Wednesday, 9 March 2011

Kings College London Library exhibition: The Paradise of the world: conflict and society in the Caribbean

Kings College London Special Collections exhibition ‘The Paradise of the world'


Kings College London is pleased to announce the opening of the Spring 2011 Special Collections exhibition ‘The Paradise of the world: conflict and society in the Caribbean’.

The contrast between the lush natural beauty of the Caribbean region and the story of human conflict and misery that has formed so much of its history is one that cannot fail to strike observers. Edmund Hickeringill, in his 1705 work Jamaica Viewed, echoes Sir Walter Raleigh in speaking of the Caribbean islands as ‘the paradise of the world’. Yet when his book was published Jamaica was Britain’s largest slave-owning colony.

In this exhibition, drawing largely on the holdings of the historical library collection of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, transferred to King’s in 2007, is explored the history of the Caribbean region from the sixteenth century to 1900. The exhibition looks at the dark days of slavery, the long struggle for emancipation and the development of Caribbean society in the nineteenth century.

The exhibition takes place in the Weston Room, Maughan Library and ISC in Chancery Lane and runs from Monday 31 January to Saturday 14 May 2011 (Monday to Saturday 09.30-17.00).

More information is available on the ISS Special Collections webpages.

If you are coming from outside King's you are advised to contact Special Collections staff on 020 7848 1843 or visit our web pages for the latest exhibition news before you travel.

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