Transcendent Kingdom | Yaa Gyasi

Transcendent Kingdom

Extended Synopsis

In Transcendent Kingdom, Yaa Gyasi delivers a searing and profoundly moving portrait of a family of Ghanaian immigrants deeply affected by the harsh realities of life in the American South. As a child, Gifty found solace in the heroic and romantic myths her parents spun about their journey from Ghana to Alabama. However, those dreams steadily slip away when her father and brother succumb to the unrelenting pressures of immigrant life, shrinking their family of four down to two.

Years later, driven by a desperate need to understand the opioid addiction that claimed her brother's life, Gifty turns to the hard truths of science and neuroscience. But when her mother—paralyzed by severe depression—comes to stay, Gifty realizes that the roots of their intertwined traumas extend much deeper than laboratory answers can provide. Tracing her family's narrative across continents and generations, Gifty's journey plumbs the dark heart of modern America. Transcendent Kingdom is an exploration of love, profound loss, and the myriad ways individuals attempt to forge redemption from the rubble of their collective pasts.

Accolades & Awards

• Shortlisted: Women's Prize for Fiction 2021
• "Absolutely transcendent. A gorgeously woven narrative . . . not a word or idea out of place" — Roxane Gay
• "A piercing story of faith, science and the opioid crisis . . . There's bravery as well as beauty here" — Observer

Reader Targeting

• Readers of deeply emotional, character-driven literary fiction.
• Those interested in narratives exploring the intersection of science, religion, and mental health.
• Audiences seeking poignant stories about the modern immigrant experience and family trauma.

About the Author

Yaa Gyasi is the highly acclaimed, bestselling author of Homegoing. Born in Ghana and raised in Huntsville, Alabama, Gyasi's work frequently navigates complex familial lineages, the immigrant experience in America, and the lingering echoes of historical and personal trauma.

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