny (Boydell and Brewer, 2015), and he has also written on the Golden Age of piracy and the Royal Navy in China. He is currently working to make material relating to Black and Asian histories in the extensive photographic collections at Royal Museums Greenwich more accessible, exploring the Museum’s wider holdings for Black and Asian material and collaborating with a range of community groups.

Time: 10:30am - 11:30am

Date: Wednesday 19th May 2027

Age: Adults 16+

Booking: Booking advised

Refreshments: Free refreshments available

Book Sales: Books will be available to purchase at the event

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About Bedworth Library & Information Service

View our opening hours (https://www.warwickshire.gov.uk/directory-record/594/bedworth-library-and-information-centre)

There are no public toilet facilities on site

Call us: 0300 555 8171

Email us: libraryenquiryteam@warwickshire.gov.uk

Disabled access features (http://www.disabledgo.com/access-guide/warwickshire-county-council/bedworth-library-and-information-centre#AccessGuide)

Floor Plan (https://api.warwickshire.gov.uk/documents/WCCC-2082369270-98)

Social Story (https://api.warwickshire.gov.uk/documents/WCCC-2082369270-133)

About Warwickshire Libraries

Warwickshire Libraries offer a wide range of events and services to inspire, educate, and connect our communities. From storytimes and coding clubs to author talks and local history sessions, there’s something for everyone.

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