Prolific writer publishes new book on Dorsetshire Hill

Prolific writer Dr Edgar Adams has contributed, yet again, to the documentation of this country’s history.

His latest book, launched on Tuesday, at Frenches House, is titled “The Making of the Dorsetshire Hill Community – a Socio-Historical Perspective.”

Adams, who has written 14 books so far, said he was inspired to write this one{{more}} by a woman who approached him late last year for some information on Dorsetshire Hill. He said he told the woman what he knew, but realized that there was more to the history of Dorsetshire Hill than had been previously written. There and then, he decided to do more research to see what he could come up with.

As he addressed the launching ceremony, Adams, an optometrist by profession, said the book is an attempt to address a gap in the historical records of St Vincent and the Grenadines. He expressed the hope that it would promote dialogue and further research.

“The term, a social historical perspective, has been included in the name of the study to allow special attention to be focused on certain definite areas of this research. It does not however, attempt to give a step by step account of a community nor does it include names of persons who started it or who are directing the affairs of what is usually classified as a community,” Adams said.

According to the author’s son, Ricardo Adams, who chaired Tuesday’s event, Dr Adams presents “some fairly radical thoughts” in the publication.

Rene Baptiste, President of the Vincentian Association of Artists, Writers and Producers Inc., who gave welcome remarks at the ceremony, remarked that she continues to be amazed by the work of Dr Adams.

“His work represents a loving effort, to keep recording, for generations to come, many facets and aspects of our socio cultural and economic history and to do so with little support from external sources or guaranteed funding. I continue to be amazed by Doc Adams, in the autumn of his years, to be such a prolific writer and researcher, while I somewhat impatiently wait for the more qualified and young academics to be as productive as he is known to be,” Baptiste commented.

Poet and playwright Cecil Blazer Williams, in his review of the book, said “Edgar Adams has thrown new light on the history and social development of the Dorsetshire Hill Community.

“… from a military fortification, through the patriotic and heroic struggles of the Kallinago, the resettlement of the descendants of the Cromwell purge from Barbados, and its current vibrant institutions of education, religion, sports, business and Nine Mornings ‘light up’. His style is simple and fluid, but the contents add tremendously to our knowledge and understanding of ourselves,” Williams wrote.

The book is available at bookstores at a cost of EC$50.