The Flame Trees of Thika: Memories of an African Childhood

The Flame Trees of Thika: Memories of an African Childhood

1959 • 281 pages

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Average rating4

15
Daren
DarenSupporter

A memoir, written much later in life, of the author as a six year old, arriving in Kenya with her parents in 1913. The story follows her life for a few years, before her father leaves for the war and she and her mother return to England.
At the time Thika was a remote area of Kenya, and their neighbours were other settlers, English, Scottish, Dutch and South African. There were of course native people in the area.
Written with the author as a child, she displays the childlike naivety in some areas, but also demonstrates a complete understanding of the adult interactions, which is a little strange. I couldn't pick whether she embellished the memories she had, was filled in on details later, or this is more fictionalised than memoir.
Having said that, it was well written, interesting and very readable.

August 29, 2014Report this review