Perhaps because Beryl had been little more than a child when they first knew her, Tania never saw her as a threat to her relationship with Denys. It is clear from the tone of Tania’s letters that until 1930, at least, she and Beryl were friends, indeed they had considerable affection for each other. Ingrid Lindstrom, possibly Tania’s closest friend in Kenya, has been quoted as saying that ‘Tania did not really like women.’3 During research for this book, the same thing was repeated about Beryl. Yet despite these reports it seems that Tania and Beryl were able to find a level of friendship and there is almost a maternal perception in Tania’s remarks about her. During interviews in the spring of 1981 Beryl remembered only that Tania ‘…was very difficult to get to know. She kept herself very private. But she had lovely things…I enjoyed going there, but not at the end.’ Of Denys she said, ‘He was a wonderful man, quite brilliant. Intelligent and very well educated. He was a great hunter and a great, a tremendous personality.’4 Here was a man who measured up.
What do You think about Straight On Till Morning (2011)?
