A new book about an English printer who became the editor of the Marlborough Press and other newspapers tells of a liberal who was friends with Karl Marx and mixed with Hungarian revolutionaries.
Inky Fingers, a book about Elijah Tucker, who became a prominent newspaper man in the 1800s, was launched by the author, Tucker's great-great-granddaughter, in Blenheim on Tuesday.
Jan Worthington has been researching for the book for about 30 years. She got more serious about it five years ago.
The professional genealogist travelled from Sydney to launch the book in places with which Tucker had an association, including Nelson, New Plymouth and Blenheim.
Tucker, a printer, arrived in New Zealand from England with his wife and five children in 1861 and became the editor for newspapers such as the Marlborough Press, The Nelson Colonist, Wairau Record, Nelson Evening Mail, The Wanganui Times, The Westport News and the Taranaki Herald.
"He was a very Left-wing, liberal character who always fought for the underdog," she said.
Mr Tucker died in Stratford in 1894, aged 83.
Ms Worthington set up a genealogical business in Sydney 30 years ago and specialises in finding missing people as well as finding beneficiaries of estates in New Zealand and Australia.
Tracing history and telling the stories of people was an endless source of intrigue, she said. "It's the thrill of the chase that keeps you going. Every new case presents its own questions."
Inky Fingers is on sale at Bookworld in Blenheim.
- The Marlborough Express
SIMON WONG
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