The author very skillfully describes how the descendants of an Asante woman named Maame lived their lives. Each chapter describes a different descendant of Maame. The narrative begins with the description of Maame’s two daughters, Effia and Esi, who are separated by circumstances. The lucky one Effia marries James Collins who happens to be the British governor in charge of Cape Coast Castle. The ill-fated half-sister Esi is captured and she is held captive in the dungeons below the Castle.
