Well, let's start with the title: Out of Africa. That is a great clue that we're going to get our fill of visions of the African continent. In particular, the book is a memoir of the author's life in Kenya, a.k.a. British East Africa.
Rather than being driven by a juicy plot, the book often reads more like a textbook. Long paragraphs describing the African landscape, detailed descriptions of native customs, and the nitty gritty on everyday life on a Kenyan farm: these are what make this book tick.
Questions About Visions of Kenya
- Which character(s) represent(s) Kenya best for the narrator?
- What does the book show as being really special about Kenya? What does Kenya have that no other country has?
- When the narrator finally has to leave her farm, how does she hold on to her life in Africa?
- Why is it important for Dinesen to get down her visions of Kenya in a book?
Chew on This
Try on an opinion or two, start a debate, or play the devil’s advocate.
Dinsen offers a very subjective vision of Kenya, its inhabitants, and their customs.
Out of Africa is an objective view of the geography, culture, and history of Kenya.