Family history is one of Britain's most popular pastimes. Around six million people in Britain are researching their family trees, and genealogy is one of the top categories for online searches. The opening up of public records, the growth of family history societies and the introduction of computers and the internet have made the subject accessible to everyone. Yet, while there is no shortage of books on how to do family history, few writers have attempted to put the field itself into a historical and social context, and no popular history of the subject has been published in Britain in the last 50 years. That is why Michael Sharpe's new history is so significant. He traces the rise of genealogy from an esoteric interest of gentlemen and scholars to a mainstream hobby enjoyed by millions. He describes in vivid detail the landmark events and the personalities behind them, telling the story of the evolution of family history through the eyes of those involved. His original and highly readable work offers a fresh perspective on an activity that is not just a fast-growing leisure pursuit but also a rapidly expanding business sector and an important field for public policy. AUTHOR: Michael Sharpe is an independent family history writer, researcher and lecturer who has been working in the field since 1984. He is a member of the Society of Genealogists and of several local family history societies. Family Matters is the result of years of research in national and regional archives and interviews with leading figures in British genealogy, including family history organizations, businesses and public bodies. SELLING POINTS: ? Landmark history of genealogy ? Puts family history research into a historic and social context ? Vivid descriptions of the careers of the pioneering genealogists over the last two centuries ? Historical insight into the extraordinary growth of the ancestry business ILLUSTRATIONS: 20 *
