Out of Africa is a memoir by the Danish author Karen Blixen, who wrote under the pen name Isak Dinesen. Set in colonial Kenya from 1914 to 1931, the book chronicles the seventeen years Blixen spent managing a coffee plantation in the Ngong Hills near Nairobi. Through her narrative, Blixen brings to life the beauty of Africa's landscapes, wildlife, and people while portraying the complex socio-political realities of colonial Africa.
The memoir is not a linear narrative but a series of vignettes depicting her personal experiences, relationships, and profound love for the land and its inhabitants. Out of Africa also delves into Blixen's emotional journey, her love affair with Denys Finch Hatton, and her sorrow when she was forced to return to Denmark due to financial difficulties and health problems.
Legendary director Sydney Pollack adapted Out of Africa into a film of the same name. That film, released in 1985, starred Meryl Streep and Robert Redford. The film earned over $200 million against a budget of $31 million, reflecting the enduring popularity of Dinesen's novel. In their review, Kirkus Reviews called the novel "delightful" and pointed out its "subtlety" as one of the book's most positive aspects.
