Kingston wrestles with the legacies of its colonial past, a tradition of political conflict and the occasional outburst of modern-day turf rivalry. Formerly the hub of Britain's Caribbean Empire, the Jamaican capital provides an intriguing mix of political, social and cultural excitement as one of the region's great cities. Proud of the city's renown as the birthplace of reggae and dancehall, Kingstonians have led the world in innovative music and performance art. The bristling edge of everyday life has proven fertile ground for a profusion of literary and cultural wealth; poets, writers, musicians and artists thrive on the creative reservoirs of this rough and ready savvy cityscape. David Howard charts a course through Kingston's urban contradictions, from the stark divisions between uptown modernity and downtown deprivation, to the lively interweaving of local legends and international popular culture.