Summary of Homebody

Homebody is a novel by author Yaa Gyasi that follows the story of Esi and her family as they journey through centuries of history, spanning from 17th century Ghana to present-day America. Esi's lineage is traced through her three successive generations, whose fates are linked to the fate of Ghana and the broader African continent. Esi's story begins with her great-grandmother, Maame, who is captured in Ghana and sold into slavery in the Caribbean. Her grandmother, Effia, is the product of an illicit union between the British governor of Cape Coast Castle and an Asante woman. Effia's story takes her from a life of privilege to a marriage to a Fante man, and eventually to America. Esi is the daughter of Effia and her Fante husband, and she is born in America, where she faces the challenges of being a first-generation immigrant. Homebody is a powerful and heart-wrenching story of family, identity, and resilience in the face of oppression.