Fans of Frances Osborne's White Mischief or Nancy Mitford's The Bolter would not have been disappointed as Juliet recounted fascinating vignettes from meetings with descendants of the infamous Happy Valley set of Wanjohi Valley. In some cases, she also met elderly Kikuyus who had once served in the homes, estates and gardens of these colonial transplants. Apart from recapturing the dubious 'glory' of those days of debauchery, Juliet offered an insight into present-day Kenya and its challenges with preserving its indigenous wildlife, most notably through the story of Solomon, her friend, guide and collaborator in the retelling of Happy Valley's past.
Thank you to Kenyan author Juliet Barnes for sharing with us her love for the history and peoples of Kenya. In the UK on a promotional tour of her book, The Ghosts of Happy Valley: Searching for the Lost World of Africa's Infamous Aristocrats, Juliet shared images from her research of the crumbling ruins of what was once Happy Valley's colonial homes, as well as offering comparative archival images of the people and sites of scandals. Fans of Frances Osborne's White Mischief or Nancy Mitford's The Bolter would not have been disappointed as Juliet recounted fascinating vignettes from meetings with descendants of the infamous Happy Valley set of Wanjohi Valley. In some cases, she also met elderly Kikuyus who had once served in the homes, estates and gardens of these colonial transplants. Apart from recapturing the dubious 'glory' of those days of debauchery, Juliet offered an insight into present-day Kenya and its challenges with preserving its indigenous wildlife, most notably through the story of Solomon, her friend, guide and collaborator in the retelling of Happy Valley's past.
6 Comments
Jennie Stoker
7/25/2013 03:24:04 am
Juliet Barnes is a hugely accomplished and entertaining presenter. She provided a fascinating backcloth to her book and woven into this was the story of Solomon. Thank YOU Juliet for all your research and hard work.
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7/26/2013 01:43:32 am
More than anything I came away with a very real sense of the personal African lives surrounding the more infamous inhabitants of Happy Valley. Some shocking details, some poignant memories, but more than anything the very affecting personality of Solomon and his one man crusade to protect his environment. This for me was the legacy of Juliet's fascinating presentation of her new book.
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David Andrew
7/26/2013 09:28:28 pm
Very glad to meet, for the first time, another member of our extended family.
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8/21/2013 07:56:28 pm
Juliet Barnes and her book both deserve a huge round of applause, because both are a masterpiece. I enjoyed the book from the beginning till the end. Your review about the book was also very impressive. I loved the way you have presented. The pictures were good too. thanks for the post.
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12/19/2013 09:33:01 am
would have been nice to see and hear the story of Juliet barnes. I love your post, thank you for sharing
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Eleanor Thompson
12/17/2020 12:04:18 pm
I would be happy to hear from Julie the Barnes as Mary Miller was my grandmother.
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