This novel tells the story of Beryl Markham who grew up in Kenya in the 1920s and later became the first person to fly from East to West across the Atlantic. Beryl came to Africa as a young girl with her parents but was then abandoned by her mother who leaves Beryl and her father to return to England. Her father operates a horse ranch in Kenya and Beryl soon becomes proficient at horse training in a male dominated field. When her father's ranch goes bust, he moves to South Africa leaving Beryl in Kenya in a loveless marriage to her first husband, Jock Purves. But Beryl perseveres and makes acquaintances with others in the Kenyan society including Karen Blixen who wrote Out of Africa and her lover Denys Finch Hatton with whom Beryl falls into a disastrous relationship. She later marries a rich English socialite, Mansfield Markham, who enables Beryl to continue as a horse trainer in Africa but her heart belonged to Denys. Denys encouraged her to learn to fly which led to her record flight across the Atlantic.
This was a very well-written novel and brought Kenya in the 1920s to life. I saw the movie version of Out of Africa many years ago and now would like to see it again. I also want to read the book as well as Markham's memoir, West With the Night. Markham was definitely a very flawed person but her life makes for very interesting reading.
This was a very well-written novel and brought Kenya in the 1920s to life. I saw the movie version of Out of Africa many years ago and now would like to see it again. I also want to read the book as well as Markham's memoir, West With the Night. Markham was definitely a very flawed person but her life makes for very interesting reading.
