A stunning debut from 2016, this vast multigenerational epic starts in the 18th century in the Asante kingdom, and follows the descendants of one woman. You have one family line that’s swallowed up in the transatlantic slave trade, the other that stays behind in Ghana.
I loved the beginning of the book in Ghana as you have time to build a relationship with the characters and learn more about their experiences: as the book gathers steam, you only get small glimpses into the lives you’re following. Regardless, you go to some fascinating places and feel connected to the characters through the ongoing family saga.
Key pivotal moments in Ghana’s history: the development of the slave trade, the introduction of the cacao crop, Anglo-Asante wars, are brought in. I love how resonant connections are made between different generations.
Then, from being in Baltimore during the passing of the Fugitive Slave Act to the politics of Harlem amongst the jazz and the great migration, you get to inhabit pivotal moments of Black history. It’s a great way to make the politics of the time personal and vice versa. Things like convict leasing and racial segregation come into sharp focus through personal experiences.
The violence and horrifying nature of slavery aren’t shied away from and there are some intense moments that hammer that home on both sides of the ocean.
But it’s not a book that over-labours its points or its pain either: it’s a book full of charming and compelling characters, a book that’s narratively rich and full of heart.
Read for an epic journey through time and a family history that’s tied together with fire and spirit.
Leave a Comment