by Paula McLain
First published 2015
Two-year-old Beryl Markham arrives in Kenya with her family in 1904. Her mother abandons her early, leaving her father, a racehorse trainer, to raise her alongside members of the Kipsigi tribe who live on their land. This unconventional upbringing shapes Beryl into a bold, untamed young woman who loves the wilderness and scorns social expectations. She stumbles through failed marriages and complicated love affairs, including her passionate feelings for Denys Finch Hatton, who is already the lover of writer Karen Blixen. Through these romantic entanglements and personal struggles, Beryl gradually emerges as one of the most remarkable women of her era. She ultimately becomes the first female aviator to complete a solo transatlantic flight from east to west. Set against the stunning backdrop of early twentieth century Africa, this is the story of an extraordinary woman whose only true desire is freedom.
Genres: 20th-century, adventure, africa, aviation
Vibes: atmospheric, emotional, intimate
Tropes: love-triangle, unconventional-heroine
Setting: Kenya
Period: 1904, Early 20th Century
458 pages · Paperback · Presses de la Cité