The Two Hearts of Kwasi Boachi

Publisher and industry reviews

UK Kirkus review

This well-researched novel is based on the true story of Kwasi Boachi, born an African prince and, with his royal cousin, transplanted to Dutch soil as a young boy. In 1837 Major-General Verveer, the envoy of King Willem I of the Netherlands arrived in the Ashanti kingdom of Kumasi on the Gold Coast of Africa was given the two boys, Kwasi and Kwame, to take back to the court in Holland as part of a surety in a deal over slave trading. As time passes the boys become exiles in a foreign country, half fitting in, half regarded as curiosities for while they have adapted to Dutch tradition they lack family support. Their friendship withers as Kwame yearns for home and Kwasi attempts to assimilate. The novel covers a vast amount of ground and time, but is held together from start to finish by the imperious figure of Kwasi. 'Colour is not something one has, colour is bestowed on one by others,' he tells us at the start of his story, and his own chameleonic existence both proves his point and illustrates its difficulties. (Kirkus UK)

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