Take a story's temperature by studying its tone. Is it hopeful? Cynical? Snarky? Playful?
Expert with a Dose of Nostalgia
The narrator, Baroness Blixen, definitely sets herself up as the know-it-all when it comes to Africa, or at least her little corner of it. She calls 'em like she sees 'em, and doesn't really leave room for any other opinions. Here's a taste: "But the unprejudiced Kikuyu, Wakambas, or Kavirondos, know of no code" (2.4.10).
Okay, so these African tribes have any moral codes. End of story. Moving on to the next point. That's just how the Baroness rolls. You can almost hear her bellowing "Next!"
But just after one of these in-your-face expert opinions, the Baroness will go all soft on us, remembering how much she loves and misses Africa. For example,
"If I know a song of Africa,—I thought,—of the Giraffe, and the African new moon lying on her back, of the ploughs in the fields, and the sweaty faces of the coffee-pickers, does Africa know a song of me?" (1.4.56)
So poetic. She wants to sing about all of Africa, and wishes that she were incorporated into the song (and the continent).
This see-sawing between the scientific textbook tone and the poetic nostalgia gives us an idea of the memoirist's personality. She's an educated person who's interested in the world around her, but that doesn't mean she's made of stone. She's also got feelings, emotions, and memories. So many memories.