arielamandah 's review for:

West with the Night by Beryl Markham

4.0

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After carrying this book around with me for 20+ years, I finally got to it. Let's be clear from the get-go: a memoir about a well-connected, well-to-do white woman in colonial Africa in the early 20th century is going to be problematic. And there are plenty of things available to NOT like about Beryl Markham and her circle (her very British view on Africa and native African people, elephant hunting, etc.). Yet, despite itself, this is still a stunning memoir. She was clearly quite the woman. It's also a beautifully written book (though a little choppy at times). Chock full of big adventures, feats of daring and bravery, and lots of thumbing her nose at the men who tried to get in her way, Markam's book takes us on a wild ride. I found it became a little less engaging when she left the horses behind and picked up as an aviatrix: the story lost some of the joy and propulsion it had early on. Still, a worthwhile read. And, let's be honest, the fact that Hemingway rather famously called her "a high-grade bitch" (while also talking about how jealous he was of her writing) endears her to me even further.