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King Peggy: An American Secretary, Her Royal Destiny, and the Inspiring Story of How She Changed an African Village
The charming real-life fairy tale of an American secretary who discovers she has been chosen king of an impoverished fishing village on the west coast of Africa. King Peggy has the sweetness and quirkiness of The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series and the hopeful sense of possibility of Half the Sky.
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. Upon arriving for her crowning ceremony in beautiful Otuam, she discovers the dire reality: there's no running water, no doctor, and no high school, and many of the village elders are stealing the town's funds. To make matters worse, her uncle (the late king) sits in a morgue awaiting a proper funeral in the royal palace, which is in ruins. The longer she waits to bury him, the more she risks incurring the wrath of her ancestors. Peggy's first two years as king of Otuam unfold in a way that is stranger than fiction. In the end, a deeply traditional African town has been uplifted by the ambitions of its headstrong, decidedly modern female king. And in changing Otuam, Peggy is herself transformed, from an ordinary secretary to the heart and hope of her community.
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. Upon arriving for her crowning ceremony in beautiful Otuam, she discovers the dire reality: there's no running water, no doctor, and no high school, and many of the village elders are stealing the town's funds. To make matters worse, her uncle (the late king) sits in a morgue awaiting a proper funeral in the royal palace, which is in ruins. The longer she waits to bury him, the more she risks incurring the wrath of her ancestors. Peggy's first two years as king of Otuam unfold in a way that is stranger than fiction. In the end, a deeply traditional African town has been uplifted by the ambitions of its headstrong, decidedly modern female king. And in changing Otuam, Peggy is herself transformed, from an ordinary secretary to the heart and hope of her community.
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First published January 1, 2012
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September 6, 2024
Listening to the audiobook which is perfect. My favorite book about Africa, this was brought to mind by Everything List is Found Again.
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Good Story 210. Scott pulls the previous king out of the fridge. Julie's chair demands rum and coke as a libation.
My original review is below.
============
This is going on my 2013 Best list.
A native Ghanan, Peggy was working at the Ghanan embassy in Washington D.C. when she got the call that her uncle, the king of their village, has died and that she was chosen the next king. This was really unusual because women were not usually kings.
What is fascinating to me is that, because she lived in America, Peggy sees her home town through new eyes. Just thinking about the 7,000 people she will lead, she flashes on the children carrying buckets of dirty brown water home each day and realizes she has to get them clean water (a minimum standard for living in America). Stuck in traffic on the way to the village, Peggy watches young people peddling junk to make pennies a day and realizes that, as in America, the teenagers from her village should have a high school.
As someone straddling both worlds, Peggy clearly sees the good and bad in both America and Ghana. The book also becomes an open door, inviting us to learn more about Ghanian life (albeit from a king's perspective, which is not as removed from regular life as one might think). I like the way that tidbits of Ghanian history are slipped into the book for context without being lengthy or overwhelming, but giving a perfect perspective for understanding Peggy's situation.
Some of Peggy's realizations about needed change are very straight forward, some are more complex, but they all come from a place of sacrifice for the good of her people. She always knows she can never do this job by herself so she depends on Jesus, God, and her ancestor spirits because she blends belief in Christianity and ancestor worship. Peggy receives spirit guidance, which I tend to view as God speaking through the saints, but ... whatever. As the book continues, we are shown that, in giving, Peggy also receives. We see that Peggy's sacrifices lead to unforeseen growth in character and that the skills she learns to be an effective king may eventually influence those far beyond her village. This is a story not only of a fascinating situation but also of the way to make a healthy community.
And I've kind of fallen in love with her soul stool (something each king is given but can never sit upon). You'll have to read the book to know what I'm talking about but it has a personality all its own. Peggy is always given encouragement for the difficult task because only God can make a king, as a friend tells her. This is a fascinating blend of Peggy using her innate talents, the skills that have been developed in her life thus far, and spiritual guidance.
It is really well written so you feel as if you can almost "hear" Peggy's voice. To say the least, it is fascinating and I am really fond of Peggy.
The key to the story, though, is King Peggy's servant heart.
============
Good Story 210. Scott pulls the previous king out of the fridge. Julie's chair demands rum and coke as a libation.
My original review is below.
============
This is going on my 2013 Best list.
A native Ghanan, Peggy was working at the Ghanan embassy in Washington D.C. when she got the call that her uncle, the king of their village, has died and that she was chosen the next king. This was really unusual because women were not usually kings.
What is fascinating to me is that, because she lived in America, Peggy sees her home town through new eyes. Just thinking about the 7,000 people she will lead, she flashes on the children carrying buckets of dirty brown water home each day and realizes she has to get them clean water (a minimum standard for living in America). Stuck in traffic on the way to the village, Peggy watches young people peddling junk to make pennies a day and realizes that, as in America, the teenagers from her village should have a high school.
As someone straddling both worlds, Peggy clearly sees the good and bad in both America and Ghana. The book also becomes an open door, inviting us to learn more about Ghanian life (albeit from a king's perspective, which is not as removed from regular life as one might think). I like the way that tidbits of Ghanian history are slipped into the book for context without being lengthy or overwhelming, but giving a perfect perspective for understanding Peggy's situation.
Some of Peggy's realizations about needed change are very straight forward, some are more complex, but they all come from a place of sacrifice for the good of her people. She always knows she can never do this job by herself so she depends on Jesus, God, and her ancestor spirits because she blends belief in Christianity and ancestor worship. Peggy receives spirit guidance, which I tend to view as God speaking through the saints, but ... whatever. As the book continues, we are shown that, in giving, Peggy also receives. We see that Peggy's sacrifices lead to unforeseen growth in character and that the skills she learns to be an effective king may eventually influence those far beyond her village. This is a story not only of a fascinating situation but also of the way to make a healthy community.
And I've kind of fallen in love with her soul stool (something each king is given but can never sit upon). You'll have to read the book to know what I'm talking about but it has a personality all its own. Peggy is always given encouragement for the difficult task because only God can make a king, as a friend tells her. This is a fascinating blend of Peggy using her innate talents, the skills that have been developed in her life thus far, and spiritual guidance.
It is really well written so you feel as if you can almost "hear" Peggy's voice. To say the least, it is fascinating and I am really fond of Peggy.
The key to the story, though, is King Peggy's servant heart.
February 3, 2015
Five-star story with -- at best -- three-star writing.
The cover copy is a little misleading -- King Peggy is an American secretary, yes, but one who was born and raised in Ghana. The choice of her as king was certainly unusual, and unexpected, but not so far off course as one might think from reading the flap.
But that's a minor quibble. What kills me is how badly this story was handled. Oh, it's absolutely fascinating, and on that level I highly recommend it -- King Peggy's strength and character sing through, despite the butchery of the story.
I'd expected this to be a ghostwritten memoir -- most of the actual writing done by the second author (in this case, Herman), but in the voice (and in first-person narration) of the first author (Bartels). Damien Lewis is, to my mind, a ghostwriter who manages this really well.
This book is third-person narration (Peggy said this, Peggy did that), and it takes the reader way out of the story. The dialogue is appallingly stilted at first, though it gets better towards the latter half of the book, perhaps because that's when author #2 started tagging along on King Peggy's trips to Ghana and could quote the conversations more accurately. Fixing POV and dialogue would have gone a long way towards improving the writing, but really, the writing just doesn't do justice to the story.
But the story itself: It's fascinating. King Peggy presents as smart, no-nonsense, and subscribing to a mix of modern ways and old Ghanaian lore. She's idealistic enough to believe that she can effect change, but also realistic enough to recognise the corruption plaguing her village -- and that her elders do not necessarily want a strong king. Because she's strong, and stubborn, and determined to do right by her people, she barrels ahead anyway, applying her mix of modern and ancient to satisfy tradition but also bring the village forwards. One of the most powerful moments is when she gets proof that her elders are not behind her -- that they (some of them, anyway) don't care so much about the advancement of the village when the status quo means that they get more than their fair share.
Worth reading for the story, but I really, really wish the writing had been done better.
Jumbled thoughts on narrative choices here.
The cover copy is a little misleading -- King Peggy is an American secretary, yes, but one who was born and raised in Ghana. The choice of her as king was certainly unusual, and unexpected, but not so far off course as one might think from reading the flap.
But that's a minor quibble. What kills me is how badly this story was handled. Oh, it's absolutely fascinating, and on that level I highly recommend it -- King Peggy's strength and character sing through, despite the butchery of the story.
I'd expected this to be a ghostwritten memoir -- most of the actual writing done by the second author (in this case, Herman), but in the voice (and in first-person narration) of the first author (Bartels). Damien Lewis is, to my mind, a ghostwriter who manages this really well.
This book is third-person narration (Peggy said this, Peggy did that), and it takes the reader way out of the story. The dialogue is appallingly stilted at first, though it gets better towards the latter half of the book, perhaps because that's when author #2 started tagging along on King Peggy's trips to Ghana and could quote the conversations more accurately. Fixing POV and dialogue would have gone a long way towards improving the writing, but really, the writing just doesn't do justice to the story.
But the story itself: It's fascinating. King Peggy presents as smart, no-nonsense, and subscribing to a mix of modern ways and old Ghanaian lore. She's idealistic enough to believe that she can effect change, but also realistic enough to recognise the corruption plaguing her village -- and that her elders do not necessarily want a strong king. Because she's strong, and stubborn, and determined to do right by her people, she barrels ahead anyway, applying her mix of modern and ancient to satisfy tradition but also bring the village forwards. One of the most powerful moments is when she gets proof that her elders are not behind her -- that they (some of them, anyway) don't care so much about the advancement of the village when the status quo means that they get more than their fair share.
Worth reading for the story, but I really, really wish the writing had been done better.
Jumbled thoughts on narrative choices here.
January 15, 2012
Who died and made you king?
My sibs and I used to jeer that at each other when one of us was getting too big for his britches; but it actually happened to Peggielene Bartels, naturalized American and secretary at the Ghanian embassy in Washington. Unknown to her, she was the chosen heir of her Uncle Joseph, king of the Ghanian fishing village of Otuam. The omens consulted by the elders had confirmed his unusual choice.
Uncle Joseph, though a king, had not been a wealthy man, so Peggielene had for years been sending part of her modest salary home for the maintenance of her uncle and the village. When a cousin called her one night to tell her to she was the new king, she at first thought she was dreaming.
However, when she flew to Ghana for her investiture she found more of a nightmare. During her uncle's long decline several of the village elders had done very well for themselves; stealing taxes and illegally selling off crown land and pocketing the proceeds. The royal coffers were empty, the palace uninhabitable, and there was not even enough money to bury Uncle Joseph with the honors due a king. With a new mostly absentee king who was a `mere' woman, the elders fully expected to be able to continue to run the town for their exclusive benefit.
In a society where women are still expected to modestly lower their eyes and obey when addressed by men, the elders couldn't have possibly reckoned on feisty Peggielene. Determined that crown revenues should be used for the benefit of the people, she `packed' her Council of Elders with honest and competent men and women and opened the first checking account in the village to track the funds. Publicity in America brought Peggy and her village to the attention of Shiloh Baptist Church in Landover, Maryland, whose membership officially `adopted' Otuam; helping to acquire pumps for clean water, a new school, and ambulances.
This is a wonderfully warm, humorous, and informative true story which is far from over. Peggy's use of righteous anger, good humored guile, and judicious compromise to manage and redirect her obstreperous and self-serving Council for the benefit of her people offers political advice of the highest order. I wonder if she would consider running for Congress?
Edited to add: King Peggy has a Facebook page with many wonderful photos of the events in the book. Check it out!
My sibs and I used to jeer that at each other when one of us was getting too big for his britches; but it actually happened to Peggielene Bartels, naturalized American and secretary at the Ghanian embassy in Washington. Unknown to her, she was the chosen heir of her Uncle Joseph, king of the Ghanian fishing village of Otuam. The omens consulted by the elders had confirmed his unusual choice.
Uncle Joseph, though a king, had not been a wealthy man, so Peggielene had for years been sending part of her modest salary home for the maintenance of her uncle and the village. When a cousin called her one night to tell her to she was the new king, she at first thought she was dreaming.
However, when she flew to Ghana for her investiture she found more of a nightmare. During her uncle's long decline several of the village elders had done very well for themselves; stealing taxes and illegally selling off crown land and pocketing the proceeds. The royal coffers were empty, the palace uninhabitable, and there was not even enough money to bury Uncle Joseph with the honors due a king. With a new mostly absentee king who was a `mere' woman, the elders fully expected to be able to continue to run the town for their exclusive benefit.
In a society where women are still expected to modestly lower their eyes and obey when addressed by men, the elders couldn't have possibly reckoned on feisty Peggielene. Determined that crown revenues should be used for the benefit of the people, she `packed' her Council of Elders with honest and competent men and women and opened the first checking account in the village to track the funds. Publicity in America brought Peggy and her village to the attention of Shiloh Baptist Church in Landover, Maryland, whose membership officially `adopted' Otuam; helping to acquire pumps for clean water, a new school, and ambulances.
This is a wonderfully warm, humorous, and informative true story which is far from over. Peggy's use of righteous anger, good humored guile, and judicious compromise to manage and redirect her obstreperous and self-serving Council for the benefit of her people offers political advice of the highest order. I wonder if she would consider running for Congress?
Edited to add: King Peggy has a Facebook page with many wonderful photos of the events in the book. Check it out!
April 15, 2012
Some nonfiction is best experienced through newsprint; this is a prime example. Yes, the story is fascinating, but the actual book is not. No eloquence, overly simple text is maddening to read. Quite disappointing considering the promising topic.
September 7, 2013
Did not finish. Page 71.
I cannot read another page of this book. I'm in the minority on this one. Hold on to your hat. It's not gonna be pretty.
While the story of King Peggy herself is amazing, holy sh*t, this co-author, Eleanor Herman, is abysmal. That's right, ABYSMAL. Her light-humored, middle-school writing vacuumed all the air out of this otherwise important and uplifting story. I demand this book be re-written by someone else.
The story is undoubtedly a 5. This version is a 2, and should have stayed in a multi-part newspaper run, or a TIME article at best.
If you can get over and accept the theocratic nods to spirits talking to you in a car when no one is there, pouring peppermint schnapps inside your door frame for spiritual guidance, and young girls who's job it is to be around royalty as their soul is bait for evil spirits trying to attack the King, EVEN IF YOU CAN GET OVER ALL THAT and just say, yes, people believe different things than me and I should respect that, EVEN THEN, this is the worst kind of execution in so many ways. The mechanics, the vocabulary, the nuance, all English 101 fare. How is non-fiction -- not only written like this -- but published like this? Are we expected to believe any of the clunky dialogue in here is genuine? I tried, I really did, but every other page I was rolling my eyes! Could the authors have tried to make it sound realistic??
I didn't know true-life books could offend the reader's intelligence in so many ways. It's written without an ounce of creativity, which this beautiful, wild story is crying out for in order to engage and ascend.
2/5
MH
I cannot read another page of this book. I'm in the minority on this one. Hold on to your hat. It's not gonna be pretty.
While the story of King Peggy herself is amazing, holy sh*t, this co-author, Eleanor Herman, is abysmal. That's right, ABYSMAL. Her light-humored, middle-school writing vacuumed all the air out of this otherwise important and uplifting story. I demand this book be re-written by someone else.
The story is undoubtedly a 5. This version is a 2, and should have stayed in a multi-part newspaper run, or a TIME article at best.
If you can get over and accept the theocratic nods to spirits talking to you in a car when no one is there, pouring peppermint schnapps inside your door frame for spiritual guidance, and young girls who's job it is to be around royalty as their soul is bait for evil spirits trying to attack the King, EVEN IF YOU CAN GET OVER ALL THAT and just say, yes, people believe different things than me and I should respect that, EVEN THEN, this is the worst kind of execution in so many ways. The mechanics, the vocabulary, the nuance, all English 101 fare. How is non-fiction -- not only written like this -- but published like this? Are we expected to believe any of the clunky dialogue in here is genuine? I tried, I really did, but every other page I was rolling my eyes! Could the authors have tried to make it sound realistic??
I didn't know true-life books could offend the reader's intelligence in so many ways. It's written without an ounce of creativity, which this beautiful, wild story is crying out for in order to engage and ascend.
2/5
MH
October 1, 2012
I think the story of this book was rather interesting. She seems like a great person who was thrown into a situation where she could make a difference and she did. The reason why I did not rate this book very well, was that I could not stand the writing. There were redundancies, too much detail, and I believed that the author did not trust her audience. She had to tell something, then explain it and then question about it and then conclude about it. Over and over again. I was pretty excited to be done with this book
October 20, 2015
a ghana woman working in usa returns to her town in and takes of as king, as the leader, she uses her experiences in usa to trasmit visions of improvement for her home town folks, clean water from wells, health care, education... in this autobiography, which i listened to on cd, she blends her ideas of jesus god, traditional ghana wisdom philosophy, and usa technocracy ideas to lead in a different way in her hometown. not with old boy cronyism, bribes, or pitifulness, but with hope, cooperativeness, and truth. pretty neat. neat too that ghana traditional idea of a good leader is same as american indian ideas of good leader: leader gives away all to those that need it. a leader is last, a leader is poor, a leader is humble, a leader is peace and love. a good leader will be rewarded, probably/maybe.
November 27, 2011
What an uplifting book about the village of Otuam and it's king - Peggy Bartels. Although she has been chosen to be king in Africa, she still works at the Ghanan embassy in Washington as a secretary who uses whatever she has to improve conditions in her village. The elders in her council are used to stealing, drinking, and carousing without limits - and think they can control Peggy because she is a woman who lives in America. When Peggy comes to power, she thinks only of improving her country by bringing education, clean water, and better living conditions. She will remind you of Mme Ramotswe in the Alexander McCall Smith series - a wonderful story set in Botswana. But King Peggy's story is real.
June 18, 2016
This is nonfiction about a woman who became King of a small African village in Ghana, but it read so much like fiction. I listened to the audio and I think it was reminiscent to some of Alexander McCall Smith's books (the #1 Ladies Detective Agency) because it was the same mindset and the same pronunciations.
I enjoyed this. It was interesting getting to know Peggy and following her journey from being an American secretary to being a King. She had her work cut out for her because it always seems that change is hard to spin when people are so set in their old thieving ways.
I enjoyed this. It was interesting getting to know Peggy and following her journey from being an American secretary to being a King. She had her work cut out for her because it always seems that change is hard to spin when people are so set in their old thieving ways.
June 10, 2012
Peggy is well-intentioned and admirable. The ancestors could not have found a better King for this village. Being an American citizen and an embassy employee gave her valuable contacts that allowed her to make improvements. Being Ghanaian by birth and upbringing plus having come from this village allowed her to fit into the cultural matrix.
I had my doubts about the presence of Shiloh Baptist Church. I thought that they would be intolerant toward the traditional native religious practices, but that didn't seem to have happened. Perhaps they respected what may have been the spiritual path of their own ancestors.
I found an interview with King Peggy that appeared on PBS.
It's at http://www.pbs.org/wnet/tavissmiley/i.... I think it's a very nice interview.
I had my doubts about the presence of Shiloh Baptist Church. I thought that they would be intolerant toward the traditional native religious practices, but that didn't seem to have happened. Perhaps they respected what may have been the spiritual path of their own ancestors.
I found an interview with King Peggy that appeared on PBS.
It's at http://www.pbs.org/wnet/tavissmiley/i.... I think it's a very nice interview.
August 30, 2019
Such a fun story and more proof truth is stranger than fiction. I grinned throughout.
September 14, 2012
Imagine: You are a secretary, sound asleep in your Washington DC condo at 4 AM when the phone rings. It's your long-lost cousin in Ghana telling you that the ancestors have just made you king of your ancestral community on the Ghanaian coast. What do you do? If you Peggielene Bartels, you think about it for a few days, and then jump in with both feet. Her story is really amazing. I found myself more and more engaged as I turned the pages. Peggy busts through ne'er-do-well relatives and neighbors with courage, grit and grace, and makes the world a better place for her people. It's a wonderful tale, and quite well-written. I highly recommend it.
January 17, 2012
Peggy is a secretary at the Ghanaian Embassy in Washington D.C. When she receives a phone call at 4:00am from her home town of Otuam in Ghana telling her that she is their new king. She thinks that the person is joking, but they are not, she truly is the new King.
When Peggy arrives in Otuam she finds that her town is poor. Children have to walk for miles to get drinking water for their families. Not many get to go to school because of the expense. She also finds the palace in shambles. It turns out her elders have been pocketing the money from the townspeople and using it for their own pleasures.
Peggy immediately begins to set things right much to the disappointment of her elders. She lets them know that just because she is a woman she will not be pushed around by them or any man.
Because of her love for her people Peggy is able to improve their lives by stopping the corruption, bringing in clean drinking water, repairing their beloved palace and giving them something to be proud of. It isn't an easy job. Peggy still has to work her job as a secretary in the United States. So she is gone the majority of the year. Her elders do not make it easy for her either by still going behind her back with their thieving ways. Add to that the disgruntled children of the former King who insist that their father does not deserve a decent burial. Peggy finds that her dreams for Otuam are very expensive for a secretary.
This true story follows the first 2 years of Peggy's kingship. Her frustrations and triumphs. I really enjoyed this strong woman's ability to take on the male leaders in her town, stop the corruption and gain the love of her people. I felt her frustration while dealing with these corrupt men who were set in place to help the people, but have only helped themselves. Peggy is able to uphold the customs of the people while maintaining the dignity and power of her Kingship.
When Peggy arrives in Otuam she finds that her town is poor. Children have to walk for miles to get drinking water for their families. Not many get to go to school because of the expense. She also finds the palace in shambles. It turns out her elders have been pocketing the money from the townspeople and using it for their own pleasures.
Peggy immediately begins to set things right much to the disappointment of her elders. She lets them know that just because she is a woman she will not be pushed around by them or any man.
Because of her love for her people Peggy is able to improve their lives by stopping the corruption, bringing in clean drinking water, repairing their beloved palace and giving them something to be proud of. It isn't an easy job. Peggy still has to work her job as a secretary in the United States. So she is gone the majority of the year. Her elders do not make it easy for her either by still going behind her back with their thieving ways. Add to that the disgruntled children of the former King who insist that their father does not deserve a decent burial. Peggy finds that her dreams for Otuam are very expensive for a secretary.
This true story follows the first 2 years of Peggy's kingship. Her frustrations and triumphs. I really enjoyed this strong woman's ability to take on the male leaders in her town, stop the corruption and gain the love of her people. I felt her frustration while dealing with these corrupt men who were set in place to help the people, but have only helped themselves. Peggy is able to uphold the customs of the people while maintaining the dignity and power of her Kingship.
August 27, 2012
How would you react if the telephone rang in the middle of the night and a long-lost cousin told you, "Congratulations! You've just been elected king!"?
King Peggy tells the tale of what Peggielene Bartels, a secretary at the Ghanaian embassy in Washington, D.C., did when she received that phone call. The book is very personal and Bartels, it's author (with help), allows us into her life before her kingship, her thoughts, and her decisions. She's a real person. One to whom all of us can relate. Though she was born in Ghana, she moved to the United States years ago and became a citizen here. Her life was very typical of America until destiny pulled her back to her homeland . . . as the king of her village.
Watching Peggy's transformation from secretary to royal, in fits and starts, was very interesting. Even without the book being set in Ghana, the book would be well worth the read. But as much as the book is about King Peggy, its is also about Ghana. Most of you reading this review know me and know what Ghana means to me. (If you're not familiar, please check out HelpGhanaNow.com. My church is called and I am committed to helping the people in remote northern Ghana to have clean water, access to education, medicine, and improved agriculture.)
Having visited other parts of Ghana, Peggy's village, Otuam, seems very familiar to me. Her vivid descriptions are all the more vibrant because of similarities with other villages I know. But, as an outsider, there is no way that I would ever have the opportunity to see the towns I visit with the behind-the-scenes intimacy that Peggy sees. Her description of her life in her town has, I think, helped me understand the rest of the country a little better.
So, I've got two recommendations on this book. If you want to read an interesting story of unusual circumstances, read this book. If you're at all interested in The Ghana Project, read it now.
King Peggy tells the tale of what Peggielene Bartels, a secretary at the Ghanaian embassy in Washington, D.C., did when she received that phone call. The book is very personal and Bartels, it's author (with help), allows us into her life before her kingship, her thoughts, and her decisions. She's a real person. One to whom all of us can relate. Though she was born in Ghana, she moved to the United States years ago and became a citizen here. Her life was very typical of America until destiny pulled her back to her homeland . . . as the king of her village.
Watching Peggy's transformation from secretary to royal, in fits and starts, was very interesting. Even without the book being set in Ghana, the book would be well worth the read. But as much as the book is about King Peggy, its is also about Ghana. Most of you reading this review know me and know what Ghana means to me. (If you're not familiar, please check out HelpGhanaNow.com. My church is called and I am committed to helping the people in remote northern Ghana to have clean water, access to education, medicine, and improved agriculture.)
Having visited other parts of Ghana, Peggy's village, Otuam, seems very familiar to me. Her vivid descriptions are all the more vibrant because of similarities with other villages I know. But, as an outsider, there is no way that I would ever have the opportunity to see the towns I visit with the behind-the-scenes intimacy that Peggy sees. Her description of her life in her town has, I think, helped me understand the rest of the country a little better.
So, I've got two recommendations on this book. If you want to read an interesting story of unusual circumstances, read this book. If you're at all interested in The Ghana Project, read it now.
June 5, 2013
a good read about a real life woman who became king of her small province in Ghana. A few years ago, Peggielene Bartels was a secretary in Washington DC. when she received a phone call from relatives that she has been named King on Otuam. the former king has just died and he was "in the refrigerator" she became king of a town of about 7,000 residents. Peggy had a long road of problems when she arrived in Otuam. the Castle was in shambles, no money for the funeral for the former King.no running water for the town, relatives who lied and stole money intrusted to them. Peggy had to pay money out of her own pocket to help pay to fix the Castle that was in terrible shape. and a long list of obstacles she had to face as the new king. she spent part of her time in Otuam and some here in the USA trying to arrange help for the community raise funds etc. but Peggy was up for the fight. do not want to give away too much of her story. i found this book of great interest. I liked how Peggy did not back down from the problems she faced. I was impressed by the success she had at improving and helping the small community she had grown up in as a child.{ she was born in Ghana and came here to the states as an adult} even though this is not a funny book I still found myself imagining this as a HBO miniseries. I found myself rooting For King Peggy.
June 22, 2012
Magnificent! It reads like a fairy tale, but it's true! Peggy Bartels dealt with unbelievable obstructionism from her elders and her deceased uncle's family to bring change to her small village. Chosen king by her ancestors, she rules Otuam, Ghana, from her home in Silver Spring, Maryland, and travels to Otuam once a year. I believe she plans to move there when she retires from her job at the Ghanaian embassy. She has paid for the renovation of the crumbling palace and the funeral of her uncle, the former king, as well as many other things from her salary as secretary at the embassy, has ended the theft of the town's funds by the elders, whose job is to help govern the town, and won the love and respect of the townspeople. I can't recommend this book highly enough; it was a delightful read, even the bad parts. I hope they make a movie of it some day. I'd be first in line to see it!
May 3, 2012
love the readers voice: warm, friendly, kind, strong, full and compelling.
wow, I've got to say after reading this that Africa is...another Continent entirely. Their spirituality is quirky. She states in the book, in Africa when you curse someone, they are dead the next day, but in America where there are no Gods that are prayed to, a person keeps living.
The male elders are wicked and just like petulent kids, she makes you grateful you were not named King!!
Inspirational, good hearted and entertaining. I'll be surprised if this isn't a hit and most likely made into a movie (OK, maybe a made for TV movie). Enjoyed it thoroughly and agree with other reviewers that is is very similar to "the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency".
wow, I've got to say after reading this that Africa is...another Continent entirely. Their spirituality is quirky. She states in the book, in Africa when you curse someone, they are dead the next day, but in America where there are no Gods that are prayed to, a person keeps living.
The male elders are wicked and just like petulent kids, she makes you grateful you were not named King!!
Inspirational, good hearted and entertaining. I'll be surprised if this isn't a hit and most likely made into a movie (OK, maybe a made for TV movie). Enjoyed it thoroughly and agree with other reviewers that is is very similar to "the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency".
June 7, 2012
Peggielene Bartels, you are amazing!! Anyone who needs to find something inspiring and positive in their lives -- and isn't that all of us? -- should definitely pick up this book. Poring over its pages, I gained a new appreciation for Ghana, for people of other cultures and belief systems, as well as for my own. King Peggy's dogged persistence in the face of adversity, as well as her humility and gratitude towards God and her ancestors for the blessings that she has in her life truly touched my heart. I wish her all the best in life and hope to be able to support her efforts in some way. If I could learn to emulate Peggielene Bartels in some small way, I would consider myself a much better person. God bless King Peggy, Otuam and all of Ghana!
January 26, 2016
i was disappointed with this, first off - the book said written by Peggy with Eleanor Herman - but it felt so detached and not personable - i would have expected since she was writing her autobiography that it would have been in first person, but it was in third (King Peggy did this etc)...and secondly, i hated all her elders and the way that they treated her - until the very end...
narration was good and i learnt some new stuff about ghana, but overall a disappointment
narration was good and i learnt some new stuff about ghana, but overall a disappointment
June 17, 2018
Fascinating story about a woman who finds out she’s inherited the throne in her village in Ghana. The elders got on my nerves with their stealing and money scams, but somehow Peggy managed to get everything straightened out, after spending a ton of money and traveling back and forth between Ghana and the U.S.
September 23, 2015
I really wanted to give this book three stars because it is such an amazing story, but I just didn't like the actual book enough. It was too long and focused on things that were just plain boring. I'm glad I read it to learn this woman's amazing story, but didn't necessarily enjoy the book.
July 15, 2018
Reading through other reviews, I'm glad to see I'm not the only one to find the story interesting and the writing terrible. I couldn't finish the book.
January 18, 2019
Closer to 3.5. It’s a fantastical story and Peggy seems strong and sensible and good-natured, but the stories of her dealings with her kooky relatives were repetitive and, frankly, frustrating.
April 29, 2015
Most girls (and some grown women) dream about being princesses. But Peggilene Bartels dreamed -- literally dreamed -- of the time she would be king.
Her dream is the opening portent of "King Peggy: An American Secretary, Her Royal Destiny, and the Inspiring Story of How She Changed an African Village," Eleanor Herman's account of a rare, powerful woman who was given the responsibilities of kingship. Not only is it an inspiring story, but Herman weaves a rich, expansive portrait of Ghana and its traditional villages.
Washington secretary Peggy Bartels was shocked when an acquaintance from the Ghanaian fishing village of Otuam called her with the words, "Congratulations! You are the new king of Otuam!" It turns out that her uncle had just died, and the ancestral spirits had selected Peggy as the new king -- a female king.
After some thought (and supernatural approval) she traveled to Ghana for her enstoolment -- only to find that Otuam was in desperate straits, with almost no medical care, little education, bad water, impoverished people and a palace rotting from neglect. After her enstoolment, Peggy discovered that there were problems that went much deeper, such as embezzlement, corruption among the elders and family strife.
But King Peggy had been chosen for a reason: she was determined to straighten out the governing body of Otuam, and make life better for its people. With the help of the kind Nana Kwesi -- and partly from the D.C. area -- Peggy begins working to change Otuam for the better. And despite the chauvinism, corruption and poverty, she's going to do it.
Eleanor Herman is no stranger to talking about royalty, but "King Peggy" is a very different kind of king from the ones she previously wrote about -- a modern, educated woman who unites age-old African tradition with the needs of a modern community. It's an inspiring, heartwarming story because there are so many obstacles to overcome that a lesser person (male or female) would probably have run for the hills.
And Peggielene Bartels -- who is still king today -- is a truly fascinating woman. It's easy to cheer for her as she asserts her formidable, fiery personality over Otuam, especially because of the struggles she had previously had (infertility and a crumbled marriage). You want to cheer every time she straightens out a knot in Otuam's daily life, and growl every time sometime tries to trick her.
Eleanor Herman's smooth, detailed writing is almost like a novel, with insights into Peggy's mind and lifetime. She paints so many vivid details that Otuam simply comes alive -- dusty fields, untouched beaches and sunny skies -- as well as the struggles that the village is confronted with, like a palace that previously looked like a condemned wreck and had toilets that didn't flush.
Almost as importantly, Herman and Bartels convey the rich culture and spiritual traditions that still infuse Ghana today, combining Christianity ("the Jesus is Our Savior Beer and Wine Pub") with ancient pantheistic beliefs (the royal stools).
Eleanor Herman gives "King Peggy" the rich, ageless quality that it deserves, giving a glimpse into a strong woman's triumphs and the culture she upholds. An absolute must-read.
Her dream is the opening portent of "King Peggy: An American Secretary, Her Royal Destiny, and the Inspiring Story of How She Changed an African Village," Eleanor Herman's account of a rare, powerful woman who was given the responsibilities of kingship. Not only is it an inspiring story, but Herman weaves a rich, expansive portrait of Ghana and its traditional villages.
Washington secretary Peggy Bartels was shocked when an acquaintance from the Ghanaian fishing village of Otuam called her with the words, "Congratulations! You are the new king of Otuam!" It turns out that her uncle had just died, and the ancestral spirits had selected Peggy as the new king -- a female king.
After some thought (and supernatural approval) she traveled to Ghana for her enstoolment -- only to find that Otuam was in desperate straits, with almost no medical care, little education, bad water, impoverished people and a palace rotting from neglect. After her enstoolment, Peggy discovered that there were problems that went much deeper, such as embezzlement, corruption among the elders and family strife.
But King Peggy had been chosen for a reason: she was determined to straighten out the governing body of Otuam, and make life better for its people. With the help of the kind Nana Kwesi -- and partly from the D.C. area -- Peggy begins working to change Otuam for the better. And despite the chauvinism, corruption and poverty, she's going to do it.
Eleanor Herman is no stranger to talking about royalty, but "King Peggy" is a very different kind of king from the ones she previously wrote about -- a modern, educated woman who unites age-old African tradition with the needs of a modern community. It's an inspiring, heartwarming story because there are so many obstacles to overcome that a lesser person (male or female) would probably have run for the hills.
And Peggielene Bartels -- who is still king today -- is a truly fascinating woman. It's easy to cheer for her as she asserts her formidable, fiery personality over Otuam, especially because of the struggles she had previously had (infertility and a crumbled marriage). You want to cheer every time she straightens out a knot in Otuam's daily life, and growl every time sometime tries to trick her.
Eleanor Herman's smooth, detailed writing is almost like a novel, with insights into Peggy's mind and lifetime. She paints so many vivid details that Otuam simply comes alive -- dusty fields, untouched beaches and sunny skies -- as well as the struggles that the village is confronted with, like a palace that previously looked like a condemned wreck and had toilets that didn't flush.
Almost as importantly, Herman and Bartels convey the rich culture and spiritual traditions that still infuse Ghana today, combining Christianity ("the Jesus is Our Savior Beer and Wine Pub") with ancient pantheistic beliefs (the royal stools).
Eleanor Herman gives "King Peggy" the rich, ageless quality that it deserves, giving a glimpse into a strong woman's triumphs and the culture she upholds. An absolute must-read.
April 4, 2012
The subtitle of this book pretty much says it all; An American Secretary, Her Royal Destiny, and the Inspiring Story of How She Changed an African Village. I enjoyed this book more than I can say. I had a very difficult time putting it down. I was completely enthralled by the story of Peggielene Bartels, an American secretary at the Ghanian embassy in Washington, D.C. who receives a phone call from a distant relative in Ghana informing her that she has just been elected "King." I've had a fascination with royalty since I was tiny. What little girl hasn't dreamed of being a princess? I must admit that my dreams never included becoming "King" and facing the kind of challenges faced by this amazing, inspiring woman.
The Books on the Nightstand podcast first mentioned this book then I found it at my library by accident the following week. It was inspiring, encouraging, frustrating and fascinating all at the same time. The cultural issues and rituals involved in being a King in Ghana were intriguing and completely foreign to me as an American but King Peggy did a wonderful job explaining the historical background and logic for the varied and numerous ceremonies and traditions of her people. Her evident respect and self-sacrificial love for the people of Otuam are both uplifting and commendable. Many of the situations she faced were laugh-out-loud amusing to me and I must say that she has MUCH more patience with her quirky relatives and advisors than I ever would.
Living in the 21st century, those of us in America take so much for granted - clean water from the tap, indoor plumbing, air conditioning, free education, drivable roads that will take us unimpeded for thousands of miles if we so desire. It is so easy to forget that something as basic as clean water from a tap is still considered a luxury in much of the world. This delightfully-told story sheds light on the harsh realities of life outside of the bubble in which most of us live while showing what sacrifice and determination can accomplish even in the face of incredible odds. Reading this book has provided me with another "hero" on my list of inspiring people I would LOVE to meet!
The Books on the Nightstand podcast first mentioned this book then I found it at my library by accident the following week. It was inspiring, encouraging, frustrating and fascinating all at the same time. The cultural issues and rituals involved in being a King in Ghana were intriguing and completely foreign to me as an American but King Peggy did a wonderful job explaining the historical background and logic for the varied and numerous ceremonies and traditions of her people. Her evident respect and self-sacrificial love for the people of Otuam are both uplifting and commendable. Many of the situations she faced were laugh-out-loud amusing to me and I must say that she has MUCH more patience with her quirky relatives and advisors than I ever would.
Living in the 21st century, those of us in America take so much for granted - clean water from the tap, indoor plumbing, air conditioning, free education, drivable roads that will take us unimpeded for thousands of miles if we so desire. It is so easy to forget that something as basic as clean water from a tap is still considered a luxury in much of the world. This delightfully-told story sheds light on the harsh realities of life outside of the bubble in which most of us live while showing what sacrifice and determination can accomplish even in the face of incredible odds. Reading this book has provided me with another "hero" on my list of inspiring people I would LOVE to meet!
March 25, 2013
Overall a very enjoyable story. You truly feel like you know the village of Otuam, and cheer for even Peggy's smallest victory. There were a couple of things in the book that soured my enjoyment, however. First, while I can appreciate Peggy's frustration with the patriarchal culture of Ghana, I felt the book's treatment of men bordered on misandry. There are several just, kind men in Peggy's circle--her boss, the Ghanaian ambassador; her brother, Papa Warrior; her cousin Nana Kwesi--but their presence in her life doesn't prevent "all-men-are-scum"-style flagrant generalizations from popping up in the book. I found myself wondering if the tenor of these remarks should be chalked up to Peggy or her cowriter, Ms. Herman (my suspicion is the latter). Stories about strong women are great--but the quickest way to debase them is to build up the individual woman by denigrating men as a group.
The other burr under my saddle was the one man who seemed to slip by Peggy's radar. He was perhaps the worst offender of all the men mentioned in the book, personifying the "confidence man" type she professes to despise--using the people's money for his own pleasure (long trips, entertainment), surrounding himself with a "boys' club" of advisers, and doing all of this on a far grander scale than the elders of Otuam. Yet in the passing references to him, President Obama gets nothing but sterling marks. I just found it depressing that Peggy could be so sharp in perceiving character flaws in her councilors, but myopic about the very same traits on the geopolitical stage.
The other burr under my saddle was the one man who seemed to slip by Peggy's radar. He was perhaps the worst offender of all the men mentioned in the book, personifying the "confidence man" type she professes to despise--using the people's money for his own pleasure (long trips, entertainment), surrounding himself with a "boys' club" of advisers, and doing all of this on a far grander scale than the elders of Otuam. Yet in the passing references to him, President Obama gets nothing but sterling marks. I just found it depressing that Peggy could be so sharp in perceiving character flaws in her councilors, but myopic about the very same traits on the geopolitical stage.
January 5, 2014
Sometimes I like to leave a book review for a few weeks to reflect on my takeaway and to see if the book impacted me. This book is a keeper. Peggy's writer manages to give the reader descriptive insight into Peggy as she moves from the role of personal assistant to that of king of a town. Between the realistic drudgery of a 9-5 job and living alone to traveling to her childhood home and finding out, week by week, that it's difficult to find at least one person to trust, it would seem that the book is depressing. Quite the opposite.
What the reader ends up doing is smiling and laughing along with Peggy's experiences with people who blatantly expect to continue to get away with their deception purely because of their positions. The enjoyment one gets from reading about how she discovers their ineptitude and disregard for her leadership is highly satisfactory, and I found myself cheering her on as she made choices and did the best she could with the meager resources she was given.
The takeaway, for me, is that when you have even one person who believes in you, you can do a lot more than you imagine. Being thrust into difficult circumstances in a foreign culture either brings out the best of the worst in a person, and Peggy far exceeded everyone's dismal expectations. The other takeaway is that humor and choosing to see things from different perspectives is ultimately what will push past obstacles to bring freedom and fresh hope to a community.
Definitely worth a read.
What the reader ends up doing is smiling and laughing along with Peggy's experiences with people who blatantly expect to continue to get away with their deception purely because of their positions. The enjoyment one gets from reading about how she discovers their ineptitude and disregard for her leadership is highly satisfactory, and I found myself cheering her on as she made choices and did the best she could with the meager resources she was given.
The takeaway, for me, is that when you have even one person who believes in you, you can do a lot more than you imagine. Being thrust into difficult circumstances in a foreign culture either brings out the best of the worst in a person, and Peggy far exceeded everyone's dismal expectations. The other takeaway is that humor and choosing to see things from different perspectives is ultimately what will push past obstacles to bring freedom and fresh hope to a community.
Definitely worth a read.
April 12, 2012
It seems a cliche to say that this was an inspiring story. It was. King Peggy is on a mission to change the lives of her people and stomp out the corruption in her council of elders. Her job seems impossible, she has no experience, no funds, no infrastructure and a government plagued with corruption, yet she keeps moving forward with her mission. I was really impressed by her courage and wisdom. I was caught up in her struggles, angry and frustrated at the selfish greed of the town elders, and inspired by the generosity and strength of many of the people in her village. This is the kind of true life story that I love. However, the writing was very uneven, and at times pulled me out of the story with it's clunkiness. I enjoyed this book, admired it's heroine, and will be sending a small donation to King Peggy's charity. Whenever I am feeling a bit overwhelmed by my life and my job, I will think of Peggy and how she copes with overwhelming odds with dignity and strength. This book could have been amazing. But the story is worth the weaknesses in the writing.
October 27, 2012
A fun and interesting read. The true story of a Ghanaian woman working in DC who is chosen to be "King", or chief of a village of 7000 people. This is a powerful story of how against all odds, a woman can succeed. She was essentially chosen because the elders of the villages (all men) thought they would be able to continue their corrupt practices since Peggy would be mainly in Washington DC. Never underestimate the strength of character of women! Even though she works as a secretary, and lives humbly in Silver Spring, she has all that is needed to make real changes in the lives of the villagers. Thanks to some publicity in the Washington Post, a church takes up her cause as their overseas mission.
This story is humorously told, helped by the American co-author's perception of what the public likes to read. It has some typical African characters, sympathetically described. You really get a feel for the regular guy in Ghana, and also how turnaround is indeed possible. An uplifting story, where so much non-fiction written about Africa is depressing.
This story is humorously told, helped by the American co-author's perception of what the public likes to read. It has some typical African characters, sympathetically described. You really get a feel for the regular guy in Ghana, and also how turnaround is indeed possible. An uplifting story, where so much non-fiction written about Africa is depressing.
May 13, 2012
The first thing I want to say about this book is very simple. This is not a fairy tale by a long shot!
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.
One of the reasons why I refute the notion that this is a fairy tale type story is very simple. King Peggy is apologetically African and American. She stepped into a position of power just on her own merit. There is no rescuing prince in this story. She is the person who takes on the responsibility for governing.
I like this book because there is a nice blend of cultures and personal sharing about King Peggy's life. She does an impressive jo of moving from her life in D.C. to her role as ruler.
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.
One of the reasons why I refute the notion that this is a fairy tale type story is very simple. King Peggy is apologetically African and American. She stepped into a position of power just on her own merit. There is no rescuing prince in this story. She is the person who takes on the responsibility for governing.
I like this book because there is a nice blend of cultures and personal sharing about King Peggy's life. She does an impressive jo of moving from her life in D.C. to her role as ruler.
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