Nine Faces of Kenya

by Elspeth Huxley (Editor)

Selections from a variety of nonfiction works discuss the history, people, culture, wildlife, landscape, and agriculture of Kenya

Genres: Africa, Kenya, Nonfiction, Travel, History, Anthropology

451 pages, Hardcover

First published July 1, 1991

About the author

Elspeth Joscelin Huxley was an English writer, journalist, broadcaster, magistrate, environmentalist, farmer, and government adviser. She wrote over 40 books, including her best-known lyrical books, The Flame Trees of Thika and The Mottled Lizard, based on her youth in a coffee farm in British Kenya. Her husband, Gervas Huxley, was a grandson of Thomas Henry Huxley and a cousin of Aldous Huxley.

Reviews

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Portraits of East African History and memoirs from 9 perspectives. Excellent revelations about the country that nurtured me. It taught me a history I had never read in text books even in Kenya and revealed stories I had never heard

[Izzy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book! It is set out in a great way with each chapter covering different topics such as wars, settlers, the environment, hunting, art ,etc, all in the context of Kenya. It added so much to my knowledge of Kenya, the country where I was born and grew up. I was so sad when I finished the book. However, it's the kind of book you could read over and over and pick up something new each time.

[Clivemichael · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent comprehensive anthology well woven together. A pleasure to dip into and read at length. This wonderful introduction is drawn from a large pool of writing touching on diverse perspectives.

[Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Elspeth Huxley is one of out best and most popular writers on East Africa. In this anthology she draws on her deep knowledge of Kenya and its literature to present the reader with a fully rounded portrait of one of the most fascinating countries in the world, and the men and women who made their mark upon it.

"In nine sections, focusing on exploration, travel, settlement, war, hunting, wildlife, environment, life-styles, and legend and poetry, Elspeth Huxley guides the reader through the story of Kenya with her characteristic candor and directness. Lively eyewitness accounts from the first century, from the Arab travelers of the Middle Ages, from the Portuguese colonizers who followed in the wake of Vasco da Gamma, lead us to the legendary explorers and hunters of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Then follows the rapid development of our own century, from protectorate to colony, to today's independent nation.

"Karen Blixen, Ernest Hemingway, the Leakeys, Beryl Markham, and of course, Elspeth Huxley herself are among the many writers in this classic anthology whose words bring to life the colonial experience with a freshness and verve that has rarely, if ever, been achieved before."
~~front flap

A very interesting book, and a slow read. But well worth the time, to reflect and enjoy the changing times and landscape and ethos.

[Charlotte Beauvoisin · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fascinating and easy to read collection of facts and stories. One to reread.

[Cecilia · Rating 4 out of 5]

An amazing book covering the history of a country from early explorers, travellers and historical perspective fascinating. I learnt much about my birth country, a place I have always been fascinated with over many years, visited and not understood the dinamics and diversity of ethneticities and cultures.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

collection of various essays about kenya, exploration, travel, settlers, wars, environment, wildlife, hunting, lifestyles, legend and poetry.