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deborah_the_nomad 's review for:
West with the Night
by Beryl Markham
Beryl Markham, born in England but raised in Kenya, was a remarkable woman who lived in remarkable times. She tells her story in her memoir, West with the Night, although her biographical information suggests that she also leaves out a good bit (she never mentions a love interest, despite marrying three times). (https://www.thoughtco.com/beryl-markham-biography-4175279)
Markham–then Beryl Clutterbuck–moved to British East Africa with her parents as a young child. Her memoir never mentions her mother, but she expresses fond memories of her father, who moved to Peru after his farm’s failure when Markham was a young woman. She grew up skipping lessons in favor of going hunting with her Nandi Murani friends, who worked on her father’s farm. She learned Kiswahili and a few tribal languages, how to track and hunt wild animals, and how to react when stalked by a lion–a lesson that proved useful when a neighbor’s “tame” lion attacked her.
Young Beryl also learned how to tame and train horses. She became the first woman in Africa to earn her racehorse-trainer’s license, work that she loved and at which she excelled. A chance encounter with a stranded motorist, pilot Tom Black, eventually led her to her second career in aviation. She delivered goods, ferried passengers, and scouted for hunting parties. Eventually she became the first person to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean from east to west.
Beryl Markham’s memoir is beautifully written, full of poetic and nostalgic language. Parts of it read like love letters: to her childhood dog, Buller; to the African landscape; to the freedom of flying. She casually talks about delivering life-saving medication, finding and rescuing a downed pilot, and feeling frustrated that after making history with her solo transatlantic flight, mechanical problems caused her to land in Novia Scotia rather than the planned New York. It was a compelling read, perfect for those who enjoy literary writing or who are interested in learning more about an unconventional, adventurous woman.
Markham–then Beryl Clutterbuck–moved to British East Africa with her parents as a young child. Her memoir never mentions her mother, but she expresses fond memories of her father, who moved to Peru after his farm’s failure when Markham was a young woman. She grew up skipping lessons in favor of going hunting with her Nandi Murani friends, who worked on her father’s farm. She learned Kiswahili and a few tribal languages, how to track and hunt wild animals, and how to react when stalked by a lion–a lesson that proved useful when a neighbor’s “tame” lion attacked her.
Young Beryl also learned how to tame and train horses. She became the first woman in Africa to earn her racehorse-trainer’s license, work that she loved and at which she excelled. A chance encounter with a stranded motorist, pilot Tom Black, eventually led her to her second career in aviation. She delivered goods, ferried passengers, and scouted for hunting parties. Eventually she became the first person to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean from east to west.
Beryl Markham’s memoir is beautifully written, full of poetic and nostalgic language. Parts of it read like love letters: to her childhood dog, Buller; to the African landscape; to the freedom of flying. She casually talks about delivering life-saving medication, finding and rescuing a downed pilot, and feeling frustrated that after making history with her solo transatlantic flight, mechanical problems caused her to land in Novia Scotia rather than the planned New York. It was a compelling read, perfect for those who enjoy literary writing or who are interested in learning more about an unconventional, adventurous woman.