The solo flight across the Atlantic completed in 1936 remains the defining mechanical achievement of Beryl Markham, who brought her Percival Vega Gull to a forced landing in Nova Scotia after fuel starvation forced her down. This journey cemented her reputation as an aviation pioneer, yet her legacy expanded decades later through the unexpected literary success of her memoir.
Early Life in East Africa
Born in 1902 in Ashwell, England, she relocated to British East Africa at age four with her father, Charles Baldwin Clutterbuck. Raised near the Great Rift Valley, she spent her formative years integrated with local children and developing a professional aptitude for horses. By the age of 17, following her father's departure to Peru, she had established herself as a skilled racehorse trainer, a profession she maintained throughout her life.
Twenty questions, eight minutes on the clock, and a percentile measured against everyone who has taken it. No sign-up.
Take the IQ test →Aviation and Personal Relations
Mentored by pilot Tom Campbell Black, she transitioned into aviation to work as a bush pilot, identifying game from the air for ground-based safaris. Her private life during this era involved complex social circles in Kenya, including associations with Karen Blixen and Denys Finch Hatton. During a period living in England, she became a notable figure in London society, including a high-profile, documented affair with Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester, which resulted in significant tabloid attention and eventual financial settlements orchestrated through her husband, Mansfield Markham.
Literary Career and Rediscovery
Her memoir, West with the Night, arrived in 1942, though it failed to achieve long-term commercial success at the time of its release. It remained obscure until 1982, when restaurateur George Gutekunst encountered a letter by Ernest Hemingway that praised her prose. This critical endorsement led to the book's reissue in 1983, transforming Markham into a best-selling author during her final years. The subsequent interest in her life, including a television documentary, provided the financial stability that allowed her to live in comfort in Nairobi until her death in 1986.
Fast facts
- Born: 1902, Ashwell, England
- Died: 1986, Nairobi, Kenya
- Nationality: United Kingdom
- Primary Occupations: Writer, horse trainer, aircraft pilot
- Notable Book: West with the Night
- Atlantic Flight Year: 1936
- Posthumous Collection: The Splendid Outcast
- Award: Women in Aviation International
Questions readers ask
Did Beryl Markham fly across the Atlantic alone?
Yes, in 1936 she completed a solo flight from England toward New York, ultimately landing in Cape Breton Island, Canada.
Why was her memoir re-released in the 1980s?
After California restaurateur George Gutekunst read a letter from Ernest Hemingway praising the book, he worked to get it back into print in 1983.
Achievements
- Notable work: West with the Night
- Worked as horse trainer, aircraft pilot and writer
