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Wilbur Smith

Born

in Ndola, Northern Rhodesia

January 09, 1933

Died

November 13, 2021

Website

http://www.wilbursmithbooks.com/

Twitter

thewilbursmith

Genre

Literature & Fiction, Mystery & Thrillers, Historical Fiction

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Wilbur Smith was a prolific and bestselling South African novelist renowned for his sweeping adventure stories set against the backdrop of Africa’s dramatic landscapes and turbulent history. Born in 1933 in what was then Northern Rhodesia (now Zambia), he grew up in South Africa, where his love for storytelling was nurtured by the rich environment and tales of African history. His early years were shaped by his experiences in the wilderness, which later became a defining element in his fiction.
After studying at Rhodes University, Smith initially worked as an accountant, but his true passion lay in writing. His breakthrough came in 1964 with When the Lion Feeds, a historical adventure novel that introduced the Courtney family saga. The book’ Wilbur Smith was a prolific and bestselling South African novelist renowned for his sweeping adventure stories set against the backdrop of Africa’s dramatic landscapes and turbulent history. Born in 1933 in what was then Northern Rhodesia (now Zambia), he grew up in South Africa, where his love for storytelling was nurtured by the rich environment and tales of African history. His early years were shaped by his experiences in the wilderness, which later became a defining element in his fiction.
After studying at Rhodes University, Smith initially worked as an accountant, but his true passion lay in writing. His breakthrough came in 1964 with When the Lion Feeds, a historical adventure novel that introduced the Courtney family saga. The book’s success led to a long-running series chronicling the exploits of multiple generations of the Courtney family, spanning centuries of African and world history. Alongside this, Smith wrote the Ballantyne series, focused on colonial Africa, and the Ancient Egypt series, which delved into historical fiction with a mythical touch.
Over his six-decade career, Smith authored more than 50 novels, selling over 140 million copies worldwide. His works were characterized by meticulous research, vivid descriptions of the African wilderness, and gripping action-packed narratives. Whether set in the colonial era, the world of pharaohs, or modern-day Africa, his books often explored themes of survival, war, power, and human ambition. He collaborated with co-authors in his later years to expand his literary universe, ensuring his stories continued to reach new audiences.
Beyond writing, Smith was an avid traveler and adventurer, drawing inspiration from his own experiences hunting, sailing, and exploring remote corners of Africa. While he was passionate about wildlife and conservation, some of his views—particularly regarding big game hunting—sparked debate. Nonetheless, his deep affection for Africa was evident in his writing, which celebrated both its beauty and its historical complexities.
Smith’s influence on adventure fiction remains significant, with his books continuing to captivate readers around the world. His legacy endures through his richly woven tales of exploration, conquest, and the enduring spirit of Africa.
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Combine Editions
Wilbur Smith’s books

Average rating: 4.12 · 400,255 ratings · 15,784 reviews · 331 distinct works • Similar authors

	River God (Ancient Egypt, #1) 4.23 avg rating — 44,009 ratings — published 1993 — 16 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Seventh Scroll (Ancient Egypt, #2) 4.17 avg rating — 22,657 ratings — published 1995 — 12 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	When the Lion Feeds (Courtney, #1) 4.24 avg rating — 20,239 ratings — published 1964 — 7 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Warlock (Ancient Egypt, #3) 4.09 avg rating — 17,365 ratings — published 2001 — 7 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Birds of Prey (Courtney publication, #9; Courtney chronological, #1) 4.24 avg rating — 14,029 ratings — published 1997 — 43 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Monsoon (Courtney publication, #10; Courtney chronological, #3) 4.34 avg rating — 13,541 ratings — published 1999 — 106 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Sound of Thunder (Courtney publication, #2; Courtney chronological, #13) 4.24 avg rating — 12,830 ratings — published 1966 — 13 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Quest (Ancient Egypt, #4) 3.88 avg rating — 11,880 ratings — published 2007 — 99 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	A Sparrow Falls (Courtney publication, #3; Courtney chronological, #17) 4.29 avg rating — 10,555 ratings — published 1977 — 91 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Blue Horizon (Courtney publication, #11; Courtney chronological, #5) 4.29 avg rating — 10,511 ratings — published 2003 — 92 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

More books by Wilbur Smith…

Series by Wilbur Smith

Courtney publication order (24 books)
by

Wilbur Smith

4.22 avg rating — 172,734 ratings

Courtney chronological order (23 books)
by

Wilbur Smith

4.22 avg rating — 171,414 ratings

Ancient Egypt (10 books)
by

Wilbur Smith

4.11 avg rating — 120,707 ratings

Ballantyne (7 books)
by

Wilbur Smith

4.17 avg rating — 35,367 ratings

Assegai (4 books)
by

Wilbur Smith,

David Churchill

4.17 avg rating — 19,842 ratings

More series by Wilbur Smith…

Quotes by Wilbur Smith (?)

“The best cure for racism is to have somebody shoot at you. Man, it does not matter then what color the arse is that comes to save yours-black or white, you're ready to give it a big fat kiss.”
― Wilbur Smith, Golden Fox

83 likes

“It's a strange paradox that a man gifted with too many talents can fritter them all away without developing a single one to its full.”
― Wilbur Smith, Rage

53 likes

“A man follows the path laid out for him. He does his duty to God and his King. He does what he must do, not what pleases him. God's truth, boy, what kind of world would this be if every man did what pleased him alone? Who would plough the fields and reap the harvest, if every man had the right to say, 'I don't want to do that.' In this world there is a place for every man, but every man must know his place.”
― Wilbur Smith, Monsoon

tags: future, life, monsoon

27 likes

See all Wilbur Smith's quotes »

Polls

Pick the next Older SUSPENSE Novel for our group reads..

City of Bones by Michael Connelly

5 votes, 23.8%

Beneath the Skin by Nicci French

3 votes, 14.3%

Tell No One by Harlan Coben

2 votes, 9.5%

And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie

2 votes, 9.5%

The Naming of the Dead by Ian Rankin

2 votes, 9.5%

Killing Floor by Lee Child

2 votes, 9.5%

Until Death by Sandy Curtis

1 vote, 4.8%

One False Move by Harlan Coben

1 vote, 4.8%

Cry No More by Linda Howard

1 vote, 4.8%

Hungry As The Sea by Wilbur Smith

1 vote, 4.8%

The Hard Way by Lee Child

1 vote, 4.8%

Open Season by C.J. Box

0 votes, 0.0%

21 total votes

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Wilbur Smith’s Followers (4,423)

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Wilbur Smith

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