Elizabeth-Jane Burnett’s debut novel, *Splendour*, offers a lyrical exploration of life during and after the Mau Mau uprising in 1950s Kenya, intertwining themes of colonial violence, personal resilience, and ecological consciousness. Drawing on her bicultural heritage—Kenyan mother and English father—Burnett situates her narrative within a richly evocative natural world, elevating the environment from mere setting to a central character in its own right.

The novel follows two girls, Leah and Kenjo, as they navigate the upheavals of the anti-colonial struggle against British rule. From vivid moments such as the girls drinking rainwater described as “a shaft of light through the canopy,” to the deep connection with an ancient forest setting, nature permeates the story. Burnett weaves ecological concerns throughout the narrative, addressing the consequences of trophy hunting and the destruction of sacred mũgumo fig trees, emphasizing how the loss of a single tree reverberates through the environment.

*Splendour* does not shy away from portraying the brutal realities of the conflict. Scenes of violence are rendered in potent, often poetic language—villages are burned, gunfire cracks through the air, and an aerial bombing is depicted with haunting imagery likening fire to “dark eggs in the sky that hatch instantly.” The third-person perspective shifts between multiple characters, providing varied viewpoints on the complex social and political landscape. A particularly intense episode recounts Kenjo’s capture by a rebel fighter and her harrowing escape, highlighting both personal trauma and the harshness of the era.

Amidst the turmoil, the story also explores interpersonal relationships. The love between Leah and Peter, a British settler’s son, provides a counterpoint to the surrounding violence. Their marriage and subsequent move to England introduce themes of displacement and infertility, eventually leading to the birth of their daughter, Hannah. Hannah’s storyline addresses institutional prejudice and burnout in academia, culminating in a striking scene where she symbolically buries her electronic devices in the earth while retreating to her mother’s countryside home, seeking connection with nature and reprieve from modern pressures.

Burnett’s narrative structure moves fluidly across different timelines, reflecting the intricate, interconnected nature of life. The novel frequently draws on metaphors from the natural world, including the “wood-wide-web” of tree communication and the persistence of moss, a motif that also features in Burnett’s previous nonfiction work. This ecological thread runs alongside themes of grief and healing, particularly in how Leah and Burnett herself engage with the memory of a deceased father.

Despite confronting dark and violent historical episodes, *Splendour* ultimately remains a testament to the enduring power of the natural world. Through its blend of poetic imagery and grounded storytelling, the novel offers a nuanced reflection on history, memory, and the environment’s role in shaping human experience.