Wildflower - An Extraordinary Life and Untimely Death in Africa (Mark Seal, 2009)

Book club selection (via Emily; session held May 15, 2016).

The main story line revolved around a star-crossed, I'd say, couple - both living in Africa and connected to the Kenyan community.  Married in 1961.  Alan Root as the outgoing, charismatic, innovative nature film maker; Joan Root as his do-everything self-effacing back-up.  The author never tires of describing how talented and beautiful she was.  The couple buy a house on Lake Naivasha - which we learn is very scenic - and later under threat from development and poaching.  Successful film-making continues.  Then Alan meets Jennie, and the relationship part - which always seemed frayed - broke.

The Roots were pioneers - maybe too strong of a word, but not much if it is - in nature films.  Interesting to read how they went about it; major success on BBC; they somewhat created the genre that we now take for granted.  Alan the creative force.  They met up - and in some cases advised/mentored - folks that became household names - Leakey family members, Diane Fossey, Joy Adamson.  British royalty.

As the years go by things change drastically in Africa - population pressure; rose-growers crowd the lake; huge market for poachers (China?); Joan, perhaps needing a cause post-Alan, gets heavily involved in her view of conserving the lake area.  Some iffy fellow named Chege is her lead enforcer.  As the book title conveys, she ends up getting offed - no clear reason - though she wasn't particularly young anymore.