Jackie Ranston to read at Bookophilia... From 'Behind the Scenes at King's House'

Jackie Ranston will take listeners 'Behind the Scenes at King's House' as she reads selected stories from the historic book at Bookophilia, 92 Old Hope Road, near Liguanea, on Wednesday, November 30, at 6 p.m.

The researcher-author has chronicled 144 years of Jamaican history through the lives of the first British governor under Crown Colony Government, Sir John Peter Grant, to current Jamaican Governor General, His Excellency the Most Hon Sir Patrick Allen, and Lady Allen.

Launched last month at King's House, the book takes Jamaican history to the personal level by focusing on some of its chief protagonists.

"It chronicles the history of Jamaica through the eyes of the governors and governors general who have lived in the house," she said. A specialist in historical biography, Jackie says, "When you go back in time, you find why we are here at the present."

Intending at first to write a straightforward history of King's House, she was inspired to shift course when she realised that there were so many fascinating untold stories about its inhabitants.

"When I finish a book, I reflect on the journey and where it takes me to," she said at the launch of the book last month. "And one revelation that this (research) had was: the effect that Jamaica and Jamaicans had on the lives of colonial government ... more than one governor admitted that 'this country has done something for us', and more than one governor did something for Jamaica."

Commissioned by the Jamaica National Building Society (JNBS), proceeds from the sale of the book will go to the King's House Foundation, which supervises restoration projects at King's House.

Earl Jarrett, general manager of JNBS, said, "The stories related in the book are not all draped in the 'pomp and circumstance' of royal and presidential visits, or the swearing in of prime ministers and high court judges; as some are quite humorous ... capturing the grace, wit and quirks of many persons who have contributed to different aspects of our development."

He noted that, "The book also provides a context in which we can evaluate significant periods of our history. And, through the lives of each of the 18 governors and six governors general ... we can better understand some of the influences that shaped our nation."

The Bookophilia appearance is the first in a series of readings at key literary venues.

Ranston will also be reading from her book at Kingston Bookshop in the Springs Plaza on December 3; the Craft Cottage on December 10; at The Village Plaza at Constant Spring Road, and at Sangster's Book Store at Sovereign Centre, Liguanea, on December 17.

Ranston has written several books, including Lawyer Manley: First Time Up; They Call Me Teacher, the story of His Excellency Sir Howard Cooke; and Belisario: Sketches of Character, the biography of Jewish-Jamaican artist Isaac Mendes Belisario.