Over 199 colour photographs
Over 148 illustrations

• A fascinating and fully comprehensive guide to discovering your roots and unearthing the secrets of your British ancestors



• Contains all the information you need to get started, from how to access the relevant archives, using public record offices and searching the Internet



• Clear and concise instructions on how to log and collate your family history research, and draw up a family tree



• Become a family detective with everything you need to get started and proceed to an advanced stage



• Illustrated with 350 photographs, charts, diagrams and archive photographs



• 'An excellent all-rounder for any enthusiast' Family History Monthly

Have you ever wondered what the lives of your British forefathers were like? What were their occupations? What conditions did they live in? Did they always reside in the United Kingdom, or did they venture further afield in search of a better life? Perhaps you are descended from aristocracy, or could you be the great-great-grandchild of one of history's more colourful characters?

This practical book will take you on an exciting voyage of discovery into your family's past. It offers a complete introduction to the subject of genealogy and to the process of tracing your very own family tree. This book begins with the basics of starting your own search and guides you through each developing stage. Almost every feasible link your family may have had with archived information is discussed - was your ancestor a nurse, a miner, a landowner, a convict, a pedlar or a prostitute? You'll learn what clues to look out for as you study old photographs, certificates and documents, and find out about the organizations and website links that will help you to take your investigations further. Whatever clues you uncover, the book will help you to pick up the trail and take the next steps back in time. Not every family can have a remarkable history, but to the descendant who is finding out the detail everything is relevant and extraordinary, and there is always the tantalizing chance that you will unearth hidden ancestral secrets.

All that you need to know to get you started is in this book, with invaluable lists, checklists, hints and tips, as well as help on recording your data and using the most methodical research techniques. Enticing historical detail illustrates just how intriguing family history can be, and incredible photographs portray family and social life through the ages. Over 350 charts, diagrams and archive pictures make it lively and accessible reading.

As you step back in time and the lives of your British forebears begin to unfold, you're guaranteed to be gripped as the fascinating links that connect you to the past are revealed.

About the Authors

Kathy Chater - Author

Kathy Chater has taught genealogy and associated research subjects for nearly ten years, following her completion of a Diploma in Genealogy and the History of the Family from the University of London. Her areas of special expertise include research skills, and the basic of her book is that these are central to successful tracing of ancestors. She learnt her own research skills at the BBC, working on production teams, and has since shared them with seminars to journalists and product development executives, as well as to the would- be genealogists. Her writing includes a website on tracing Caribbean ancestry, articles for several magazines, and books on media communication and television research. Kathy is a member of the Society of Genealogists and has traced her own family back to 1600's.