Leaves from the Fig Tree by Diana Duff

Leaves from the Fig Tree: From Ireland to Africa by Diana Duff is an evocative autobiographical memoir that captures the fading world of the Anglo-Irish gentry alongside the beauty, complexity and transformation of twentieth-century Africa. Published in 2003 by Double Storey Books, this compelling work blends personal recollection with social and historical observation, making it highly appealing to collectors of African memoirs, travel writing, colonial history and South African literature.

Raised in the Irish stately home of Annesgrove, Diana Duff recounts an unusual childhood steeped in family tradition, eccentricity and folklore before moving into the glamorous and rapidly changing world of East Africa in the 1950s. Leaves from the Fig Tree takes readers through colonial Kenya, Dar es Salaam and ultimately South Africa during the apartheid years, offering unique first-hand perspectives on a period of profound political and cultural change across the continent.

Duff’s writing style is elegant, reflective and richly descriptive, making Leaves from the Fig Tree ideal for readers who enjoyed works such as Out of Africa and other classic African memoirs. The narrative balances nostalgia with insight, providing both intimate family history and broader historical context. It is an engaging read for collectors interested in African colonial history, Irish expatriate experiences and memoir literature connected to Southern and East Africa.

This South African edition of Leaves from the Fig Tree is increasingly difficult to find, particularly in such well-preserved condition, and would make an excellent addition to any Africana, memoir or travel-writing collection.

Condition – Near Fine 

Near fine paperback with only minor shelf wear. Clean, well-bound and internally crisp with no major defects noted.