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  • School in the Clouds:: The Rift Valley Academy Story
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Phil Dow
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School in the Clouds:: The Rift Valley Academy Story Paperback – June 1 2003

by Philip E Dow (Author)
4.7 out of 5 stars 7 ratings

鶹

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School in the Clouds" is a great read. Anyone who has been to East Africa, or is enchanted by the early years of the missionary movement, will find this book compelling. Phil Dow balances thorough historical research with a tender nostalgia for a place that has had a surprising influence on the development of East Africa
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  1. ISBN-10
    087808357X
  2. ISBN-13
    978-0878083572
  3. Publisher
    William Carey Publishing
  4. Publication date
    June 1 2003
  5. Language
    English
  6. Print length
    274 pages
Next slide of product details

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ William Carey Publishing
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ June 1 2003
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 274 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 087808357X
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0878083572
  • Item weight ‏ : ‎ 417 g
  • 鶹 Rank: #3,002,492 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.7 out of 5 stars 7 ratings

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Phil Dow

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4.7 out of 5 stars
7 global ratings

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Top reviews from Canada

  • Donia
    5.0 out of 5 stars Engrossing and comprehensive--loved it
    Reviewed in Canada on July 17, 2004
    I saw this book mentioned on the RVA website and ordered a copy, out of nostalgia and curiosity, I suppose. All RVA alumni should read it, but it has appeal on many other levels. What a fascinating and thoughtful history and perspective--the research was extensive and I was engrossed in the details provided. Some were new to me, others were explained in ways I didn't understand as a student there. Reading Phil's book helped me draw connections between my warm memories of years spent at RVA and the school's place in Kenya's church and political changes. Once or twice I was even moved to tears. Fabulous book.
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  • steppin at my desk
    4.0 out of 5 stars Compelling History of a Fascinating Place
    Reviewed in Canada on June 7, 2004
    "School in the Clouds" is a great read. Anyone who has been to East Africa, or is enchanted by the early years of colonialism or the missionary movement, will find this book compelling. Phil Dow balances thorough historical research with a tender nostalgia for a place that has had a surprising influence on the development of East Africa.
    As an alumnus of the Rift Valley Academy, Dow has access to a wealth of sources, dating back several generations. His interviews, particularly with students who lived through the terrors of the Mau Mau uprising in the 1950s, are enlightening, and informative.
    But this book is not just a rosy piece of pro-RVA propaganda. Dow confronts thorny issues, including the school's struggles with early evangelical anti-intellectualism, the uneasy relationship with the colonial administration, and the drug and alcohol problems resulting from the cultural upheavals of the 1960s and 70s.
    The scope of "School in the Clouds" is impressive. Few books of African history aim to cover as broad a time period as this - the first 100 years of RVA. From its perch halfway up the Rift Valley escarpment, RVA has witnessed the major events of the 20th century: the coming of the railroad & the white settlers, the two world wars, the Mau Mau emergency, independence, rapid population growth, economic underdevelopment, and the spread of AIDS. Phil Dow ably weaves the lives of the students and teachers of RVA into the broader tapestry of the history of East Africa.
    Two particularly interesting features of the book are the impressive spread of early photographs (including Teddy Roosevelt, who laid the cornerstone for the Kiambogo building), and the glossary of RVA slang (a peculiar mix of English, Swahili, Kikuyu, and the many other languages that have been represented at RVA over the years).
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Karen McMurray
    5.0 out of 5 stars Drawn to Kijabe
    Reviewed in the United States on September 2, 2014
    Verified Purchase
    Excellent book; the history included was effective in showing how Kenya and the world have shaped RVA and how RVA in turn has shaped Kenya and the world. We have been privileged to go to Kijabe twice and the entire area is one that continues to draw me back. Knowing more about the school and the area tells me there have been many before me drawn to this beautiful place and the amazing people there.
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