The Homecoming

The Homecoming is a poignant and powerful love story, imbued with the warmth and smells, the vivid colours and characters, the historic culture and strong, vibrant richness of life among the farming communities of the Kingdom of Swaziland, Southern Africa. A heart warming and touching novel in which two young people, drawn from very different cultures and backgrounds find themselves drawn together by a family tragedy, each facing the pain of an unimaginable loss and emotional turmoil, first as individuals and later as a couple. Between them they build a new future, forging a powerful relationship that crosses a racial divide, and finding in one another an undying love and passion. They begin a shared life together, and experience a happiness that they had never thought was possible in their original lives. It is a melding of hearts and the beginning of a deeply emotional and satisfying final homecoming. The author was born in West Africa, and lived and worked in Swaziland (now renamed eSwatini) for 25 years, gaining a deep respect and understanding of the local culture. His love for Swaziland and its historic people enthuses the book. It is an unusual novel, capturing cultural differences with sensitivity, respect and humour. In some ways it is a love letter to the country itself, but woven through with vivid descriptions of the Kingdom and its people, making readers both laugh and cry. Awash with memories and flavours, you begin to feel the true lowveld, the lush green sugar cane fields, taste sudden thunderstorms and smell of wood smoke on the wind – the sights and sounds, the accents, personalities and vistas – all serving to capture the character of the tiny African Kingdom. It is delightful, authentic, painful, heart warming, gripping and believable, but deeply rooted in reality and written with great sensitivity. It draws the reader in, leading them into the heart of this unique and historic Kingdom and its warm embrace. A beautifully written piece of artistry and a wonderful story, deeply embedded in the colourful country and its people.