West With The Night

This spellbinding memoir tells the extraordinary story of Beryl Markham—aviator, racehorse trainer, and fascinating beauty—and her adventurous life in the Kenya of the 1920s and 30s. Taken to Kenya at the age of four, Markham grew up in a world of vast horizons and untamed possibilities.

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, setting the stage for her most daring adventure yet.

In 1936, she determined to fly solo across the Atlantic—without stopping. When Charles Lindbergh made the same journey, he had the wind behind him. Markham, by contrast, faced strong headwinds and flew a plane that could only reach 163 mph. On September 4th, she took off into history. Several days later, she crash-landed in Nova Scotia and became an instant celebrity. A bestseller on first publication in 1942, West with the Night remains an unforgettable tale of courage, adventure, and an indomitable spirit.