A true story of growing up white in colonial Kenya — and waking up to the brutal truths of empire.

Stephen Cook had an idyllic childhood in 1950s Kenya — ponies, safaris, sunshine, and servants. But beneath the surface, the country was on fire.

As the Mau Mau rebellion raged against British colonial rule, Cook's world of privilege was pierced by violence, fear, and the growing realization that history was happening all around him — and it wasn't on his side.

Nice Life, Dirty War is a gripping and poignant memoir that captures the contradictions of a colonial boyhood during the slow, chaotic collapse of the British Empire in Africa. From playful adventures to gut-punching encounters with racial hatred and political unrest, this is a rare firsthand perspective on one of the most contested chapters in African — and British — history.

✔️ For fans of Tara Westover, Elspeth Huxley, and Trevor Noah
✔️ Perfect for readers of African history, British colonial memoirs, and true stories of reckoning and identity