Jamaica's rich history has been the subject of many books, articles and papers. This collection of 18 original essays considers aspects of Jamaican history not covered in more general histories of the island and illuminates developments in Jamaican and West Indian history. The collection emphasises the relevance of history to everyday life and the development of a national identity, culture and economy. The essays are organized in three sections: historiography and sources; society, culture and heritage; and economy, labour and politics.