The work is coming along fine, I will let you know as soon as I have settled in the States – because of expense, I may not be able to make New York until a little later…41
The tourist season was coming to an end as the temperature soared into the nineties, and with the accompanying high humidity it was difficult to work. Her hosts had left in mid June, but Beryl had nothing to hurry back for and was enjoying a liaison with a Scandinavian journalist.42 By late July, however, not only had the weather become unbearable, but with the Government House party’s departure on a tour of the out-islands there was absolutely no one, including her journalist friend, left in Nassau. Beryl returned to the United States.43
CHAPTER TWELVE
1941–1944
Beryl’s declared preference for New York State or Connecticut as a place to continue her work may have been prescribed by Saint-Exupéry’s return to the East Coast, but she obviously changed her mind, for after leaving the Bahamas she travelled directly to California. In Los Angeles she stayed with friends for a few weeks whilst she looked for permanent accommodation, having given up her old apartment before her departure to Nassau. Shortly after returning to California she was introduced to Raoul Schumacher at a party.
The writer Scott O’Dell had for some time been working at Paramount Studios and knew Beryl through her work on Safari. He told me, ‘I invited Raoul along because I thought she might like him. He was very entertaining, extremely handsome and fair-haired – no picture I ever saw of him did him any justice.’1 Another friend told me, ‘Raoul was very well-read and remembered anything anybody had ever written, he was a sort of walking encyclopedia.’2
Schumacher was thirty-four years old, five years younger than Beryl (though for some years Beryl had been hiding her real age, even in formal documents).3 At the age of twenty he had inherited some money with which he bought a small ranch in New Mexico. This venture was successful, and when he eventually sold out he made a considerable profit. After an extended trip to Europe where he had relatives, he returned to the USA in 1936 and spent some months in New York working as a freelance journalist. When this proved unsuccessful he spent two years ranching in Mexico before moving to Santa Barbara, California, in 1939, and Los Angeles in 1941.
When he and Beryl met in August 1941, Raoul was living in South Spalding Drive, Beverly Hills.4 Several people recalled Raoul’s claims to have been working in Hollywood at the time on one of the anonymous writing teams employed by the major studios, but no record exists of any such employment. An item in the Santa Barbara News Press some years afterwards also stated that Raoul ‘was for some years actively engaged on scenario writing [in] Hollywood’,5 but he is not listed on any studio employment register or other studio records of the period. He was not registered as a scriptwriter, nor did he belong to a writers’ union. Scott O’Dell said he had never heard that Raoul worked for the studios.
Another well-publicized rumour is that Raoul was a ghostwriter. There is no proof of this activity prior to his meeting with Beryl, although in 1945 he told a magazine journalist: ‘I once ghost-wrote a full-length Western novel on the dictaphone in seven days.’ Adding disarmingly, ‘It was a worst seller.’6
His greatest asset was charm and Beryl fell deeply in love with him. Scott O’Dell told me about their meeting: ‘There was an instantaneous attraction between them – almost a conflagration. It must have been purely physical because she knew nothing at all about him. Next thing I knew they’d disappeared together and it was about four months before they surfaced again.’7
During these months Raoul acted as Beryl’s editor. The few pages of manuscript for West with the Night which survive reveal editing in Raoul’s handwriting which certainly added polish, but cannot be regarded as major changes to her own words. It was almost certainly at his suggestion that the design of the book was altered so that it became a series of remembered incidents with no strict chronological order. Pages have been renumbered and chapter headings revised. Small episodes were discarded and the entire manuscript was ‘tightened up’. ‘Cut school at Nairobi – use Balmy story instead,’ he scribbled across one page.
It is impossible to overstress the importance to Beryl of this type of practical support. A close friend of many years standing said, ‘Help and encouragement have always been very important to Beryl. She was always able to do things for herself but she needed to know that there was someone to whom she could turn if she needed guidance.’8 This need for a prop, created by a basic insecurity and a lack of confidence in her own ability, had initially been filled by her father, and subsequently by arap Ruta, Denys Finch Hatton, and Tom Campbell Black. Since Tom’s death there had been no man in Beryl’s life who filled this important role of supporter, until she met Raoul.
Houghton Mifflin were enthusiastic about the work she had so far submitted to them:
September 19, 1941
Dear Miss Markham,
I have just heard…that you are back in California. I also gather the book is nearing completion. All this is very good news. As you know we are very enthusiastic about as much of the manuscript as we’ve seen so far. The last batch we received through Ann Watkins’ office was Pages 110–132 on July 16. Is there more manuscript on the way?
…When may we hope to see the complete manuscript? To do a proper promotion job, we like to have a manuscript about six months before publication. So you see, there is no time to be lost.
Sincerely Yours
Paul Brooks9
12340 Emelita Street
North Hollywood,
California
23rd September 1941
Paul Brooks,
Houghton Mifflin,
2 Park Street
Boston
Dear Mr Brooks:
Very many thanks for your letter, which cleared up a lot of things in my mind. I hope I can maintain your present enthusiasm for the manuscript in the succeeding chapters.
My moving here from Nassau took up a certain amount of time, but in spite of this, I have managed to complete about fifteen thousand words since arriving in California. Ann Watkins has had a good part of this for some time and will receive the remainder shortly. I am, of course, sending her a first and second copy – one for your office and the other for her own use. Margot Johnson suggested that I send the material in large batches, rather than a chapter or so at a time. I would be willing, however, to send it along as I turn it out, should you prefer it. Naturally, I would like to have your opinion of it, as it progresses.
I was interested in your information concerning publication dates in general. I knew very little about any of these things when I was writing to Lee, and I realize more than ever that there’s no time to lose.
As to when it will be completed, I hope to have it on your hands by November 1st – at least not later than the fifteenth. That was the approximate date I gave to my agent when I signed the contract.
By the way, I asked Lee if my book had any chance of being considered for one of your fellowship prizes, but so far have had no reply, or is this type of thing not eligible.
My Best Wishes
Beryl10
Brooks replied that he would prefer the manuscript in ‘large chunks…or complete, rather than chapter by chapter’ and telling her that it was too late to consider the book for a Literary Fellowship. ‘Fellowship projects have to be considered as such from the very beginning. In any case, I doubt whether this is just the sort of book to come under that plan.’
By October Beryl had found a more permanent residence in North Hollywood.11 This was a single-storey house, not large but roomy enough for Beryl and her friend Dorothy Rogers, with whom she shared. The costs of travel and house moving may have been responsible for a request to her publishers for a further advance. An unsigned memo dated 17 October in the Houghton Mifflin files has an interesting addendum. The original typewritten script reads: ‘Mr Linscott would like the Beryl Markham blank back before next Tuesday.’ Scrawled on this memo are two short handwr
itten notes. The first: ‘Drawing prepared. Author wants money’, is capped by a terse query written in another hand. ‘Or what?’
MEMORANDUM
To Mr Greenslet From RNL Date Oct 20 41
Last June we signed up a non fiction project entitled WINGS OVER THE JUNGLE written by Beryl Markham and sent us through Ann Watkins, with a contract calling for $250 on signing and $250 more on receipt of a satisfactory manuscript. The author has now written us, through Lee Barker (who strongly seconds her request) asking if she can have $100 more at the present time in view of the fact that she has now sent us 199 pages of manuscript and expects to send us the rest next month for publication early in 1942.
Beryl Markham is a famous aviatrix who was brought up on an African ranch, become a professional horse trainer, learned to fly, and for years operated a sort of air taxi service for African hunters during which time she had innumerable adventures. This book is the story of her life, written with really extraordinary vividness and dramatic quality. We gave her a contract on the basis of the first chapter and the material received since more than lives up to our expectation.
Beryl Markham is now in this country, has put aside all other work to finish the book promptly, and has apparently, run out of funds and needs this small amount to tide her over for a month while she completes it.12
October 23rd 1941
Dear Miss Markham,
Hearing from Lee that you need some small further advance immediately, I have mailed a check for $100.00 to Margot Johnson at Ann Watkins. We continue to like the manuscript better and better. When may we hope to have the whole thing ready for press?
Paul Brooks
Managing Editor
P.S. We all feel that the present title WINGS OVER THE JUNGLE, does not do justice to the book. It applies to only a small portion of it and is also rather conventional. Will you rack your brains and send me some alternative suggestions within a day or two? We want to prepare a selling sample but are stopped until the title is decided.13
Probably the suggested title originated in the offices of Beryl’s agent, Ann Watkins. One can almost sense Beryl’s delicate eyebrows being arched in the second paragraph of her reply.
October 25th
Dear Mr Brooks,
Thank you so very much for your letter and your kindness in sending Margot Johnson a cheque for me. I wouldn’t for a moment have bothered you, except that things became just a bit difficult in the last couple of weeks.
I am very much encouraged by your comments regarding the latter part of the manuscript, but where in the world did you get the title WINGS OVER THE JUNGLE? It surely is not mine and was never suggested by me in any letter to anybody – it sounds like a title chosen by a protégé of Osa Johnson! (Not to be unkind).14
The title that I have selected is: THERE FELL MY SHADOW, taken from a line out of the book. It seems to me appropriate in more ways than one, but if you think not, let me know and I will try again.
Yours very sincerely,
Beryl Markham15
October 27th 1941
Dear Miss Markham,
I don’t know where the title came from either, but I had every intention of changing it. THERE FELL MY SHADOW is certainly better, though I’m not sure it’s perfect. Could you put on your thinking cap and produce a few alternatives?
Yours sincerely
Paul Brooks16
October 31 1941
Dear Mr Brooks,
I am still in search of a perfect title, at your suggestion, which I must say is quite a mark to shoot at. I understand that it must be appropriate to the book, and at the same time have appeal to the buying public.
Here, after wearing myself to a thin white centre, is all I am able to offer. If you find none of these to your liking however, please let me know what angle I ought to aim at.
1. STEPS TO THE SKY
2. ONCE IN THE WIND
3. CATCH THE QUICK YEARS
4. KWAHERI MEANS FAREWELL
S. KWAHERI! KWAHERI! (Swahili)
6. ERRANT IN AFRICA
7. STARS ARE STEADFAST
8. NO STAR IS LOST
Sincerely yours,
Beryl Markham17
November 4th 1941
Dear Miss Markham,
In the absence of Paul Brooks I am writing…to say that our own title preference is for ‘There fell my shadow’, with a second choice, ‘Once in the wind.’
Sincerely,
R. N. Linscott18
November 12th 1941
Dear Mr Linscott:
Thank you for your letter. I am glad that your choice of a title is the same as my own, though from Paul Brooks’ last letter, I gather he thinks a better one might still be found. At this point, however, I have no further suggestions. THERE FELL MY SHADOW seems to apply all through the book also, the title appears in a line from one of the later chapters which I think adds to its authenticity.
Meanwhile the work goes on and I hope to have it ready for you shortly.
Sincerely
Beryl Markham19
November 18th 1941
Dear Miss Markham,
You’re right – I’m still far from content with THERE FELL MY SHADOW. It seems a little pretentious, and the double entente [sic] is not evident until one knows a little more about the book. The perfect title would suggest that you are writing about Africa, not as a traveller or an explorer, but as one who has lived there and grown up there. It has been suggested that AFRICA IS MY HOME, while very simple and literal, gets this idea over very well. How does it strike you?…We must decide immediately. I wish that you would send me a day letter, at our expense, giving your opinion of the title mentioned above and suggesting other alternatives which accomplish what we have in mind…
Sincerely yours,
Paul Brooks20
COLLECT DAY LETTER NOV 22ND 41 NORTH HOLLYWOOD
PAUL BROOKS. MOST ANXIOUS CO-OPERATE BUT FEEL SUGGESTED TITLE NON INCLUSIVE COLOURLESS AND HAS MISSIONARY FLAVOUR. OFFER FOLLOWING ALTERNATIVES. RETREAT TO FLIGHT. THIS TOO IS AFRICA. AFRICAN MOSAIC. PAGE OF A LIFE. STILL TRYING HARD IF UNACCEPTABLE. BERYL MARKHAM.21
Brooks replied that THIS TOO IS AFRICA was the best so far, but that she should come up with more ideas if she could. He was worried about getting the complete manuscript and asked her to cable him collect with a definite date.
COLLECT OVERNIGHT TELEGRAM NOV 29TH NORTH HOLLYWOOD
PAUL BROOKS. MAILING ADDITIONAL 15000 WORDS TOMORROW STOP EXPECT FINISH BOOK DECEMBER 15 BUT MAKING EVERY EFFORT TO FINISH EARLIER STOP STILL THINKING ABOUT TITLE MEANWHILE FOLLOWING MIGHT BE CONSIDERED STOP NO OTHER AFRICA = BERYL MARKHAM22
PAID TELEGRAM DECEMBER 5 1941
BOSTON BERYL MARKHAM. FEEL CERTAIN WE HAVE FINALLY DISCOVERED PERFECT TITLE QUOTE I SPEAK OF AFRICA UNQUOTE USING TITLE PAGE LINE FROM SHAKESPEARES HENRY FOUR QUOTE I SPEAK OF AFRICA AND GOLDEN JOYS UNQUOTE PLEASE WIRE COLLECT YOUR OKAY SELLING SAMPLES UNDER WAY REGARDS. PAUL BROOKS23
COLLECT NIGHT TELEGRAM DEC 5TH. NORTH HOLLYWOOD
PAUL BROOKS. DELIGHTED WITH YOUR TITLE AND LINE FOR TITLE PAGE FULL MARKS TO YOU AND WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE REGARDS BERYL MARKHAM.24
PAID TELEGRAM DEC 22 1941
BERYL MARKHAM. GLAD TO HAVE FOUR MORE CHAPTERS AND EAGER FOR BALANCE WHEN MAY WE EXPECT TOTAL. PAUL BROOKS25
COLLECT NIGHT TELEGRAM DEC 23 1941 NORTH HOLLYWOOD
PAUL BROOKS. HAVE HAD BAD ATTACK OF FLU HOWEVER MORE MATERIAL IN MAIL AND LAST TWO CHAPTERS UNDER WAY XMAS WISHES. BERYL MARKHAM26
The final work was delivered before the end of January and the book was produced for a June 1942 release. In the event, the title became West with the Night. It is not known who was responsible for this title; no correspondence exists and Beryl could not remember, but she did recall that she had suggested the title Straight on Till Morning, from which the eventual title evolved. The line: ‘I speak of Africa and golden joys. Henry IV, Act V sc. 3’ appeared on the title page and the book was dedicated to ‘My Father’.
&n
bsp; In addition there was an acknowledgement: ‘I wish to express my gratitude to Raoul Schumacher for his constant encouragement and his assistance in the preparations for this book.’ Beryl could never have imagined how controversial this short dedication was to become some forty years on.
While she waited for her book to be released, Beryl surprisingly decided to throw in her lot with the war effort, which, after Pearl Harbor, had escalated dramatically. In 1986 she told me that Raoul was overseas with the US Navy at the time and she was lonely, so she wrote to the California wing of the Civil Air Patrol, enclosing a résumé of her flying experience and asking if she could be of any help.
3 March 1942
Dear Mrs Markham
Your kind letter of February 27th is at hand and we were indeed very glad to hear from you and your offer of assistance in the Civil Air Patrol is greatly appreciated. You may rest assured that we will be very happy to see you and may I suggest you call my secretary…for an appointment at such time as may be convenient to you.
Yours very truly
Bertrand Rhine
Wing Commander for California
Civil Air Patrol27
Until that time women had not played any sort of flying role in the CAP and though Beryl had a meeting with Wing Commander Rhine to discuss the matter, nothing ever came of it.28
Years later she told friends that she spent some time during the war training pilots, but that she hadn’t enjoyed it.29 There is also a story, widely believed, that she flew look-out patrols along the Pacific coastline, but neither of these stories can be verified by official service records, and such service, if any, must have been very short, for from early June she was fully occupied with other interests.
Straight on Till Morning Page 29