Elspeth Huxley Books
Elspeth Huxley was a prolific author whose works drew deeply from her extensive experiences in colonial Kenya. Her writing is characterized by a profound engagement with African development and a thoughtful exploration of both settler and indigenous life. Huxley deftly navigated between fiction and non-fiction, boasting a publishing career that spanned over six decades. With a background in agriculture and journalism, she became a significant interpreter of Africa to the outside world, even while acknowledging the inherent limitations of such a role. Her writings are valued for their nuanced portrayal of intercultural dynamics, despite later critiques of attitudes typical of her generation and colonial identity.
The flame trees of Thika : memories of an African childhood
- 288 pages
- 11 hours of reading
"In an open cart Elspeth Huxley set off with her parents to travel to Thika in Kenya. As pioneering settlers among the Kikuyu people, they built a house of grass, ate off a damask cloth spread over packing cases and discovered - the hard way - the world of the African."
In this sequel to The Flame of Thika, Elspeth Huxley takes up her story after the family returns to Kenya after the First World War. ' The Times 'What a marvellous writer. ' Financial Times
The Red Rock Wilderness
- 288 pages
- 11 hours of reading
Set against the stunning backdrop of the Kenyan wilderness, The Red Rock Wilderness is a gripping tale of love, betrayal, and survival. When a group of American tourists hires a local guide to take them on a safari, they encounter dangers they never could have imagined - including a threat from within their own group. Elspeth Huxley's vivid prose brings to life the beauty and brutality of the African landscape, and the complex relationships that can develop in times of crisis.
Nine Faces of Kenya
- 450 pages
- 16 hours of reading
In this marvelous anthology, Elspeth Huxley, our best and most popular writer on Africa, has drawn on her unparalleled knowledge of Kenya and its literature to present a fully rounded portrait of one of the most fascinating countries in the world. In nine sections focusing on exploration, travel, settlement, war, hunting, wildlife, environment, life-styles, and legend and poetry, using only first-hand accounts, she guides the reader through the story of Kenya from AD100 to the present with her characteristic candour and directness.
