West with the Night

The book was written by Beryl Markham and originally published in 1942. Markham was a British-born Kenyan aviator, horse trainer, and adventurer who became one of the first women to fly across the Atlantic Ocean.

The title refers to Beryl Markham's historic 1936 solo flight across the Atlantic from east to west. She flew against the prevailing winds, landing safely in Nova Scotia, which made her the first person to achieve this treacherous route.

Yes, Ernest Hemingway famously praised the book in a letter to a friend, stating that Markham could write rings around all of us. He admitted to being deeply envious of her natural writing talent and descriptive abilities.

Besides detailing her career as a pilot, the 1942 memoir extensively covers Markham's unconventional childhood in Kenya. It features vivid descriptions of her experiences hunting with local tribes and her successful career as a racehorse trainer.