WEST WITH THE NIGHT appeared on 13 bestseller lists on first publication in 1942. It tells the spellbinding story of Beryl Markham -- aviator, racehorse trainer, fascinating beauty -and her life in the Kenya of the 1920s and 30s. Markham was taken to Kenya at the age of four. As an adult she was befriended by Denys Finch-Hatton, the big-game hunter of OUT OF AFRICA fame, who took her flying in his airplane. Thrilled by the experience, Markham went on to become the first woman in Kenya to receive a commercial pilot's ...
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WEST WITH THE NIGHT appeared on 13 bestseller lists on first publication in 1942. It tells the spellbinding story of Beryl Markham -- aviator, racehorse trainer, fascinating beauty -and her life in the Kenya of the 1920s and 30s. Markham was taken to Kenya at the age of four. As an adult she was befriended by Denys Finch-Hatton, the big-game hunter of OUT OF AFRICA fame, who took her flying in his airplane. Thrilled by the experience, Markham went on to become the first woman in Kenya to receive a commercial pilot's license. In 1936 she determined to fly solo across the Atlantic -- without stopping. When Charles Lindbergh did the same, he had the wind behind him. Markham, by contrast, had a strong headwind against her and a plane that only flew up to 163 mph. On 4 September, she took off ...Several days later, she crash-landed in Nova Scotia and became an instant celebrity.
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Beryl Markham's book is one of the three best books I've ever read. I purchase it as a gift for special people. Markham herself may have been a seriously flawed individual, but she was a writer without peer. Like Harper Lee, another great female writer, Markham realized she had produced her best work in her first attempt and produced no other major literary project.
Treat yourself to one of the best books ever written.
Shelley C
Jun 26, 2010
One of the best books ever
The first chapter is a touch slow, but the rest of the book is incredible. I have purchased this book at lest 9 times because I'll lend it out and it's never returned. Fascinating stories, beautifully told. The syntax is marvelous. There may be doubt as to who actually wrote the words, but that doesn't matter. What does matter is that it's one of the best -- if not THE best -- book you'll ever read.
skyprincess
Sep 13, 2008
Well Written, Dreamy Memoir
Beryl Markham lived in the 'Out-of-Africa' era and was loosely portrayed in the movie as the character 'Felicity.' She writes of a still unsettled Africa, Karen Blixen, Denis Finch Hatton and other characters portrayed in 'Out of Africa'. She writes wonderfully well (praised by Hemmingway) of a time when Africa was still untamed and flying was extremely dangerous. An amazing biography, this book is perfect for a book club or a rainy weekend.
