The national press club experienced a unique treat on feb. Upon arriving for her crowning ceremony in beautiful otuam, she discovers the dire reality. Welcome to our one maryland one book book discussion. An american citizen since 1997, bartels did have ties to ghana beyond her work at the embassy.
The charming reallife fairy tale of an american secretary who discovers she has been chosen king of an impoverished fishing village on the west coast of africa. Eleanor herman is the author of three books of womens history. Hollywood pays homage to reign of ghanas king peggy. King peggy shares her incredible journey with tuscarora. King peggy is a lovely book about an improbable, yet true tale of a middleaged americanized woman who becomes the king of a village in ghana. King peggy, book club selection hlaa, salt lake city chapter. Jan 01, 2012 king peggy is an amazing story about how a set of events in her bloodline moves her from out of her comfort zone in the united states and hurls her into the position of king. Rubbing the front of the envelope shed just taken from her mailbox, she couldnt miss the. A cinderella story with a twist in her new book, peggielene bartels describes going from secretary at the u. A devout christian, she lives in silver spring, md, still works at the embassy, and spends several weeks each year in ghana. An american secretary, her royal destiny, and the inspiring story of how she changed an african village. Does anyone know if there are discussion questions for a book group. Nana amuahafenyi vi born peggielene bartels in 1953, known informally as king peggy, is the reigning chief of the town of tantum or otuam, in the mfantsiman municipal district, ghana. My lifes journey has been a very unusual one from secretary to king and i.
For 30 years peggy bartels was a secretary in the u. Eleanor herman and king peggy of ghana will discuss their new book king peggy. King peggy king of otuam, ghana coauthor, king peggy. Anne arundel county public library book discussions. American peggielene bartels is also king peggy for her village in ghana and was a guest speaker at tuscarora high school thursday morning. What an uplifting book about the village of otuam and its king, peggy bartels. They have supported me at my national press club book event and my. Books for all ages new members save 20% off jigsaw. King peggy cobb county public library system overdrive. Peggielene bartels audio books, best sellers, author bio. King peggy on her way to the funeral of her predecessor, 2010. The book details her reign there and the many decisions she must make for the betterment of her people as they still believe in witchcraft, spells, and signs. Coalfired power plant, not solution to ghanas energy crisis nana afenyi vi.
King peggy chronicles the astonishing journey of an american secretary who suddenly finds herself king to a town of 7,000 souls on ghanas central coast, half a world away. She describes herself as a commuter king and chronicles straddling two cultures and lives in a new book, king peggy. The amazing adventures of peggy bartels, a washington secretary and the first female king of otuam, ghana. Review of king peggy by peggielene bartels, eleanor herman. You are cordially invited to the world book launch of king peggy. Upon arrival, king peggywho left ghana three decades earlier and has since become an american citizenfound an uphill battle and vowed to tackle the issues plaguing her community. King peggy has the sweetness and quirkiness of the no. King peggy by by peggielene bartels, eleanor herman. King peggy is in otuam and just had five corrupt elders thrown in jail for stealing land. Nov 07, 2011 during her monthlong fall 2012 trip to her kingdom of otuam, the washington d. Jan 31, 20 for 30 years peggy bartels was a secretary in the u. Female king fights male chauvinism king peggy in paperback is on.
An american secretary, her royal destiny, and the inspiring story of how she changed an african village by peggielene bartels my rating. Book discussions king peggy by peggielene bartels and eleanor herman. Another celebrity who has a foot in both the united states and ghana also came to the club for the game. Though it sounds the stuff of fairytale and legend, king peggy is the fascinating true story of her courageous acceptance of this difficult role and her unyielding resolve to help the people of otuam. Aug 12, 2014 hlaaslc has put together a book club which will alternate with our regular meetings. Welcome to the true story of the embassy secretary who became king. Aside from what king peggy did to transform her town, reading about life in ghana was fascinating. An astonishing and wonderful book about a real life. Among bartels territorial possessions as chief are a 1,000acre 4.
Three and a half years ago, a cousin called saying that. Reviews an astonishing and wonderful book about a real life mma ramotswe. An american secretary, her royal destiny and the inspiring story of how she changed an african village by peggilene bartels and eleanor herman. Peggielene bartels was born in ghana in 1953 and moved to washington, d. Since her retirement from the ghanaian embassy in washington, d. Alice gyamfi, miss ghana usa, sung the national anthems of both countries at halftime.
September 8ive finished the book, and really enjoyed it. King peggy chronicles the astonishing journey of an american secretary who suddenly finds herself king to a town of 7,000 souls on ghana s central coast, half a world away. Jun 17, 2014 king peggy, who spends one month annually in the village and is in contact by phone daily, was the subject of a recent book by club member eleanor herman. World cup viewing draws international crowd to club. An american secretary, her royal destiny, and how she changed an african village on wednesday, february 22, 2012 at 6.
During her monthlong fall 2012 trip to her kingdom of otuam, the washington d. King peggy by peggielene bartels, eleanor herman kirkus. In 2008, she was chosen to be king of otuam, a ghanaian village of 7,000 souls on the west coast of africa. Sep 29, 2012 this is an african bits production, find more videos at african bits has a conversation with a female king in ghana. King peggy chronicles the astonishing journey of american secretary, peggielene bartels, who suddenly finds herself king to a town of 7,000 people on ghana s central coast, half a world away. American woman reigns in ghanaian village an american secretary living in maryland got a phone call at 4 a. Born in ghana and a naturalized citizen of the united states since 1997, she moved to the united states in.
Eleanor herman debuts her biography of king peggy at the. King peggy chronicles the astonishing journey of an american secretary who suddenly finds herself king to a town of 7,000 souls on ghanas. The story of king peggy, a britisheducated secretary who became the leader of a village in ghana, is being made into a hollywood film after the actor will smith bought the rights to a book. She accepted the lifetime appointment, and now divides her time between otuam and washington, d.
One of the reasons why i refute the notion that this is a fairy tale type story is very simple. This is an african bits production, find more videos at african bits has a conversation with a female king in ghana. Yet that is exactly what peggielene bartels, for more than 30 years a secretary at the embassy of ghana in washington, d. In her new book, peggielene bartels describes going from secretary at the u.