It's that time of the year again, and, as always, I'm really looking forward to heading to Senate House, London on Thursday 8th November to hear all the latest news, research and views on Black British History. I thought I'd just whet your appetite by going through a few of the highlights...

NEW for WHBBH9 is our New Publications session where authors of recently published books get ten minutes each to tell us about them- a quick and easy way to make sure you're up with the latest cutting edge research and writing.

Then on to Dramatising Black British History, which actually could have been called 'Dramatising Black Tudor History', because all three writers have tackled 16th century stories: those of Catalina, the Moorish maid to Katherine of Aragon; John Blanke the Tudor court trumpeter, and Fortunatus, servant to Sir Robert Cecil. So you can guess why I'm particularly keen to hear from these writers! These three plays, by Hassan Abdulrazzak, Ade Solanke and Rex Obano respectively, have been performed at Ovalhouse and Colchester Arts Centre, at Hampton Court Palace and on Radio 3 ('The Moors of England' is due to be broadcast on Sunday 4th November at 19.30). It will be fascinating to hear what inspired them to tell these stories, the challenges of working with fragmentary historical sources, and how their work has been received.

We couldn't let 2018 pass without contemplating Windrush: 70 years on.  This session will be chaired by historian and activist Patrick Vernon, who has campaigned for full government recognition of the contribution  of the Windrush Generation, and of migrants more broadly. We will hear from Wendy Webster how many of the so-called 'Windrush Generation' were actually returning to Britain, having played a significant role in the Second World War; Peggy Warren and Joan Welsh will explore the testimonies of Black British Women about their struggles within the NHS; and Beverley Cooper-Chambers will share her analysis of how Caribbean families are (mis)represented on television. Bringing us right up to date, Clare Anyiam-Osigwe will be talking about the insights she gained through interviews for her short documentary, Windrush Stories.

Our third panel will explore the experiences of those giving Guided Tours of Black British History. Janet Couloute, an art historian and gallery guide at Tate Britain, was standing near an artwork by Lubaina Himid one day when someone asked her "Are you part of the exhibit?" Because of course a woman of colour standing in the middle of an art gallery is much more likely to be a work of art than an authority figure! Her presentation will explore the challenge of contesting such assumptions in the art world, and will be complemented by the perspectives of Lisa Williams, who has recently started conducting Black History Tours in Edinburgh, and Tony Warner, of the hugely successful London-based Black History Walks. 

To mix up the traditional final thoughts panel, we will be seeking thoughts and comments from the audience, so be ready!

The day will end with a Drinks Reception, where we will launch Kwaku's new book: Disrupting African British Histories?

I very much hope to see you there. For the full agenda and booking details go to the ICWS event page, or to book straight away click here.

I'm delighted to announce that Oneworld Publications, who did such a fantastic job with Black Tudors, will be publishing my next book, working title: Heiresses: The Caribbean Marriage Trade. 

In Heiresses, I will tell the controversial and fascinating stories of the women whose vast inherited fortunes – colonial wealth, generated by the labour of enslaved people in the Caribbean – were imported by marriage into British society. Their inheritances not only enabled them to marry into the top tiers of the aristocracy, but also attracted impoverished naval officers, soldiers, writers and, on occasion, unscrupulous fortune-hunters. The book will explore the source of their wealth, what happened to the women after they married and how the tainted money was spent on everything from country houses and paintings to foreign travel and paying off gambling debts. 

I've been intrigued by the subject even since I encountered Elizabeth Vassall, the larger-than-life heiress to three Jamaican sugar plantations, who married Sir Godfrey Webster of Battle Abbey while I was researching English Heritage properties' links to slavery and abolition back in 2006. 

As I told The Bookseller: "It’s fantastic to be given the opportunity to investigate these fascinating women, and expose how their slave-produced wealth came to all corners of Britain, under cover of matrimony. I’ve already found stories of arranged marriages, elopements, great love affairs, adultery, divorce, compulsive gambling, outrageously opulent entertaining, political intrigue, bankruptcy, insanity and suicide. I’m delighted to be working with the outstanding, supportive team at Oneworld again, and looking forward to sharing what I find with the world."

My editor at Oneworld, Sam Carter added: "We are thrilled to be publishing the brilliant and committed Miranda Kaufmann again, and in these stories of real-life Mrs Rochesters she’s found her perfect subject."

Watch this space to find out more as my research progresses...

If you think the book sounds interesting, you may also be interested in the Colonial Countryside project I'm working on with the National Trust, Peepal Tree Press and Corinne Fowler at the University of Leicester, using both children and adult's creative writing to explore ten National Trust properties' links with Caribbean slavery and the East India Company.