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Book Cover for: Follow Me to Africa, Penny Haw

Follow Me to Africa

Penny Haw

Two women, decades apart. One unexpected friendship that will change them both.

From the acclaimed author of The Invincible Miss Cust and The Woman at the Wheel comes Follow Me to Africa, a transporting dual-timeline historical novel inspired by the life of groundbreaking paleoanthropologist Mary Leakey. From the cobblestone streets of 1930s London to the vast Serengeti plains of 1980s Tanzania, this is a story of resilience, discovery, and the unbreakable bonds that form across time.

In 1983, seventeen-year-old Grace Clark is grieving the loss of her mother and struggling to connect with a father she barely knows. When she's sent to help him on an archaeological dig at Olduvai Gorge, Grace meets the formidable Mary Leakey--a woman whose fierce intellect and independence helped reshape our understanding of human history.

Mary isn't just a scientist--she's a rebel who once infiltrated specialist lectures, illustrated fossils and stone tools, and carved out a place for herself in a male-dominated world. As Grace helps pack up decades of research, she's drawn into Mary's vivid memories--stories of ambition, forbidden love, and the discovery of a calling in the rugged heart of Africa.

Their growing friendship reveals unexpected parallels: the ache of being misunderstood, the courage to break rules, and the longing to find a place to belong. When Grace and a wounded cheetah vanish into the bush, it sparks a race against time--mirroring Mary's own journey to reclaim her path and protect what she values most.

Perfect for readers of historical fiction with strong female leads, Follow Me to Africa blends adventure, emotion, and real historical inspiration into a compelling tale of legacy and transformation.

Book Details

  • Publisher: Sourcebooks Landmark
  • Publish Date: Feb 25th, 2025
  • Pages: 304
  • Language: English
  • Edition: undefined - undefined
  • Dimensions: 8.20in - 5.40in - 0.90in - 0.66lb
  • EAN: 9781728295459
  • Categories: Historical - GeneralBiographical & AutofictionWomen

About the Author

Haw, Penny: -

Penny Haw worked as a journalist and columnist for more than three decades, writing for many leading South African newspapers and magazines before yielding to a lifelong yearning to create fiction. Her stories feature remarkable women, illustrate her love for nature, and explore the interconnectedness of all living things, including The Invincible Miss Cust and The Woman at the Wheel. She is the recipient of the 2024 Philida Literary Award and lives near Cape Town with her husband and three dogs, all of whom are well-walked.

Praise for this book

"Captivating and deftly woven. I loved this exploration of complex relationships, set against the backdrop of Africa's wild beauty in the cradle of humankind. I'm sure Mary Leakey would approve of Penny Haw's meticulous research, which brings the world-famous archaeologist's work to life in this skillfully crafted dual timeline novel." -- Fiona Valpy, #1 bestselling author
"A warm tale of identity and growth, as a youthful heroine breaking free of her own troubled past proves the perfect foil to the amazing life of archaeologist Mary Leakey. A story as layered as the real ancient humanity inspiring its core." -- Elizabeth Wein, No. 1 New York Times bestselling author of Code Name Verity
"An engaging dual timeline story of Dr. Mary Leaky as she immerses herself in discovery of the origins of man in the vast African panorama, and her later life mentorship of a teenage girl, encouraging her to embrace her own future career in the wild. Haw's love and respect of her subject imbue every page. A thoroughly captivating read." -- Shelley Noble, New York Times bestselling author of The Tiffany Girls and The Colony Club
"Which is the more beautifully dangerous adventure: stalking a cheetah across the plains of the Serengeti at night, or, following one's own defiant heart and leaping into a forbidden love that will alter everything one knows about the world? Penny Haw might say both, and her readers will say it's even better when the two are interwoven, as is the case with Follow Me to Africa. In her latest work of high-stakes biographical historical fiction, Haw transports readers from the East African bush to the lecture halls of academic London and back again. Haw has gifted readers with a textured and atmospheric ode to a bold woman who dared to blaze a new path for herself and the countless others who may now look to her story." -- Allison Pataki, New York Times bestselling author of Finding Margaret Fuller
"Fans of Circling the Sun by Paula McLain will revel in returning to Africa, this time following the story of renowned archaeologist Mary Leaky, whose ambition, curiosity, and desire to disregard norms cement her as one of the great trailblazers of her time. Atmospheric and engrossing, this novel will delight historical fiction fans and all who love a good tale about a woman determined to carry her own dirt." -- Jenni L. Walsh, USA Today bestselling author of Unsinkable and Ace, Marvel, Spy
"Follow Me to Africa is a fascinating adventure and a page turning look into the life of Mary Leakey, renowned paleoanthropologist. Combining intrepid women, wild animals, and the raw beauty of the Olduvai Gorge, Penny Haw has crafted a unique and spellbinding tale. Makes me want to book a trip to the Serengeti!" -- Sara Ackerman, USA Today bestselling author of The Uncharted Flight of Olivia West