Summary

In Chapter 1, six months after Anna’s mother, Bronwen, died, Anna opened a trunk under her bed. Inside, she found a childhood scrapbook and the diary of Francis Aggrey, the man she knew to be her father. Bronwen had spoken little of him when she was alive. All Anna knew was that her parents had "had some sort of affair,” and that Francis had "returned to his country, Bamana," shortly before Bronwen discovered she was pregnant (5).

Anna also found a picture of Francis. Curious to discover the truth of his identity, she began reading his diary. He wrote primarily about his experience as a black man living in London. After reading a few entries, Anna "shut the diary" (8).

In Chapter 2, Anna studied Francis's photo the next morning. It was "dated 1969," one of "the worst times" for her parents to have fallen in love...