The Ghosts of Happy Valley: The Biography
'Barnes merges travelogue with history, visiting the ruined and reclaimed homes - once opulent abodes with rose gardens - of the wealthy and often ennobled white settlers of Wanjohi Valley, near the Aberdare mountains in west central Kenya. The author's journey to find out from locals where the set lived is determined and admirable.' All About History 'A problem with the depiction of Happy Valley arises when you encounter stories like that of Mary Miller, to whom I am very distantly related. Juliet Barnes hears that Mary 'lived off lorry-loads of champagne and booze before shooting herself...' Also that she and her husband were on the edge of the notorious party set in their home near the Wanjohi or 'Happy' Valley, a chilly cleft in the Aberdare highlands near where Barnes herself lives today. The gossip is entirely untrue, as Barnes, a white Kenyan whose book thankfully begins to debunk the Happy Valley silliness, discovers. Beautifully written.' -- Aidan Hartley Spectator "The author does a good job of presenting the various views, with added insights after visiting the homes and hearing local lore about some of the main players. In the end a well-thought-out blended theory of the motive for Lord Erroll's murder and the possible perpetrators gives yet another twist to this unsolved mystery... the book is a valuable addition to the library of anyone interested in this period of Kenya's history." Old Africa Magazine "A page-turning exploration of historic houses & Kenya's notorious 'Happy Valley'. Truly a book of our time, this is a must read if you want to get under the skin of the last 100 years of Kenya's social history." Art Life Magazine 'Numerous books have been written about Kenya's infamous Happy Valley, but the latest edition, The Ghosts of Happy Valley: Searching for The Lost World of Africa's Infamous Aristocrats, offers a fresh, much needed, perspective. This book is highly recommended for those interested in this part of Kenya's history and wising to understand the current state of things.' The Kenyan Star 'Beautifully told travelogue and historical quest. With family histories woven in, this is a moving, entertaining and enlightening read, and an honest exploration of Kenya's colonial past.' Family Tree Magazine