Customer Rating:  
Summary: White washed biography by an author dupped by the subject
Comment: I had initially wanted to read about Beryl Markham because of the autobiography "West with the Night." I had expected to learn about an extraordinary woman, but after reading this biography, I realized that there was little to admire about Beryl. I suspected that this biography may have been a little negative, so I read another biography, "The Lives of Bery Markham," by Errol Trzebinski. In addition, I have read countless books about the "Out of Africa" cast of characters.
What I found, is that Lovell's version, as negative as it was, was a well written and informative whitewash. Most notably, I am astonished that she came to the conclusion that Beryl actually wrote "West with the Wind." The evidence, especially the early drafts of the book which have been uncovered, make it clear that it was written by her husband, Raoul Schumacher, an experienced ghostwriter. Even if these drafts were not available to Ms. Lovell, there is so much other evidence that Beryl was incapable of writing this book that it still hard to understand, except that she personally met Beryl, asked her point blank about it, and then believed the charming lie.
If you just want to read one book about this dreadful, although interesting woman, I suggest you read Trzebinski's.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Straight on till morning
Comment: This is an excellent account of the life of an amazing woman. After a childhood in Africa untrammeled by convention and almost devoid of education, she went on to run successful racing stables and to achieve fame as a record-breaking aviator - flying the Atlantic from east to west - hence the title.
It is told with all this author's attention to detail and personal involvement with the subject of the biography.
Highly recommended.
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