Out of Africa -
Isak Dinesen
1938 - Random House, New York - First American Edition
‘I had a farm in Africa, at the foot of the Ngong Hills….’
A finely bound first edition of what Truman Capote called ‘one of the most beautiful books of the 20th century’.
Karen Blixen’s poignant account of her life on a coffee plantation in Kenya, and the basis for Sydney Pollack's memorable 1985 Oscar-winning film starring Meryl Streep and Robert Redford.
Listed in National Geographic's ‘100 Greatest Adventure Books’. Dinesen’s life was far bleaker than that painted in this wonderful book.
Having moved to Africa with her new husband whom she married after her true love at the time, her husband’s twin brother did not return her affections. She later contracted Syphilis from her husband, who had been having extramarital affairs, and she returned to Denmark for treatment. On her return to Africa the marriage deteriorated, and she began to have affairs, most significantly with Denys Finch-Hatton, a classic British aristocrat and professional big game hunter. Denys died in a plane crash in 1931, at which point it seems that Dinesen realised she had lost the true love of her life; this, despite the fact that he had been also having an affair with famous female adventurer and pilot, Beryl Markham. Following his death and the bankruptcy of the coffee plantation Dinesen returned to Denmark, where she began writing.
References: Penguin, web.
Octavo (binding size 21.5x15cm), pp. ix [1] 389 [1]. Finely bound in half orange-tan morocco over original cloth, spine with raised bands gilt lettering and gilt decoration, upper cloth with gilt outline of a flamingo, top edges with original pale green tint, others untrimmed, original cloth spine bound in at the rear. Condition: Fine in fine binding. Ref: 112661 Price: HK$ 5,000
A finely bound first edition of what Truman Capote called ‘one of the most beautiful books of the 20th century’.
Karen Blixen’s poignant account of her life on a coffee plantation in Kenya, and the basis for Sydney Pollack's memorable 1985 Oscar-winning film starring Meryl Streep and Robert Redford.
Listed in National Geographic's ‘100 Greatest Adventure Books’. Dinesen’s life was far bleaker than that painted in this wonderful book.
Having moved to Africa with her new husband whom she married after her true love at the time, her husband’s twin brother did not return her affections. She later contracted Syphilis from her husband, who had been having extramarital affairs, and she returned to Denmark for treatment. On her return to Africa the marriage deteriorated, and she began to have affairs, most significantly with Denys Finch-Hatton, a classic British aristocrat and professional big game hunter. Denys died in a plane crash in 1931, at which point it seems that Dinesen realised she had lost the true love of her life; this, despite the fact that he had been also having an affair with famous female adventurer and pilot, Beryl Markham. Following his death and the bankruptcy of the coffee plantation Dinesen returned to Denmark, where she began writing.
References: Penguin, web.
Octavo (binding size 21.5x15cm), pp. ix [1] 389 [1]. Finely bound in half orange-tan morocco over original cloth, spine with raised bands gilt lettering and gilt decoration, upper cloth with gilt outline of a flamingo, top edges with original pale green tint, others untrimmed, original cloth spine bound in at the rear. Condition: Fine in fine binding. Ref: 112661 Price: HK$ 5,000