New educational book explores Liverpool’s role in Transatlantic Slavery

A groundbreaking educational resource examining Liverpool’s connection to the transatlantic slave trade was officially launched on Thursday 8 May at Liverpool Central Library.

The event coincides with the Historical Association’s Annual Conference, held in Liverpool for the first time.

Authored by Liverpool-based teachers and historians Katie Amery and Colin McCormick, Transatlantic Slavery: Impact and Legacy – A Case Study of Liverpool is a transformative work designed to support primary and secondary educators in teaching the complex history of imperial Britain and the transatlantic slave trade with clarity, depth, and sensitivity.

Spanning the period from 1650 to the present day, the book promotes critical enquiry, understanding, and social cohesion. By using Liverpool’s historical role as a case study, it offers students a meaningful exploration of how transatlantic slavery impacted communities across Britain and how its legacy continues to shape society.

Structured around case studies, enquiry-based lesson objectives, and practical guidance for teachers, the publication offers tools to help navigate a difficult yet essential subject. It includes content on challenging misconceptions, Liverpool’s emergence as the ‘Metropolis of Slavery,’ and pathways toward reconciliation with its past.

Co-author Colin McCormick commented:

“After four years in the making, I’m extremely proud that ‘Transatlantic Slavery: Impact and Legacy – A Case Study of Liverpool’ can now be added to the bookshelves of teachers and history enthusiasts throughout the region because, in the words of Sir Geoff Palmer, “we cannot change the past, but can change its consequences through better education”.

Independently published by Liverpool-based CPMM Media, the book’s release aligns with the opening of the Historical Association’s Annual Conference at Hilton Liverpool City Centre. Both Amery and McCormick will deliver a lecture at the event, titled Teaching about Liverpool and Transatlantic Slavery, presenting key themes and research from the book.

Katie Amery added:

“The release of our book could not come at a more pertinent time and I am looking forward to sharing the contemporary research Colin and I have combined during our lecture, ‘Teaching about Liverpool and Transatlantic Slavery’, on Friday afternoon at the Historical Association’s Annual Conference.”

Acknowledging the discomfort some educators may feel when addressing Britain’s role in slavery, the book equips teachers with the knowledge and frameworks needed to foster critical thinking, empathy, and constructive dialogue among students.

Gavin Davenport, Lecturer in Education at Edge Hill University and Council Member of the Merseyside Civic Society, praised the book:

“This book takes a much-needed, holistic look at a number of challenging themes and addresses them in a way that is both rigorous and accessible.

Abdul Mohamud, PhD student at University College London and former Head of History, endorsed the book, saying:

“This is a vital and timely textbook. Drawing on a wide range of recent scholarship, the authors have put together a set of enquiries that are rich in historical detail, clearly structured, and genuinely usable in the classroom.

“What really sets this book apart is its ambition. It pushes beyond the well-trodden ground, encouraging students to explore lesser-known aspects of slavery. As a history teacher, I can see the difference this will make in the classroom. It’s a powerful resource that equips students to think deeply and critically about Britain’s imperial past and its global legacy.”

Copies of Transatlantic Slavery: Impact and Legacy – A Case Study of Liverpool are available for purchase from major booksellers, including Waterstones.

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