About

Join Dr Mary L. Shannon for a compelling talk on her new book, Billy Waters is Dancing: Or, How a Black Sailor Found Fame in Regency Britain (Yale, 2024).

William 'Billy' Waters was a busker, sailor, immigrant, father, and performer—an extraordinary talent who rose to fame in Regency London but has since faded from mainstream history. In this talk, Dr Shannon uncovers Waters’ remarkable story and explores how he became a celebrated figure in the streets, in print, and on stage. Through his life, audiences will gain insight into a more diverse and complex Regency Britain than is often portrayed.

Dr Mary L. Shannon is a writer and Senior Lecturer in the School of Arts and Humanities at the University of Roehampton, London. She is also the author of the award-winning Dickens, Reynolds, and Mayhew on Wellington Street and has a deep love for historic houses and archival research. More about her work can be found at marylshannon.com.

This event promises to be an eye-opening exploration of Black lives in Regency Britain and the cultural legacy of a forgotten celebrity.