Circling the Sun

Paula McLain

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Circling the Sun by Paula McLain is a historical novel based on the remarkable life of Beryl Markham, a woman who defied societal norms and became the first licensed woman horse trainer and one of the early women aviators. The book vividly brings to life the colonial era in Kenya, portraying Beryl's challenges, triumphs, and relationships with notable figures like Denys Finch Hatton and Karen Blixen. Through captivating storytelling and rich descriptions, the author takes the reader on a journey through Beryl's coming-of-age feminist triumphs, her love for Africa, and her relentless pursuit of freedom and independence in a time when women were expected to conform.

Characters:

The characters, particularly Beryl Markham, are well-developed, showcasing their complexities, flaws, and resilience in a tumultuous historical context.

Writing/Prose:

The author's writing style is poetic and descriptive, creating vivid imagery of Kenya and deeply exploring the characters' emotions.

Plot/Storyline:

The plot revolves around Beryl Markham's life in colonial Kenya as she navigates her childhood, personal relationships, and professional triumphs, highlighting her journey towards independence.

Setting:

The setting is vividly depicted, providing a rich backdrop of colonial Kenya that enhances the narrative.

Pacing:

The pacing varies throughout the book, with a slow build-up in the beginning that transitions into more engaging and fast-paced sections.

Before Kenya was Kenya, when it was millions of years old and yet still somehow new, the name belonged only to our most magnificent mountain. You could see it from our farm in Njoro, in the British Ea...

Notes:

Beryl Markham was the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic from east to west.

She was raised in Kenya after her family emigrated from England when she was four.

Beryl's mother abandoned her family, taking only her son back to England.

Her childhood was spent among the Kipsigis tribe, who informally raised her after her mother left.

Markham became the first licensed female horse trainer in Kenya.

Her life was filled with tumultuous romantic relationships and scandal.

She had a complicated romance with Denys Finch Hatton, who was also involved with Karen Blixen (Isak Dinesen).

McLain's novel 'Circling the Sun' focuses on Beryl's early life and relationships, highlighting her struggles and accomplishments.

The book portrays Beryl as a strong, independent woman, challenging societal norms of her time.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

The book contains themes of infidelity, loss, and societal expectations, which may be triggering for some readers.

Has Romance?

The novel contains a significant amount of romance, particularly involving Beryl's tumultuous love affairs.

From The Publisher:

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY NPR, BOOKPAGE, AND SHELF AWARENESS

"Paula McLain is considered the new star of historical fiction, and for good reason. Fans of The Paris Wife will be captivated by Circling the Sun, which . . . is both beautifully written and utterly engrossing."-Ann Patchett, Country Living

This powerful novel transports readers to the breathtaking world of Out of Africa-1920s Kenya-and reveals the extraordinary adventures of Beryl Markham, a woman before her time. Brought to Kenya from England by pioneering parents dreaming of a new life on an African farm, Beryl is raised unconventionally, developing a fierce will and a love of all things wild. But after everything she knows and trusts dissolves, headstrong young Beryl is flung into a string of disastrous relationships, then becomes caught up in a passionate love triangle with the irresistible safari hunter Denys Finch Hatton and the writer Baroness Karen Blixen. Brave and audacious and contradictory, Beryl will risk everything to have Denys's love, but it's ultimately her own heart she must conquer to embrace her true calling and her destiny: to fly.

Praise for Circling the Sun

"In McLain's confident hands, Beryl Markham crackles to life, and we readers truly understand what made a woman so far ahead of her time believe she had the power to soar."-Jodi Picoult, author of Leaving Time

"Enchanting . . . a worthy heir to [Isak] Dinesen . . . Like Africa as it's so gorgeously depicted here, this novel will never let you go."-The Boston Globe

"Famed aviator Beryl Markham is a novelist's dream. . . . [A] wonderful portrait of a complex woman who lived-defiantly-on her own terms."-People (Book of the Week)

"Circling the Sun soars."-Newsday

"Captivating . . . [an] irresistible novel."-The Seattle Times

"Like its high-flying subject, Circling the Sun is audacious and glamorous and hard not to be drawn in by. Beryl Markham may have married more than once, but she was nobody's wife."-Entertainment Weekly

"[An] eloquent evocation of Beryl's daring life."-O: The Oprah Magazine

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About the Author:

Paula McLain is the New York Times bestselling author of the novels Love and Ruin, Circling the Sun, The Paris Wife, and A Ticket to Ride, the memoir Like Family: Growing Up in Other People's Houses, and two collections of poetry. Her writing has appeared in The New York Times, Good Housekeeping, O: The Oprah Magazine, Town & Country, The Guardian, The Huffington Post, and elsewhere. She lives in Ohio with her family.

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