Thoughts from the book WEST WITH THE NIGHT by Beryl Markham 1902-1986

About Beryl Markham, Ernest Hemingway wrote, "...I knew her fairly well in Africa and never would have suspected that she could or would put pen to paper except tp write in her flyer's log book.  As it is, she has written so well, and marvelously well, that I was completely ashamed of myself as a writer. I felt that I was simply a carpenter with words, picking up whatever was furnished on the job and nailing them together and sometimes making an okay pig pen. But {She} can write rings around all of us who consider ourselves as writers."

For those of you who have ever dreamed of flying, I used to skip High School classes to take flying lessons - charging them to my Dad  until he found out - end of my flying career until years later ----- this is a great book to read!

Beryl who grew up in British East Africa on her fathers farm - a great part of her story. She later became a pilot and was the first person to fly east to west across the Atlantic, in 1936, thus the title of her book.  She was honored all around the world for that feat.
 
In her book she described that when the rains did not come to East Africa for three years her father lost his farm and business and moved to Peru to train race horse. Beryl at age of seventeen and several month went north to Molo East Africa to train race horses.  Their conversation about her move went something like any father would advice a teen age girl - in those days.

"Go to Molo,' said my father. 'There are stables at Molo that you could use.  Remember that you are still just a girl and do not expect too much --- there are a few owners here and there who will give you horses to train. "AFTER THAT, WORK AND HOPE. BUT NEVER HOPE MORE THAN YOU WORK" (my emphasis) In today's world, we only seem to tell our kids about "Hope and Change" without the advice of never hoping more than the work required. I hope my 17 year old grandson, who loves football and hopes to play for a college will work harder than his hopes! Will he do the work required ? My hope!   

This book is a great recreational read - especially if you love flying, early Africa, and wonderful accomplishments!