Paterson Joseph is a noted British actor of stage and screen. I saw him most recently in the Suranne Jones starring BBC TV Drama “Vigil” playing the Commanding Officer of the beleaguered submarine. He has now joined the sphere of actors turning to fiction writing with very worthy intentions to fill some of the gaps of pre-Windrush Black British history by giving us a fictional account of the life of this notable 18th Century character, who became the first African man to vote in a British election. The author has been researching this life for twenty years, and has written and performed a one-man play. He has now rightly decided (if not only because of the gaps in what is actually known) to recreate the man known as Sancho as Historical Fiction.
What is done really well here is in the feel of the piece. Paterson Joseph has obviously submerged himself in the fiction of the time and without doubt in “Tristram Shandy”, the author of which, Laurence Sterne makes a brief appearance here. With a combination of a memoir intended for the main character’s son, diary entries and letters to and from his betrothed we get a real sense of Sancho and the world he inhabits.
Initially, as a child a dress up doll/valet for three spinsters Sancho finds an entrée into society under the eye of the Duke of Montagu. It is a precarious arrangement and there are many turns of fortune for this black man in 18th Century London. Deemed at various times a novelty, a creative talent, a threat and a runaway slave Sancho has to wrestle with his own inconsistencies and this makes for fascinating reading. In the eyes of some he is seen as deserving of a place in high society for others he is the lowest of the low. How does a man come to terms with his own self-worth in such circumstances?
The early sections of this book are just splendid, as Sancho ages it grows more reflective, the tale shifts significantly to his wife-to-be Anne’s experiences in an epistolary section of the book which serves to contrast experiences outside of Britain but doesn’t work as well as the London-based writings. Throughout there is a feel of authenticity, even when the structure (as in all actual eighteenth-century novels I have read) feels jerky. There were areas of the life of Charles Ignatius Sancho which I felt could have been fleshed out more but I welcome the opportunity of getting to know this man through this novel. I am thinking this could be the best actor-turned-writer novel I’ve read since 1960’s icon and model Marsha Hunt’s “Joy” from 1990.

The Secret Diaries Of Charles Ignatius Sancho is published by Dialogue Books on 6th October 2022. Many thanks to the publishers and Netgalley for the advance review copy.

I have an issue with this book. I didn't feel the vibe. I have even taken my Kindle by the sea to feel it, to have a chance to immerse myself cause I was sure that this could be important, worth it. But nope. I still did not find it helpful to feel it.

In fact, I did finished it, but it was hard. I don't really like this topic, the sea, the slavery, colonialism -it is very important, but I usually avoiding these in the book I read. This was recommened as a MUST, so that's why I did it, but I don't like it at all.

I don't wanna say that I wasted my time, cause it is not complety true. It is more like, I spend a month trying to get though it. And I really don't want to do it ever again.

So... this book is more for people who really are into topic and like stories based at this time.

I was invited to read this arc and was very of the invitation as it made me discover a very interesting, well written, and important book that talks about Ignatius Sancho, an abolitionist and former slave.
This is an important book because it introduce us to Ignatius and his life full of sufference and betrayal but also hope and resiliance.
The author did an excellent job in developing fleshed out and intriguing characters, a vivid historical background, and bring to life an important historical character.
It's a gripping read and I strongly recommend it.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

What a feat! Written in the form of 'secret' diaries penned by Sancho - who was a real life Black person living in England two hundred years ago - now addressed to his son whom he hopes will use the life lessons to become a better person. The real life facts about Charles Ignatius Sancho are weaved credibly into a fictionalised account by Joseph. It is a moving, poignant tale as Sancho suffers abuse, hate and injustice as he battles against the widespread white-held beliefs and slave-catchers rife in London. His achievements are even more incredible when set against this backdrop and truly, his is a story worth telling. Read it!

**Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and author for the opportunity to read an advanced e-copy of this book. All opinions are my own **

The Secret Diaries of Charles Ignatius Sancho by Paterson Joseph

Britain’s history is multicoloured and yet only the white part is often told. The contribution of all races and colours is what makes us who we are. It is inspiring to hear the story of a clever, musically talented, eloquent man who has the ear of 18th century royalty, the learned and gentry of the day - but who also happens to be black. Despite all this integration however, he is still at risk from slave catchers and not being given the civility he has earned, from all of those he comes across. The interchange of letters between his beloved, while she is in the West Indies and himself in London compellingly describes the shameful cruelty and exploitation of our fellow human beings sold as slaves.

Knowing where we come from and constantly reevaluating our past can highlight the work we still need to do today. Well respected, successful, stalwarts of our society are still subjected to racism and bigotry just for being black. Sancho’s story is as relevant a lesson now as then.

This was a very well written book, vey well written. So authentic I imagined I was actually reading Sancho's own words. However being aware to some degree just how important Sancho's place in history is, I felt the book overall sometimes made him sound like a superficial dandy and not much else. Strangely, I felt most absorbed by the letters wriitten by his fiancee Anne during her time on the plantation. An important book nonetheless.

The best stories always come from real life and this is inspired and based on the life of Charles Sancho. It is a heartening but hopefully book and speaks of the resilience of the human spirit.

Based on the true story of the first black man to vote in Britain and beautifully and honestly showing the true nature of life for a black man in Georgian London. Encompassing 20 years of research by the author this is a moving and at times disturbing tale told in wonderful prose in the form of a memoir.

Briefly, born on a slave ship Sancho escaped the life of a slave on a plantation when he was brought to England and became a servant of three spinster sisters in London. Their treatment of him eventually lead to him running away and only by good fortune, and the intercession of the Duke of Montagu, did he escape the clutches of the slave catchers. His life after that went from extreme poverty to a good happy married life but with much to tell betwixt and between those times.

This is a fascinating tale, made all the more so by knowing that it is based on fact albeit with poetic licence where needed. An emotional tale with the full gamut of emotions running through it - love and hate, joy and sadnesses, success and failure, despondency and hope, most of all hope. Sancho was a positive man and that’s what shone through everything else. This is definitely a book destined for awards. A wonderful read.

Charles Ignatius Sancho was orphaned at birth on a slave ship and brought to England under the “care” of three sisters in 18th century England. Whilst slavery wasn’t practised in England, freedom was not a given for a young black child in London.

The story follows the incredible tale of Sancho into adulthood, highlighting the presence of black people in the UK long before the Windrush arrived, spotlighting the dangers of slave catchers and poverty, exploring the horrors of slavery in the colonies, and telling a tale of love.

Charles Ignatius Sancho did exist, but the story of his life in this book is entirely fictional. It is incredibly thought provoking and challenging, with the best and worst of humanity on display.

The plot and themes are excellent. The writing style is very clever, written very much in the Georgian style of the day.

The structure of the book was more challenging for me however. It’s part diaries, part a letter to Sancho’s son, and part letters between Sancho and his wife. It meant at times I was confused about what was happening and who was speaking. However, it felt like a screenplay and I think the structure would work brilliantly as an audiobook or as a series.

I know I should buy a book written by an actor because I loved how they portrayed a character on a TV show but when I saw Patterson Joseph who managed to make me root for slimy tech mogul Connor Mason in Timeless- I just couldn’t resist. I’m glad I did because The Secret Diaries of Charles Ignatius Sancho was a joy to read from start to finish.
The story is told from the point of Sancho through his diaries chronicled his eventful life. The author’s writing helps bring to life this perhaps charismatic man to life, his joy for life , his strength of will in overcoming obstacles and his optimism.
Like most British people( I know Im making an assumption), I assumed multicultural England started in the last century ,so this book was revelation of a more multicultural London. The book doesn’t gloss over the cruelty and hardship faced by non-white people which can be hard to read but the author describes how many parts of English society was open and welcoming as well.
There is no plot per se ( in my view) but the book is beautiful journey through the eventful life of a remarkable man.
Content warning
Descriptions of slavery,prejudice,racial slurs,sexual violence

“The Secret Diaries of Charles Ignatius Sancho” by Paterson Joseph is a fictionalised account of Sancho’s real life. Drawing on a large amount of research that Joseph has done over the years, this novel attempts to describe events using diary excerpts punctuated with letters to Sancho’s son.

I have to admit to finding this method of storytelling a bit irritating. It is very cleverly written by Joseph, but the medium in which it is told often gets in the way. It feels like there’s a good story underneath the structure and the titular characters life was certainly interesting and worth sharing, but I couldn’t fully engage with it.

A fascinating glimpse into Georgian London from the viewpoint of a young black child escaping slavery and how his life evolves in society. I did struggle slightly with the writing style at times, but overall a really well researched and interesting read.
Thank you to netgalley and little, brown books for an advance copy of this book.

Disappointing. By the time I started reading the book I had forgotten in was based on a real person, but realised half way through. Sancho was not a likeable character. Although elements of his life are told through letters to his son, it was only in the last few pages that his historical importance became clear. In fact, the synopsis told more about Sancho than the book seemed to reveal. The letters between Sancho and his future wife included a lot of information about the lives of slaves in the West Indies but was lost within their romantic aspirations. A more direct biography would have been more informative and readable.
This is an honest review of a complementary ARC.

I really wanted to read this…
Georgian London is such a rich setting for a novel, particularly when it is as well described as it is here. This book is a fictional memoir of a real person, who was very much part of the literary and musical society at this time. He was a protégé of John Montagu, and knew Samuel Johnson and Laurence Sterne, but he started life on a slave ship.
The fictional Charles Ignatius Sancho is relating his story to his youngest son, with the help of his own diaries and letters. He comes across as a larger than life character, very chatty and very likeable, and genuinely funny in places.
I enjoyed the contrast between the ‘now’ where he explains the background, and the ‘then’, the actual diary entries and letters he references. I absolutely loved the epistolary section between him and his future wife, Anne Osborne.
Of course the whole book is about slavery, the repercussions of slavery, and the fragile existence of the free Black community in London, not a particularly light subject, but Sancho’s optimism and belief that it must be possible to make a better world shine through.
A very readable book about a really interesting period of history.

I struggled with this one to be honest, but it’s very much a case of “it’s me not you”. I know it’s based on a true story, so the plot must follow what happened, but about halfway when Sancho is writing letters to his wife to be, I just lost interest.

The book is very well written, and the style it is written in fits the book perfectly - serious but entertaining? If that makes sense? It also provides a fascinating insight into that period of our history as well.

I think for me, I just didn’t like Sancho at all, or his story, nothing wrong at all with the book in any other respect! It was the wrong book for me, but others will very much enjoy it I have every faith.

My thanks to Netgalley and Little, Brown Book Group UK for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review

I believe this is a debut and it’s absolutely astonishing. The writing is accomplished, highly engaging and the historical detail is incredible. It’s written in the form of a journal and is based on facts about a black man trying to make his way in Georgian London. The author’s research appears to be meticulous. In addition to creating a vibrant locale, icy in detail, this is very much a human story. It’s one which resonates through the centuries and the way in which he struggles is often heartbreaking. It’s complex and multilayered and historical fiction truly at its best. It’s in my top ten favourite reads this year nd one which will stay with me because Sancho is brought so vividly to life. I hope there’s more from Paterson Joseph.

My thanks to the publisher for a review copy via Netgalley.

Charles Ignatius Sancho tells the story of his life by way of some fair entries and also spoken tales. I found it sad, curious at times and also quite tearful. The author writes a great tale .and touches upon historical information that makes this book more believeable in terms of what Sancho has gone through, together with other characters.
There's not much more to say about the content as it will give too much away, but it's a good story which I'm sure you'll enjoy!.
Many thanks to Netgalley for the free ARC book for an honest review.
#Netgalley, #littlebrown, #pattersondjoseph.

The Secret Diaries of Charles Ignatius Sancho is a fictionalised account of a real man's life from 200 years ago. If you know anything about his history you'll know where life takes him by the end of the book, but that didn't spoil my enjoyment of the book as we follow the path of his life, with all its twists and turns. This is a real rags to riches, to rags to riches story that has your heart in your mouth at times

At times this is a hard read, dealing with racism and prejudice, rape, infant deaths, violence and injustice, but it's also a really rewarding read and it feels important that we delve into the practices of slavery and how the world used to be run (and still is) for the profits of white men.

A story that needed to be told I liked the way the author prefaced the novel with an explanation to why they thought the story was important .Black people have lived in the Uk for hundreds of years and did not only arrive with thr Windrush this book is the story of one such individual from childhood onwards
I felt that the novel suffered from the fact that this is a true story and fell into the trap of trying to fit all the known facts about the subject of the book into the story ..I felt the use of letters and diary entries ,verifiable as they no doubt are ,tended to fragment the story so it reads as a rather disconnected narrative stream .I found it difficult to relax into the story and consequently didn’t enjoy it as much as I expected .
Such a lot happens to the named lead character that it was hard to fit it all in and I felt I would have enjoyed the book more if it had focused on fewer storylines and covered them in more depth.I finished the book feeling I knew very little about the character himself
I read a copy of the book on NetGalley Uk the book is published in the Uk 6th October 2022

What an intriguing book! It tells the story of Charles Ignatius Sancho in Georgian London, taking into account his diary entries.. I found it brilliantly observed and written as it covered slavery and the horrors of life in these times. Charles was a strong person and I am really pleased to have been given the opportunity to read about his life.