I deeply wish I was the kind of person who read books like this. When I got access to it, I was still reading some literary fiction, historical fiction, and classics, and was really intrigued to read about the fictionalized life of a freed Black man in the Georgian era. The writing style reminded me of some of the great classics of that same era. Unfortunately, it was a bit too drawn out and dry for my current reading life. I read about 10-20% of it before it was published, and then just didn't find myself picking it back up. I've been meaning to for well over a year now, and I think it's time to admit that it's not going to happen.

I would absolutely recommend this book for someone looking for an epic saga, that reads similarly to Charles Dickens, and shows a unique historical perspective.

The Secret Diaries of Charles Ignatius Sancho by Paterson Joseph provides an insightful view on slavery in Britain through the fictional account of an actual historical figure. I appreciate the history I learn. However, at times, I find the book itself challenging to read. The pacing is inconsistent, and the narrator and timelines jump. At times, it feels like there is such a focus on telling the story that the story itself is lost. I find myself skimming and searching out the nonfiction sources to learn the history.

Read my complete review at http://www.memoriesfrombooks.com/2023/12/the-secret-diaries-of-charles-ignatius.html

Reviewed for NetGalley.

I think this book needed to exist, and I'm glad I read it, but it defies easy categorization or review. It's hard to say what about the tone made it a difficult thing to place, but basically, I was caught off guard by the fact that the tone was not as dismal as I thought it would be. Ultimately, it's a good thing, as it's not avoiding the horrors of slavery, but it's a different take on the voice of the formerly enslaved. That being said I think it can make the story hard to come to terms with or process. The writing is good, but this is definitely a challenging read rather than just a new perspective.

*Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC*

The Secret Diaries of Charles Ignatius Sancho by Paterson Joseph had me hooked right from chapter one. The diary starts off with some real heart-wrenching stuff, like Sancho being born on a slave ship back in 1729 - it's just unimaginable. He turns his life around and becomes a successful businessman, and they even say he was the first Black Briton to cast a vote.

Sancho's journey is full of ups and downs, especially during his tough young years. But you know what's amazing? He doesn't let anything hold him back, and he ends up mingling with high society. That's what makes him such a compelling character - I couldn't get enough of reading about him.

Of course, this book doesn't shy away from the brutal reality of slavery, and it can be tough to read about those painful parts of our history. But it's important we face it and learn from it.

Even with the heavy moments, the book is seriously entertaining. I was immersed in Sancho's life as he became a businessman, a husband, and much more. It's like a rollercoaster of emotions but worth every minute.

I can't recommend this book enough - it's a gripping read that deserves a spot on your bookshelf. And it would be awesome if it gets turned into a movie. Fingers crossed for that! So go ahead and grab yourself a copy. You won't regret it! (Linda - Guest Reviewer)

I admit I knew very little about Charles Ignatius Sancho and was thrilled at the opportunity to learn more about him, so I was happy to receive an ARC via NetGalley. After closing the novel, I’d indeed learned a great deal about the man, but I found myself wanting to know more about the author who penned such an in depth, imaginative, immersive tale!

This format (inspired epistolary) worked for me at the visceral level. It opens with an older Charles presenting his personal collections (diaries) in chronological order to his son; however, the beauty is the inserted notations and supplemental remembrances from older, wiser Charles commenting on his friendships, his choices/missteps, and proffering sage wisdom to his son.

The diction/language and place setting teleports the reader back to an era that is familiar – many a movie and novel features the burgeoning Georgian London (think of works by Jane Austen, Lord Byron, John Keats, and Jonathan Swift). The beauty of this novel is the shift in the point of view – It is told from the perspective of an enslaved child who through fate evolves into a free, educated/literate, multi-talented Black man. While liberties were taken to fill in the gaps of his life, the novel is inspired by the life and adventures of an actual (property-owning) man - the first on record to vote in the United Kingdom. His journey is remarkable and I was glued to the pages to see how things were going to play out for him. Joseph’s rendering of his complete life was a marvel to read – from his imagined birth aboard a slave ship to the people he encountered, his compositions, his social and political activities (including his support for the abolitionist movement).

This story is wonderfully conjured and richly told. Highly recommended for those interested in this historical figure.

Thanks to the publisher, Henry Holt & Company, and NetGalley for an opportunity to review.

I really really wanted to enjoy this book. I loved the premise, but the execution lost me. The multiple sources of info became convoluted and took away from the story. It was just too much to follow and lost me multiple times. Definitely an interesting take and worth reading, but was not the book for me.

The information is interesting but the way it’s written really through me off. I had to put a lot of effort into understanding what was being said.

Based on the life of Charles Ignatius Sancho, the first black man to vote in Britain, "The Secret Diaries of Charles Ignatius Sancho" by Paterson Joseph takes creative liberties to illuminate Sancho's life and achievements. The narrative is told through the lens of Sancho recounting his life to his beloved son and charts from his birth on a slave ship bound for the Caribbean to his voting achievement.

After his birth on a slave ship, Sancho is brought to London, where he is sold to three sisters to be raised into a pet and servant. During his childhood, he encounters a variety of recognizable figures. Still, his introduction to the Duke of Montagu irrevocably changes his life. The Duke takes Sancho under his wing and teaches him to read and write, cultivating his curiosity for the world around him.

As Sancho reaches adulthood, he goes from experiencing poverty and homelessness, falling in love, and buying a business to becoming the first black man to vote in Britain.

There's no denying that Sancho's story is essential to showcase to the world. Still, this novel had too many issues to genuinely enjoy. The many chapters on Sancho's childhood and young adulthood dragged the novel's pacing. Once the novel reached his adult years, the rest of the novel rushed to the end. Additionally, the letters between himself and his future wife were sentimental and illuminated the horrors of slavery in the Caribbean. However, they took up so much of the novel that I lost interest in their romance.

The over-flowery language was charming at first, yet as the novel wore on, it became a tedious chore that should have been edited down to give more heft to the narrative. Trying to decode whatever Joseph wrote overshadowed the events leading up to what should have been a grand climax.

And above all, the lackluster climax of Sancho becoming the first black man to vote in England was the last nail in the coffin. With the novel's second half sprinting to the end without taking a breath, the climax felt like any other event in the book. It lacked the pomp and circumstance that an event like that should qualify for. When I finished the book, I couldn't recall the climax and how Sancho's character development reached that event.

Undoubtedly an important story to share, "The Secret Diaries of Charles Ignatius Sancho" leaned too heavily on things that ultimately couldn't hold up the novel.

This ARC was provided by Henry Holt & Co and Netgalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. Follow @bergreadstoomuch on Instagram for more!

Pro:
* The book fulfills its stated purpose of giving a different look to a slave’s life in late 1700s/early 1800s England.
* Strong prose

Con:
* The distinction between diary content and later commentary is distracting

Thank you to Paterson Joseph, Henry Holt & Co., and NetGalley for an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

I’m thankful for the opportunity to receive a ARC from NetGalley and the publisher. While I loved the premise of this book and was hoping to love it, it fell short for me. Admittedly it’s not my typical genre but I’m open to reading anything. I thought the book was too long and drawn out in parts. As another reviewer stated, I was bored at times and skimmed through the end to finish.

How did a once-enslaved Black man become a famous musical performer, abolitionist, grocer, the rare 18th-century Black man to meet the King of England, and the first Black person to vote in the UK? Actor and playwright Joseph is going to tell you, and you're going to love the ride.

Based on a true historical figure, this novel takes Joseph's one-man show about "Sancho" and turns it into a rollicking first-person narrative that mixes info gleaned from Charles' actual diaries with fiction. I switched between the eBook and audio and Joseph's spirited narration is a joy. Sancho's story is fascinating, too. I love books that spotlight historical figures who haven't gotten much press, and when you mix in the diversity angle, it's especially compelling. Check this one out (esp on audio!)!

The Secret Diaries of Charles Ignatius Sancho was a really interesting read that touched on people I was not previously aware of. I really enjoyed reading this story and I think the author’s word was really important and really shed light on why more stories of this kind are needed. Overall, I really enjoyed this book!

The Secret Diaries of Charles Ignatius Sancho by Paterson Joseph is a fictionalized story of the very real British abolitionist, writer and composer, Charles Ignatius Sancho. The story is epistolary in nature as it is told through a series of diary entries and letters between Sancho and his wife, Anne. This story covers nearly the entirety of Sancho's life, so it is a bit drawn out at times.

All in all, I enjoyed learning about a historical figure that I was not aware of prior to this book. The narrative was a bit whimsical even when the content was a bit dark or heavy, which I enjoyed.

Thank you to NetGalley and Henry Holt for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

A fascinating, if at times challenging, imaging of the life of Charles Ignatius Sancho, an African man who succeeded beyond anyone's expectations in 18th century England. Told in the form of his diaries and letters to Anne, who becomes his wife, it's an extraordinary journey from a slave ship to work as a butler to acting to riches to becoming the first black man to vote in the UK. So many ups and downs and yet he persists. Sancho is always a man in the middle- never quite comfortable where he is but always present. Recognize that this is meant to be in his voice and therefore it might not appear to be as edited as some might like (there's some repetition). Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. It's an immersive novel and I learned a great deal.

3.5 stars rounded up

I was happy to be offered this title for review by the publisher because I had read about it in a couple of UK publications. "The Secret Diaries of Charles Ignatius Sancho" mirrors other 18th century picaresque coming-of-age stories with the difference that Charles, or Sancho, as he is known, is Black.

Paterson Joseph's writing is lush and period-accurate in its depiction of 18th century London. Unlike most Blacks in London at the time, Sancho has been spared the trauma of enslavement , but he hasn't been spared belittlement and underestimation by the world around him. He finds success but is his own worst enemy by repeatedly messing up. The diary is intended for his son so that he may learn from his father's example.

There's a lot good here, but there's just too much of it. The story is unevenly paced, picking up is some areas and becoming a struggle in others. Sancho has an appealing voice and plenty of charm but the novel could have been tightened up by a good 75 pages. This journey is just too long.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for a digital review copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

The fact that Paterson Joseph wanted to tell a historical fiction story about a real Black man, one that didn’t experience the cruelty and back-breaking suffering of traditional slavery is great. These stories need to be out there, but they are the large majority of what is out there, and something unconventional can be a fresh change of pace. Make no mistake, Sancho’s life isn’t all rainbows and sunshine. During his childhood and adolescence he lives with three sisters who don’t treat him much differently than a house slave privy to their whims. He spends much of his life fearing a slave catcher. And his eventual significant other sees the cruelty of slavery and white privilege directly. The book itself was a struggle for me; I didn’t like the writing style at all. It felt like it took my utmost attention to mostly follow what was going on. And even then there were times where I felt like I had whiplash. The story format has Sancho recounting his life to his son Billy, but some of it is in the past, some of it is current and some of it speaks directly to Billy. The middle chunk is Sancho and his future wife Anne writing back and forth to each other while they are separated. Then when they are reunited it goes back to the previous format. The length of chapters is incredibly inconsistent. There were events that took place that seemed like they were imagined, and for most of the last part of the book after Sancho leaves the three sisters it was hard to figure out what he was doing to have an income. I think the premise was a good one, but I was so lost and confused while reading this book. A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own.
The Secret Diaries of Charles Ignatius Sancho is a book that is just as much about providing inclusion of Black people in the literary form of the 18th and 19th century bildungroman genre as it is about capturing the life story of its titular subject, as the introductory author’s note states, drawing comparisons to the likes of Oliver Twist, David Copperfield, and Jane Eyre. As such, the book leans heavily into that style, feeling like a classic novel in almost every sense.
Sancho’s life is very interesting, even if years are condensed into roughly 400 pages (and suffering a bit for that). He was born on a slave ship, and orphaned very young. He ended up being brought to London, where he ended up becoming a sort of “pet” to high society people, then escaping them to end up as a protege of the Duke of Montagu. As you would expect, there’s a lot of discussion about the horrors of slavery and colonialism, but we also see Sancho thrive beyond those conditions, fighting as part of the abolitionist movement and eventually becoming the first Black man to vote.
This is definitely a historical novel more for those who like the pseudo-biographical style (or the aforementioned classical novel style), as the purpose is to cover his entire life. If you’re expecting a lot of action, you won’t find that. But each section of the book focuses on a part of Sancho’s life on an intimate level, and I really appreciated that, especially the parts concerning his courtship of his eventual wife Anne, which partly took place through letters when they were parted.
This is a solid debut that mostly lives up to its ambitious premise. I recommend it to anyone interested in biographical historical fiction about Black people.

Based on a true story, Sancho was born on a slave ship, but ends up as a "pet" to a trio of sisters in England. He manages to obtain an education and go on to become a musician and store owner among other things. Unfortunately a tediously large portion of the book is given over to Sancho squandering away his money and opportunities on his vices.

While I loved the premise of this book, the execution itself was entirely too long. I was so bored by the halfway point (and it took me WEEKS to get there) that I essentially skim-read the other half in one night. It says the published copy is 432 pages. That could be cut by at least 100 to tighten it up and make it move.

"It's finally time for Charles Ignatius Sancho to tell his story, one that begins on a slave ship in the Atlantic and ends at the very center of London life....A lush and immersive tale of adventure, artistry, romance, and freedom set in eighteenth-century England and based on a true story.

It's 1746 and Georgian London is not a safe place for a young Black man. Charles Ignatius Sancho must dodge slave catchers and worse, and his main ally - a kindly duke who taught him to write - is dying. Sancho is desperate and utterly alone. So how does the same Charles Ignatius Sancho meet the king, write and play highly acclaimed music, become the first Black person to vote in Britain, and lead the fight to end slavery? Through every moment of this rich, exuberant tale, Sancho forges ahead to see how much he can achieve in one short life: "I had little right to live, born on a slave ship where my parents both died. But I survived, and indeed, you might say I did more.""

I've been a fan of Paterson Joseph for years, Numberwang anyone? But I learned about his passion for the life of Charles Ignatius Sancho on an episode of An American Aristocrat's Guide to Great Estates and wanted to know more. Thankfully for those unable to see his play he's now written a book!