This novel is loosely based upon historical characters. Beryl Markham is an English girl who is raised by her parents who settle in Kenya. When she's young, she finds herself being raised by her absent father after her mom runs out on them. Basically all the neighbors end up raising the girl which opens her mind up to much of the native culture of Kenya. She's taught how to become a warrior. Markham is a wild child who resents her parents' distance. Born to last, she survives the rough upbringing of colonial Kenya, complete with a mauling by her neighbor's lion. After being sent to boarding school, she hides a poisonous snake in her governess' bed. Shortly after this she steals a horse from the school and runs away.
Back with her father, Markham finds out that his life hasn't improved at all. To escape his tyrannical rule, she marries a neighbor. This man is an abusive, impotent drunk who drives her away practically overnight. She secretly longs to be with Finch Hatton, a vile settler who has drugged and taken advantage of most of the young women in the territory -- including Markham. After her unfortunate love affairs, Markham goes to the highlands where she trains horses for a wealthy British landowner. At 18-years-old she's granted a license for equine training, making her the first woman in Kenya ever to bear that title.
Over the years, Markham supplements her horse training with several tumultuous affairs. She marries a couple more men. With her third husband, she gets one abortion before finally giving birth to a child who has some defect. Markham neither loves the child nor the husband, so she travels to England. She leaves the baby in the care of her second mother-in-law who has been longing for grandkids. In England Markham continues to live promiscuously, even being accused of having an affair with Prince Harry. Eventually she returns to Kenya to fly planes in the hopes of reuniting with Finch Hatton. He dies in a tragic plane crash a few years later.
