The British Empire Library


Blown by the Wind of Change

by Vivienne Bell


Courtesy of OSPA


Review by M.I.H.
This book is the story of a single woman’s service in the colonies and travels throughout the globe. It begins in Tanganyika where Miss Bell worked for the groundnuts scheme and where she falls under the spell of Africa, a feeling which never leaves her for the next twenty years.

As a high ranking Personal Secretary she faced many difficulties in countries which were emerging in “the winds of change” and when she became dispensable her career continued in many countries including Cyprus, Australia and the South Pacific. A keen sportswoman (she was golf correspondent for “Northern News” in Northern Rhodesia for many years) her hobbies also included tennis , swimming and ski-ing, and in one chapter she writes a vivid description of hunting and shooting of wildlife. As a young woman she clearly enjoyed the social life with its many parties and all this is recounted in great detail.

During the transitional period of change of power in various countries, government servants like Miss Bell found it unacceptable, and her memoirs give some indication of her feelings. For readers who like a factual account of events as they occurred, this book is written by some one with a keen sense of humour and a spirit of adventure.

British Empire Book
Author
Vivienne Bell
Published
1987
Pages
192
Publisher
Book Guild
ISBN
0863322190
Availability
Abebooks
Amazon


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