First published 2007
Kathleen Healey once believed all of Africa belonged to her. She flew her plane wherever she pleased across the continent, hunted big game, and collected lovers from around the world. This remarkable woman even stepped into the boxing ring with Ernest Hemingway for three rounds. But now illness weakens her, and the world she dominated for fifty years slips from her grasp. As death approaches, Kathleen summons her son Alexander with final instructions that will honor her memory in the most outrageous way possible. Her last wishes promise to keep her laughing even in death. Alexander must navigate his mother's wild legacy while confronting the changing reality of white life in South Africa. The story spans five decades of transformation, told through the fierce spirit of a woman who refused all boundaries until her body betrayed her.
Genres: historical-fiction, 20th-century, biographical-fiction, 21st-century, africa, family-drama
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: family-drama, strong-female-lead
Setting: Africa, South Africa
Period: 20th Century, 21st Century
442 pages · Paperback · McArthur & Company
Content warnings: death