A Family Journey Through Time

This book follows the eventful history of 4 families through several centuries. It is a story of the ups and sometimes spectacular downs of life for ordinary working people. The economic and social circumstances faced were often challenging but the book reveals how these were met with forbearance and adaptability. Ultimately the book demonstrates the triumph of the human spirit over adversity and the importance of family and community in sustaining this. These are the author's ancestors but will resonate with many. Obviously, this book will be useful to family historians as it provides examples of how to use and where to find sources, and contains a comprehensive chronology to guide the non-historian. However, the insights this micro study provides into the responses to a period of seismic change will also appeal to a range of academic disciplines. Professional historians, sociologists, geographers, demographers and genealogists will all find it a valuable resource. In addition, for teachers there are many examples of ideas for student projects. Written in a scholarly but readable style, this book is accessible to anyone with an interest in local history. There is contemporary relevance too. Many countries around the world are currently experiencing the kind of turbulence experienced by the author's forebears.