Books & Spoken Word
Novel Writers: Michael Donkor
Michael Donkor reads from and introduces his debut novel, Hold.
Moving between Ghana and London, Michael Donkor’s Hold is an intimate, powerful coming-of-age novel. It’s a story of friendship and family, shame and forgiveness; of learning what we should cling to, and when we need to let go.
‘An unpredictable and generous-hearted novel’ Sarah Winman
is needed now More than ever
‘A powerful and important work of fiction’ Courttia Newland
‘Michael Donkor is the freshest new voice in Black British literature, and Hold crosses borders and brings Ghanaian culture to life in Britain’ Derek Owusu, author of Safe
Michael Donkor was born in London in 1985. He was raised in a Ghanaian household where talking lots and reading lots were vigorously encouraged. Michael read English at Oxford where he developed a particular interest in the works of Woolf, Lessing and Achebe, and later undertook a Masters in Creative Writing at Royal Holloway.
Donkor worked in publishing for a number of years, but eventually decided to put his literary enthusiasms to other uses: in 2010, he retrained as an English teacher. Since then he has taught A Level English, trying to develop a curious excitement about books and storytelling within his students.
In 2014 Michael Donkor was selected by Writers Centre Norwich for their Inspires Mentoring Scheme, and worked with mentor Daniel Hahn.
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