Trinidadian is what I am, my very identity. I was born on the island and grew up among many family members of whom were passionate about Trinidad. This love for Trinidad, and deep roots our family has there is what inspired me to write this book. Like most Trinidadians, my ancestors were indentured labourers who arrived from India in the late 19th century and worked in the sugar plantations for five years before granting them the land. The nation welcomed my family, nurtured them, and allowed them to put down roots that run deep and strong. In keeping with tradition, my father went to Scotland to complete his education. He befriended a Scottish lad who wanted to discontinue his studies. Coming from a family that valued education, my father used his powers of persuasion to convince his friend to change his mind and complete his degree. As a token of appreciation his friend"s father presented him with Cazabon"s Album of Trinindad, piblished in 1857. The volume was put away in a trunk among the many possessions any univeristy student has. It remained unoticed with cricket gear and memorabilia. A few years ago, when the works of Jean Michel Cazabon were in the limelight, my father remembered the gift and presented it to me. The album is very rare and it is now my treasured possesion. The treasure is not mine to hoard and belongs to the people of Trinidad and others who have come to love the paradise. I felt that I must bring these lithographs to the people along with photographs taken 150 years later in hopes that they will instill a sense of national pride and inspire the people of Trinidad to protect their paradise. Now the time has come to give back a little to the nation that has made us what we are. It is the work of Jean Michel Cazabon that recorded for prosterity the righ heritage of Trinidad. His paintings evoke a sense of pride and nationalism. The scenes serve to remind people of the beauty of their land and the way things were-serene, peaceful, and happy.