The Lives of Beryl Markham

by Errol Trzebinski

Drawing on her own long association with Markham, as well as diaries, letters, and interviews, Errol Trzebinski unravels the complexities of one of the century's great personalities.

Markham's memoir, West with the Night, was rediscovered in 1983 and became an instant bestseller, though shadowed by rumors that Markham was not the actual author. Trzebinski here puts the question of authorship to rest, as she answers many other questions about Markham in this riveting true story of courage, rivalry, sexual intrigue, and revenge.

Genres: Biography, Africa, Nonfiction, Aviation, Adventure

450 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1993

About the author

Errol Georgia Trzebinski was a British writer.

Reviews

[Dianne · Rating 3 out of 5]

After I read Paula McLain's "Circling the Sun," a work of historical fiction based on the early life of Beryl Markham, I immediately wanted to know more about Beryl. Since McLain's version was fictionalized, I wanted something closer to a true biography. "The Lives of Beryl Markham" was the first book in from the library, so I jumped right into it, eager to see how McLain's version dovetailed with a more factual version.

It was very interesting to see the choices McLain made in sticking to the facts and where she chose to embellish or alter the facts. I also see clearly now why McLain stopped her story with the conclusion of Beryl's remarkable flight from England to Nova Scotia in 1932 - Beryl's life afterwards was increasingly marked with poor decisions and ended in alienation, alcoholism and senility. A very sad end to a remarkable life but the paths she took and choices she made were all her own. She was uncompromising to a fault, very much her own woman. The sad part is her unusual upbringing made her an outcast of sorts. She was a "hybrid;" part African tribal mentality and part colonial British. She never really fit anywhere.

I appreciated the detailed accounting of Beryl's life, but Trzebinski's book reads much like a PhD thesis - there are 60 pages of references, footnotes and indices alone. It was somewhat of a workout to plow through, but I am glad I did.

Recommend mostly to those who want to know more about Beryl Markham's life, especially fans of "Circling the Sun."

[Kay · Rating 3 out of 5]

Those who have a romanticized image of Beryl Markham after reading West with the Night and want to keep that image would do well to keep away from this book. It's a tell-all -- and there is much to tell -- as Markham was apparently rather promiscuous and at times rather callous and self-serving.

Still, I have to say I'm glad I read the book, for it casts light on a very complex person. Once again, here's an object lesson in how the very driven can also be, in many ways, rather unlikeable. However, I do think that Trzebinski may have deliberately been out to do a bit of a hatchett job on Markham -- or it any rate it sure seems that way. I may eventually read another, less scandal-prone, biography of Markham to help round out the subject a bit more.

I have to wonder, though, if Markham had been a man if she'd had been the subject of such an unflattering biography. She undoubtedly slept around a lot, was ornery as hell, and was a very poor parent. How many famous men does that describe?

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I can not understand why we do not know more about this women , she was one of the first women aviators and in the same class as Amy Johnson and Amelia Earhart,was an adventurer and did indead live an extrodinary life. She was the fly in the ointment in the love afair between Karen Blixon and Denys finch Hatton , (out of Africa ) and persued him for 8 years until finally having an affair with him, this shows the determination and mind set of the woman.Unfortunately she does not come across as a very nice person she treated her friends awfully and i was surprised at the end of her life she actually had anyone with her ! The author makes much of the fact her mother left her when she was young and her father moved his mistress in and was too busy to bother with her so she grew up with African children and lived her early life like a native. This is the excuse that is used to excuse her promiscuity and her fear of showing weakness and the ruthlessness she shows, I think it shows a very damaged young women who had many problems. She married three times and had 1 son who she did not bother with, she was not faithful to any of her husbands. The 3rd husband is the one who actually "Ghost wrote " her novel West with the night, but she has never admitted this even on her death bed. She moved around a lot in her later life from the USA, Rhodesia, South Africa and lived a very frugal life but made a living training race horses, she lived virtually on the charity of the few freinds who bothered with her, there must have been some redeeming features to make people want to help her but i couldnt find any !Like a lot of the Happy Valley set she died in poverty, even though her book was rediscovered in the 80's and became a best seller. She returned to Keyna in the latter part of her life and although found it much changed lived there for the rest of her life until dieing in her 80's, there was a flurry of interest in her when the out of Africa film was released but unfortunately by then she was too infirm to contribute and did not like being interviewed. She was a very private person and i think the author did a great job in actually writing this book , when hardly any of her friends survive or any paperwork was left by her, I would have liked to see more photos, she was described as a great beauty but you do not get a sense of this by the photos in the book.

[Charles Inglin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beryl Markham was a most unusual personality, and perhaps one that could only have been produced by the unusual circumstances of her upbringing. Born in England, she went with her family to British East Africa, now Kenya, at the age of three. Her father, former cavalry officer Charles Clutterbuck, was a farmer and horse trainer. Within two years her mother had had enough of frontier life and returned to England, taking Beryl's younger brother but leaving her. Her father had a notable lack of parenting skills and Beryl was largely raised with the children of the Kipsigis tribe which lived on the farm. Governesses and later a stepmother in fact if not in law had limited success in countering the influence of African tribal culture, particularly the much more relaxed attitude towards sex. The abandonment by her mother seems to have left her with a sense of insecurity. Her relations with other women were often fraught and her marriages marked by a lack of commitment. The title of this book could well have been "The Many Loves of Beryl Markham." She notably had an affair with the Duke of Gloucester, who she met when he came to Kenya on tour with his brothers, the future Edward VIII and George VI, while she was married to her second husband, Mansfield Markham. There were rumors that her only son, born around this time, was actually fathered by the duke, but as he grew up the resemblance to his father became quite evident.
Something Beryl got from her father was a natural ability to train horses and she became one of the best horse trainers in East Africa. She learned to fly from another lover, Tom Campbell Black, possibly also influenced by Denys Finch Hatton's taking up flying. Beryl had a long running competition with Karen Blixen for the attentions of Finch Hatton. A somewhat nastier side of Beryl came out years later. Karen Blixen was know in Kenya by her nickname, Tania. Years later Beryl named one of her dogs "Tania," because she was a "short legged bitch." Denys had actually invited Beryl along on the flight that ended in his fatal crash, but she had been unable to go.
Beryl had a natural aptitude as a pilot. The achievement for which she became best known, being the first to fly the Atlantic from East to West, seems to have been instigated by another pioneering aviator, John Carbury, who loaned her the airplane he was having built for another distance race. Luck was on her side, as she barely made it to a landing in a bog on Nova Scotia, but she made it and enjoyed several years of notoriety, including publishing a memoir, "West With The Night." It sold moderately well and then faded from view until rediscovered in the 1980's. It also created bit of a controversy. Beryl's education had been spotty at best and people who knew her, including Ernest Hemingway, questioned whether she'd actually written the book. The probability is that Beryl's third husband, Raoul Schumacher, a professional screenwriter she'd met in California had taken the story as dictated by Beryl and worked it into shape for publication, as well as a number of other stories published under Beryl's name.
All in all, a fascinating character, admirable in many ways but also flawed. It's surprising that her life hasn't been made into a movie.

[Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

I gave this book 4 stars not because it was particularly well written, but because it was so fascinating. This woman was amazing. She lived like a man in the first half of the 20th century, and made many enemies because she had to audicity to do so. Love her or hate her she did incredible things. Although it doesn't make the book any less wonderful, it was a disappointment to find out she did not write "West With The Night," but that her 3rd husband ghost wrote it for her. Still, the experiences were hers, and she was amazing. The author put me off because she kept talking about how Ms. Markham was thinking, presuming all sorts of ideas. I bet she was thinking this . . . . I hate that! No one knows what anyone else is thinking! Aggggh. I can't believe the editor let her get by with that again and again. Still, all in all a great read.

[Stacye · Rating 1 out of 5]

The author didn't seem to have very much admiration or respect for his subject. I just kept thinking that if she had been a man he would have been slapping her on the bag and giving her a wink and a nudge over the indiscretions that he portrays as overshadowing her incredible accomplishments. I'm certainly not saying that she was all good. No human is, but I wouldn't recommend this book because it is in my opinion it is a rather misogynist view of a complex and remarkable woman.

[Gillian · Rating 3 out of 5]

Beryl Markham was a complex, tormented woman who led a fascinating life, leaving her mark in racehorse training, aviation history and, in a manner of speaking, literature. Errol Trzebinski's book is a very interesting, compelling read, but marred by a number of sentences and even paragraphs the logic of which is difficult, if not impossible to follow, or even recognize.

[Andrew · Rating 3 out of 5]

I purchased and read this book after reading West with the Night, a story written by Bery Markham (or so I thought) that chronicles her time as a bush pilot in British East Africa. I was so taken by the book that I wanted to learn more about this amazing woman. However...for those who have read West with the Night I say be warned. The Lives of Beryl Markham paints a much less flattering picture of the woman and even makes a strong case that Markham didn't write West with the Night. Prepare to have your romantic perceptions of this woman's life shattered after reading The Lives of Beryl Markham. The story reads a bit like a textbook and it took me quite a while to wade through it in spite of my interest in the subject.

[Linda Doyle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Beryl Markham was an accomplished aviator and race horse trainer. It's too bad too much of this book concentrates instead on Markham's innumerable love affairs and rampant promiscuity. She's portrayed as a selfish, difficult person, and the author gives the impression she doesn't like her subject. Trzebinski even puts forth the idea (with some good evidence) that Markham's third husband, a writer, is the real author of her best selling memoir, West with the Night.

I struggled to read some sections of this book but others were quite fascinating, especially the description of her history-making flight over the Atlantic. For that accomplishment alone, Beryl Markham deserves her place in history.

[HansBlog · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kurzer Auszug a.d. viel längeren Rezension m. Links u. Hintergründen i. m. Blog:

Biografin Errol Trzebinski lebte zumeist in Kenia und schrieb vor dieser Biografie andere Kolonialkeniabücher – so berichtet sie hier nicht nur detailliert Beryl Markhams Leben, sondern flicht auch viel Lokolkolorit ein wie:
In Nairobi Dr. Ribeiro, a Goan, rode a tame zebra to his sickest patients and his rooms ((…)) were made from old packing cases.
Ob sie hier von ihren früheren Keniabüchern übernahm, weiß ich nicht.
Errol Trzebinski (*1936) kannte Beryl Markham seit einer Interview-Serie 1974. Sie recherchierte dieses Buch ernsthaft offenbar seit 1986, vielleicht schon seit 1974, wollte aber lt. Vorwort vor einer Veröffentlichung explizit Markhams Tod abwarten, um sie nicht vor den Kopf zu stoßen. Viele der Trzebinski-Interviewpartner waren schon in hohem Alter und dann beim Druck der Biografie verstorben - immer wieder heißt es in den Danksagungen "the late". Laut Endnoten führte Trzebinski viele Interviews 1987 und 1990.
Trzebinski schreibt im Vorwort S. xviii und S. xx, Markham sei
skilled at pre-emption and at avoiding questions under all circumstances… Again she cheated me of the chance to confront her. Just four days before my return to Nairobi in 1986, Beryl died."
Das ist wirklich skilled.

[Marsha Douglas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Like other reviewers, I wanted to learn more about Beryl Markham after reading "Circling the Sun" by Paula McLain, and continued my reading with "The Lives of Beryl Markham". Although this book has been labeled by some as painting an unflattering picture of the subject, I believe Errol Trzebinski did a tremendous amount of research (as evidenced by her acknowledgements and references) to write a fair and balanced biography of a woman who led a most unconventional life and achieved success through the expense and help of others.

This is a long read, particularly if you are not familiar with Africa. Although two maps of the country are included for reference, many of the cities/towns and topographical areas mentioned in the book can't be found on the maps. After reading it, I have to wonder what Markham's life would have been like if she had returned with her mother and brother to England while still very young. Although she had very few close friendships with women, the ones that did endure (particularly with Enid, Lady Furness/Lady Kenmare) were marked by similarities: incapability of handling finances, lack of domesticity, and being involved in scandalous affairs.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

The good, the bad and the ugly about one of the world's most fascinating women. Raised in the Kenyan bush largely by natives, Beryl went on to create successful careers training racehorses and in aviation. Equally at home in the bush, the stables or as a jet setter, Beryl was the first woman to cross the Atlantic from England, at night--without the benefit of modern day technology or even instrument panels.

[Ruth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting, but quite a plod. Four hundred pages of what seemed like everything anyone has ever known about her. He is absolutely convinced that she did not write West With the Night, and he convinced me, too. She was a remarkable woman, although I don't think I would have liked her very much. Terrible decline at the end.

[Janine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Got this after I devoured Markham's memoir "West with the Night." It met my need of fleshing out the story of this remarkable woman. I think what I had really wanted was to keep the lyrical magic (of her memoir) going, which, of course, this did not do. Still a solid and interesting read.

[Robin Waldman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. Beryl Markham was such a fascinating woman. Written before humans started to destroy African wildlife, her descriptions of the fauna and flora were alive. Highly recommend.

[April Sanders · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating book for anyone who read West With the night.

[Linda Lipko · Rating 3 out of 5]

Beryl Markham led quite a life, one of hedonism, selfishness, ruthlessness without a thought of how her actions impacted on those in her circle. Today she would be categorized as a sociopath. This is a tale of her life, including her many male conquests.

Abandoned in Africa by her mother, from an early age, she was loosely raised by her father. Working with him to train superb race horses, she acquired a reputation of doing men's work.

With little social skills, and a dire lack of education, she was able to use enough people to scratch and fight her way to the top of inner circles. Dennys Finch Hatton, Bjor Blixen, Karen Blixen, aka Isak Dinesen, and Barkley Cole were but a few of those she claimed as "friends."

Basically, to put it crudely, she slept her way through East Africa, drawing men like moths to a dangerous flame, she cared very little for her reputation, or the impact her actions caused to others.

She learned to fly a plane, and to her credit, her book West With the Night outlines her major accomplishment of being the first female to travel cross ocean. However, there is doubt that she actually wrote that book, and instead her former husband most likely penned it for her.

I did enjoy the depiction of East Africa and the ruggedness of that continent at the time of the great white hunters. Beryl Markham was indeed an interesting woman. Tall, beautiful and sensual, she deserves credit for her accomplishments.

[Connie Kronlokken]

Beryl Markham is a fascinating person. Never well off, she grew up with Kenyan children, learning as they did to be fearless and ignore pain. Her father also trained her to work with his horses, and she developed an amazing rapport and understanding of horses. Moving among the British aristocrats who came out to Kenya in the early part of the 20th century, Beryl and her father trained winners. Beryl was beautiful and promiscuous, leaving a trail of lovers behind her. For ten years, she flew early airplanes and she successfully flew from England to Newfoundland, the hard way across the Atlantic in 1936.

Beryl spent 1936 to 1949 in the U.S., particularly in California, where she worked with her husband on a memoir which finally became a best-seller: "West with the Night." Returning to Kenya, she again trained winning horses. She continued to take lovers, but as Trzebinski notes, she often left people she was with better off than she found them, and people remained intensely loyal to her. As she grew older and more insecure, she was imperious, but still very brave. Trzebinski feels that the fact that she could not admit she had not written "West with the Night" marred her later years. Such a mix of cultures she was, resulting in excellence, beauty and excitement. This is her real story, told by a woman who lived most of her life in Africa. She doesn't sugar-coat Beryl's faults, but finds the gold in her as well.

[Simone Gherbe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ho letto questo libro in quanto la figura di Beryl Markham è estremamente interessante e ''West with the night'' è ormai divenuto un Mito.

È una lettura appassionante che cerca di scassare i sigilli che Beryl Markham ha creato per difendersi.
Il libro dipinge una Beryl fornicatrice e misogina, tuttavia non mi sembra che Trzebinski disprezzi veramente Beryl o voglia metterla in ridicolo. Il libro mi è sembrato molto neutrale.
Uno dei punti fondamentali che questo libro intende risolvere è se il libro sia stato scritto o no dalla Berkham, in questo caso le notizie riportate e la personalità stessa fanno intendere che lei non fosse assolutamente capace di scrivere un libro del genere, ma che abbia solo fornito i dettagli della sua vita ad un ''ghostwriter'' ovvero Raoul Schumacher, suo terzo marito che mai ha potuto godere dei frutti del suo lavoro. Ricordiamoci però che West with the night è un libro scritto a due.

Il libro include un ottimo apparato fotografico.
Forse sarebbe da leggere insieme alla biografia autorizzata dalla stessa.

[Ebookwormy1 · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was well written, but by the end of it, i was so sick of Beryl Markham. What a bitter, despairing, end to a life invested so poorly. It was good for understanding the history of Markham, the Kenya colony and the times in general, but not an enjoyable to be re-read book.

It does complement the more famous "West with the Night," a rather mysterious biography by Markham. Trzebinski's biography clarifies Beryl's puzzling male orientation and sheds light on the controversy surrounding "West with the Night" authorship by Beryl Markham's third husband, the ghost writer Raoul Schumacher. If you want it all, read both. If you want just the stories of Africa, read West with the Night with a grain of salt.

West with the Night, Markham, 1942
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

For more on complicated African women, see
Out of Africa, Dinesen, 1937
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Jan C · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really did enjoy this book but I felt like it was too long. I'm not sure what I would have asked her to keep out but it just seemed to drag on.

Now, of course, Beryl Markham did a lot of stuff. Most of her friends were not women. Frequently they were royalty.

And I was so disappointed when Trzebinksi presented pretty arguments against her having written the good parts of West with the Night. I had previously come to the conclusion that only a pilot could have written some parts of it and that her husband had written the other parts. But the author convinced me that, probably, the reverse was true. I was so down about that.

But this was a life full of adventure. She was a horse whisperer, trainer, early pilot - made records; lived the high life in Kenya, London, New York and Hollywood.

[Judy · Rating 2 out of 5]

West With the Night is one of my favorite books ever. So now I know Beryl Markham didn't really write it. Does that matter? Yes and no. It's still a beautifully written story, with a strong sense of place, about an amazing woman. And yes, now some of the bloom is off the rose for me. I got tired of reading about her sexual exploits and competitive nature. Truth be told, I didn't finish the book. I just got bored and gave up.

[Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really interesting biography of a fascinating woman. This author feels, without a doubt, that Markham did not write West With the Night. This does not in any way take away from the book (WWTN) or the woman (Markham).

[Wendy Hollister · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beryl was a tough and fascinating woman especially during the times that she lived.

[Rachel Katz · Rating 2 out of 5]

definitely should have read her book before reading the biography...she had quite a life. Sad really.

[Beckie · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars.

[Carol Collins]

read years ago