The Splendid Outcast: Beryl Markham's African Stories

by Beryl Markham, Mary S. Lovell (Compiler)

These eight stories share many of the themes and interests found in West with the Night—Ms. Markham's lifelong fascination with horses, her experiences as a pilot, and her deep love for Africa.

Genres: Africa, Short Stories, Nonfiction, Travel, History, Biography, Memoir

139 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1987

About the author

Beryl Markham was a Kenyan aviator born in England (one of the first bush pilots), adventurer, racehorse trainer and author. She was the first person to fly solo, non-stop across the Atlantic from Britain to North America. She wrote about her adventures in her memoir, West with the Night.

Reviews

[Ruth]

I loved West With the Night, so I was looking forward to this one. Pah! Let's establish right up front that when I was a kid we had horses. I love their soft velvety lips with the prickly chin whiskers, their smooth coats, the way they twitch their skin to flick off the flies, their welcoming nickers, the way they swoosh air out their nostrils, their horsey, sweaty smell.

But they're animals, dammit. I've had it with books that give them human characteristics. As if horse characteristics were not enough to dignify them. Sheesh. That would have been enough to sink this book, but we also get to add that these stories are poorly written, in a gushing "noble animal" voice that reminds me of Albert Payson Terhune.

There has been lots of speculation that West With the Night was written more by Markham's husband than it was by her. I didn't tend to believe it until now.

[Hannah]

These short stories not on par with West with the Night in terms of style or quality (which may lend validity to the claim that WwtN wasn't 100% Beryl's writing).

Nonetheless, I still enjoyed all the stories and look forward to reading a biography of this intrepid and fascinating woman.

[Sara]

I remember Beryl Markham's "West With the Night" (which I read 29 years ago) as one of my favorite books ever. Several of these stories seem an extension of her autobiography, and all are beautifully written -- reminding me of the value of punch and brevity in a short story. Plus she writes exquisitely about horses...

[ambyr]

Many of these stories are of interest more for historical value--and as fuel to the continued debate about Markham's authorship of West with the Night--than as literature. Even the editor admits that some, particularly those in the third section, are trite, pablum written for the sake of an income rather than out of any real artistic drive. But there are a few gems here. "Something I Remember" comes closest to capturing the tone of West with the Night, and "The Splendid Outcast" packs tension and emotion into a deceptively simple anecdote. "The Transformation" and "The Quitter" also spoke to me, although perhaps more for what they suggested of how Markham perceived the world than for their contents.

Recommended for completionist fans of West with the Night.

[Catherine Richmond]

This is the rare instance where an author's life is so interesting that her fiction pales in comparison to her autobiography.

[Phil]

The last three stories are a little on the romantic side but I did enjoy the book as whole.

[Kate]

Consider this a distilled "Out of Africa." The same type of story of a strong woman making a name for herself in the wilds of colonial Africa, with romantic entanglements along the way, is here in "Splendid Outcast." There's even airplane piloting, as in "Out of Africa," but this time the woman is driving. I liked Beryl Markham better than Karen Blixen/Isak Dinesen because she was a little spunkier and more charming. I read this as a young adult and it has stayed with me all these years - definitely a memorable read.

[Shannon]

The only thing more stunning than the lyrical prose of these short stories is the unbelievable fact of them being almost unknown today. They were mostly printed in American magazines such as: Collier's, Ladies Home Journal, Cosmopolitan, etc. during the late 1940's. Since then they were mostly forgotten until 1987 when they were collected into this anthology by Mary S. Lovell. It would be like ignoring the "elephant in the room," not to mention the controversy that hangs over all Beryl Markham's writings. It is rumored, with some evidence, that they are the work, or at least, re-workings, of her husband/author, Raoul Schmacher. As I mentioned in a quote book that I keep of inspiring words, I can only compare her to Shakespeare, who also is under a cloud of disbelief that the man from the midlands without a university education, could write so eloquently and boundlessly of life. I back up my belief in the Bard of Avon with his knowledge of esoteric glover's terms combined with his evident love of the wildflowers unique to Warwickshire! The same sort of argument can be made for Markham: her love and knowledge of airplanes, Africa and above all, horses, sings from these pages like a well-tuned instrument. But if that is not really "proof" of authorship, in the end, it doesn't even matter. What matters is that we are given these stories that read like prose poems made of the most musical English I have ever read in my life.

[Alex]

First things first: Beryl Markham's "West with the Night" ranks among the great aviation memoirs of the early 20th Century. Markham's recounting of her childhood on a Kenyan farm, her time as a champion horse trainer, and her exploits an aviatrix are spellbinding. They're also beautifully written. Truly, "West with the Night" is an unheralded masterpiece.

"The Splendid Outcast" ain't "West with the Night." This collection of stories, most published in women's magazines of the WWII era, lack the subtle poetry of Markham's memoir. For that matter, three of the stories in this collection weren't even written by Markham. Rather, they were written by her third husband, ghostwriter Raoul Schumacher.

That said, these are not bad stories - particularly if one is interested in aviation or horses. I found them diverting, but not extraordinary. Let Markham's legacy be her memoir. As a writer of fiction, she was middling.

[Laurie]

A few years ago, a Goodreads friend told me abt Beryl Markham. Since that time, I have read abt her and enjoyed learning abt her. I have read WEST WITH THE NIGHT and loved it. I read Paula McLain's CIRCLING THE SUN and love that. I did not enjoy SPLENDID OUTCAST as much. It was a disappointment. Reading abt her horses was very interesting. If you love horses, read it just for them. In watching the movie OUT OF ARICA, I always thought that the female friend of Karen, seemed interesting, did not know she was based on Beryl Markham. Beryl was a remarkable woman, and decades a head of her time. She was admirable. She lived life on HER terms, not society's rules. She managed quite well living and working in a man's world, as well as a harsh continent like Africa. Young girls should read and learn abt Beryl, she has a lot to teach them, she has a lot to teach us.

[Evelyn]

These 8 short stories published during the early 1940s draw upon the author’s personal experiences, yet are not autobiographical. Several appear to be stories that were designed to be sold and turned into screenplays for the B pictures that were popular during World War II.

The writing is unexceptional. The plots are mundane although set in some instances in what at the time were considered exotic locales, ie, Africa, or involving the horsey set and horse racing. The characters are not always well-developed.

The stories are only of interest due to the author’s autobiography “West With the Night” and the controversy pertaining to whether she wrote it herself, or with the assistance of a ghostwriter.

[Bláith]

A collection of short stories that reflect Beryl Markham's intimate knowledge of colonial East Africa. Her writing is rich in atmosphere, bringing the landscapes, wildlife, and diverse characters of Kenya vividly to life.

Markham's firsthand experience as a bush pilot and horse trainer lends authenticity to the stories, and her understated prose often conveys both the beauty and harshness of life on the African frontier.

Please be aware, the stories inevitably reflect the colonial attitudes of their time, making them best appreciated within their historical context.

Despite that, her work provides a fascinating glimpse into a world that has largely disappeared and showcases Markham's talent as a perceptive observer of people and place.

[John Benson]

This is a collection of eight magazine short stories written in the 1940s by Beryl Markham and compiled by Mary Lovell, her biographer. The stories are primarily about flying or raising horses in colonial Kenya. Mary Lovell gives some good background information on each story and if there is any controversy related to the story. I loved Beryl Markham's WEST WITH THE NIGHT. This is not equal to that book, but her writing comes through well.

[Jen]

I must have read this book 30 years ago and I guess I enjoyed it because I’ve kept it this whole time. Sadly, it didn’t hold up to my memory. The stories are very unevenly written. Markham obviously loved planes and horses, but it wasn’t enough to elevate these short stories. She was an amazing woman — no doubt about that — but this collection isn’t.

[Eli Pollack]

I was very disappointed. I was hoping for another West With the Night and got, instead, some okay short stories, only one of which I really liked.

And, to make matters worse, accompanying each story is a discussion of whether Markham actually wrote the story.

The redeeming feature is the book is so short, so not a great waste.

[Frida Dillenbeck]

I read ‘West with the Night’ several days ago and loved every page, especially the Wise Child race. Only some of the stories in this collection compare to WwtN in emotional intensity. The last story was my favorite, full of emotion that I felt while reading. No matter who wrote the book and short stories, they are wonderful.

[Rita]

Having recently read "Circling the Sun", a historical fiction about Beryl Markham, I was inspired to read stories written by Beryl Markham. This book of short stories was a wonderful introduction to the world of adventure that Ms. Markham lived.

[Melissa]

Uneven collection of short stories by the author of West with the Night. Some five star quality and good enough to have been included in that book, some romantic drivel. Glad I finally got around to reading it.

[Lee]

More of Beryl Markham's Wonderfull writing of intriguing and intimately described experiences from her life. She motivates by describing experiences in a way that encourages the reader to risk and explore more of the potential in their own lives.

[Hollie Rose]

Pg 17 …it had the elements of all wars; it bred sorrow and darkness, it bred hope, and it threw strong lights on the souls of men… Pg 20 … as one day nudged another through that particular little corridor of time… Pg 70 … tearing up red tape as if it were confetti.

[Melissa]

I have enjoyed Beryl’s stories so much .. but this collection is not as polished or as good as her West with the Night. Partly I think because the stories are not fully hers. The collection reads awkwardly though the familiar spirit is there.

[Valerie]

These stories almost capture the beauty of West With The Night, but I've never been a fan of short stories.
The stories ghost-written by her husband Raoul Schumacher are definitely different from Beryl's lovely prose.

[V]

Instead of writing short fiction (at which she did not exactly excel... and neither did her sometime-ghostwriter husband who looks to have fully written at least three of these stories) Beryl Markham might have written a more complete tell-all autobiography. Or at least kept a goddam journal.

[Susan]

The stories were uneven, but gave more insight into Beryl's life. Worth reading!

[Laurel Kathleen]

Reminded me of the O Henry short stories where there's always twist at the end. A mash of up those with her awesome autobiography "West With the Night".

[Claxton]

Flashes of brilliance, but a big letdown after West with the Night, one of the most beautiful books I've read.

[Lisa Taylor]

Well written short stories of Africa, horse racing and flying

[Ann]

Based on her book West into the Night I was expecting something awesome. These stories were definitely not in the same category.

[Rick]

Great set of fiction writing from one of my favorite aviation authors - wish she had written more!

[Cheryl]

The first story just about broke my heart even as I gasped in disbelief. I am putting it down.