I had high hopes embarking on the reading of this book as it had come recommended by my mum.
After a quick courtship Kitty Hamilton, an aspiring artist, originally of Wattle Creek, Australia marries Theo, an upper class Englishman. Their union is rocked by a scandal which sees the marriage’s foundations begin to crack. In an attempt at a fresh start, Kitty embarks on a journey to post WW11 Colonial Tanzania, to reunite with Theo, who has secured the post as Manager of the Groundnut Scheme. This British Government scheme to cultivate large tracts of land with peanuts, gives war veteran and shell shocked Theo, direction and purpose.
The central character, initially naive Kitty, has intentions of becoming the perfect wife in her new domestic setting. She feels as though she needs to restore her husband’s faith in her. The welcome she receives from her staff and the other wives of men employed by the Scheme are not heart felt. Living on Millionaire Row, as the wife of her high ranking husband, means Kitty can enjoy a life of luxury in the foreign land. Her days comprise of mingling with the other wives at the Club; deciding on what china to set the dinner table with and waiting for her husband to return from work. The marriage becomes increasingly strained as Theo working long hours, becomes dis-engaged with his wife’s desires by attempting to mold her into the perfect Englishman’s wife.
Not surprisingly Kitty, with passionate and artistic aspirations, soon becomes disillusioned and attempts to find meaning in her mundane life. Under the pretence of helping one of the other wives, she begins working at a local Mission. She spends her days helping the local African people and comes to understand the resentment they have towards the British Scheme. Having found a sense of purpose, Kitty is torn between her newfound freedom and her loyalty to her husband. Discourse in the marriage intensifies as Theo does not want his wife working in a setting which he sees as below her social standing. The Groundnut Scheme begins to encounter difficulty in the politically charged community. Tragedy strikes and Kitty is faced with life changing decisions. Will she follow her heart; her art, her calling to help the African people? Does she become the perfect wife?
The description of the African landscape was captivating as was the writing dealing with Kitty’s work in the Mission. However, I felt that I was always waiting for something to happen with all of the action coming in the last quarter of the book. This was planned in that the the mystery Scholes establishes is not revealing the details of the scandal until later in the book. Was I happy I persisted? Yes, but whereas mum gave this book 8 1/2 out of 10, I can only muster a 6.
