Event overview
Alexis Keir talks with Dr Anna Derrig about his recent book celebrating family roots in St Vincent and branches across the world, a story of immigration, loss and belonging.
‘I wanted to be able to share my story, but had gaps to fill in the connection with my family’s history and our beautiful island cradle. Distant voices had started calling to me and, as I booked my flights and packed my bags, I ached to return to where my mother and father had sailed from.’
From the Caribbean island of Saint Vincent to England, North America and New Zealand, and spanning generations of travellers from the 19th century to the present, Windward Family takes you inside the beating heart of a Black British family, separated by thousands of miles but united by love, loss and belonging.
'A powerful meditation on what it means to belong.' The Times Literary Supplement
'Deeply moving.' David Lammy
'Honest, poetic and deeply researched excellence.' Paterson Joseph
Alexis Keir works for the NHS and lives in London. His book WINDWARD FAMILY exploring the lives of people who over generations have travelled from Saint Vincent to England, was published by Thread Books in February 2023. Alexis’ parents came from Saint Vincent to the UK in the 60s and raised their family in Luton, but Alexis, his sister and his brother lived in Saint Vincent for a period as children. The book has been described as ‘a beautiful ode to migration, love, and all that we do for family.’
Alexis began writing WINDWARD FAMILY when he was chosen as one of the 2019 cohort for the Spread The Word London Writers Awards. Subsequently he was selected to join the London Library’s Emerging Writers programme. His writing has also been published by The Caribbean Writer and The Selkie and he is a member of the Writers for Saint Vincent group who raised funds for the island following the 2021 eruptions of the La Soufriere volcano.
Anna received her doctorate from Goldsmiths, where she teaches on the ethics of life writing. She is a freelance journalist whose work appears regularly in the Guardian.
Dates & times
| Date | Time | Add to calendar |
|---|---|---|
| 10 Jan 2024 | 5:00pm - 6:00pm |
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