Somewhat over four years later, Beryl Markham became the first pilot of any gender to fly solo across the Atlantic in the more difficult (because of prevailing winds) east-to-west direction, a flight of some 20 hours (which in no way detracts from Earhart's earlier great achievement). I mention it only because it would be interesting to try to dig up some of her letters. Her memoir, West with the Night, published in 1942, is incomparably magnificent: one of the finest pieces of writing in any genre that I've ever encountered. Her letters must make for some fine reading as well! Markham was not only a pilot, but a lion-hunter, a native speaker of Swahili (having been raised in what was then "British East Africa"—now Kenya), and was acknowledged as the finest trainer of race-horses in all of Africa.
“In this connection I may have to keep some place where I can go to be myself, now and then, for I cannot guarantee to endure at all times the confinements of even an attractive cage.”
Somewhat over four years later, Beryl Markham became the first pilot of any gender to fly solo across the Atlantic in the more difficult (because of prevailing winds) east-to-west direction, a flight of some 20 hours (which in no way detracts from Earhart's earlier great achievement). I mention it only because it would be interesting to try to dig up some of her letters. Her memoir, West with the Night, published in 1942, is incomparably magnificent: one of the finest pieces of writing in any genre that I've ever encountered. Her letters must make for some fine reading as well! Markham was not only a pilot, but a lion-hunter, a native speaker of Swahili (having been raised in what was then "British East Africa"—now Kenya), and was acknowledged as the finest trainer of race-horses in all of Africa.
“In this connection I may have to keep some place where I can go to be myself, now and then, for I cannot guarantee to endure at all times the confinements of even an attractive cage.”
Wow. I relate to this 😂