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Genealogical research has been described as a cross between a good detective novel and a jigsaw puzzle. Certainly there is the thrill of the chase, and there is great satisfaction when a particularly elusive ancestor is found and put in his allotted place on the family tree.

The aim of this book is to provide the beginner with the basic information he needs to carry his research back to the sixteenth century in Great Britain. Thus, it focuses on the essentials--from the starting point of research through to the recording of the family tree. At the same time, it provides accurate and up-to-date information on the traditional sources of information in Britain--census records, parish registers, records of civil registration, wills, and so forth. This new seventh edition takes into account all the latest developments in British genealogical research, from the completion of the 1881 Census Project to the transfer of civil registration indexes and census returns to the new Family Records Centre in London. For researchers at every level of the research process this new work supplies the names, addresses, and holdings of all the key record repositories in Britain.

Since the late George Pelling's book was first published in 1980, it has become a standard introductory work for those beginning their family history. This new seventh edition, published in the UK by the Federation of Family History Societies, has been revised and updated by Pauline Litton, a vice-president of the Federation and editor of its Basic Facts series.

George Pelling was a vice-president and former chairman of the Federation of Family History Societies and was a Fellow of the Society of Genealogists (London).


EDITORIAL REVIEWS

"This wonderful little booklet--full of practical information and common sense--is so well written that it makes one proud to read the English language...Pelling and Litton's booklet is strong on the basics."--NATIONAL GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY QUARTERLY, Vol. 87, No. 2 (June 1999), p. 151.

"One of the admirable strengths of this book is its frank discussion of fees at various repositories...This is a book to be thoroughly digested before departure and carried with you in your travels...This book is excellent value for the money."--THE PENNSYLVANIA GENEALOGICAL MAGAZINE, Vol. 36, No. 2 (1989).

"Beginning Your Family History is brief and basic, but very well done."--THE NEW YORK GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD, Vol. 120, No. 4 (October 1989).

"Although brief, it is filled with helpful information..."--THE VIRGINIA GENEALOGIST, Vol. 33, No. 3 (July-September 1989).