West with the Night

Julie Harris's presentation of Beryl Markham's autobiography is an outstanding success for the audio format. Consider it an essential title for any collection. This is a superb example of the enhancement voice can give to text. The clarity and warmth of Harris's voice perfectly match Markham's exuberance and love of life. Her perfect diction glides smoothly over African names, and she successfully uses dialect and inflection for native characters. The haunting reflections of British East Africa in the '20's and '30's, the airplanes, horses, dogs and wild animals--present an unforgettable portrait enlivened by the brilliant narration. R.F.W. Winner of AUDIOFILE Earphones Award (c)AudioFile, Portland, Maine

In a memoir almost lyrical in quality, Beryl Markham shares the story of her remarkable life. Raised in the early twentieth century on her father's farm in British East Africa, Markham became a racehorse trainer and accomplished aviator. Markham's rich and poetic passages are deftly caressed by narrator Anna Fields. Her phrasing and pacing make the most of writing that is at times as complex as it is inspired. Especially notable are Fields's portrayal of Africansâ her wistful humor, and her reverence for nature. Native words and names are gracefully intertwined in the narrative. Fields does justice to this rich memoir, praised by Ernest Hemingway as "bloody wonderful." N.M.C. (c) AudioFile 2005, Portland, Maine