Out of Africa

Study Guide

Summary

Book One, Kamante and Lulu: From "The Savage in the Immigrant's House" to "A Gazelle"

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Summary Book One, Kamante and Lulu: From "The Savage in the Immigrant's House" to "A Gazelle"

In her own life, Dinesen often noted her desire to simply tell stories. Her goal was to be like Scheherzade in Arabian Nights, a person who could recount beautiful tales and legends simply to entertain. The anecdotal structure of Out of Africa certainly reflects Dinesen's ideal of Arabian Nights. It also demonstrates Dinesen's desire to mythologize her own life, just as Old Knudsen has managed to do. In real life, Dinesen was Baroness Blixen, but here she has become "Isak Dinesen," storyteller extraordinaire. By telling tales about the world around her, Dinesen, like Knudsen, is trying to turn her life into a legend.