Wilbur Smith is a best selling author. He was born on the 9th of January 1933 in Northern Rhodesia (Zambia). After being educated at Michaelhouse and Rhodes University Wilbur Smith started working as an Accountant in the Salisbury Tax department. After becoming disheartened with his career Wilbur Smith returned to his first love - writing. He wrote a number of short stories which he sold to Magazines and after some encourage he started to write full time.

Although Wilbur Smiths first novel - 'The Gods First Make Mad' , was not accepted by any publishers after a breif spell back at the tax office he continued to write. His next book focussed around a character called "Sean Courtney"; the book was called "When the Lion Feeds" and became an international bestseller, firmly planting Wilbur Smith as one of the new up and coming authors. The rest, as they say, is history!

Wilbur Smiths books fit into one of the following series:

The Books

• When the Lion Feeds
• The Sound of Thunder
• A Sparrow Falls
• Monsoon
• Rage
• Power of the Sword
• A Time to Die
• Blue Horizon
• Golden Fox
• Birds of Prey
• The Triumph of the Sun
• The Burning Shore

Series Synopsis

Probably the most popular of Wilbur Smiths series, the "Courtney" Novels follow the trials and tribulations of the Courtney family from the 1600's English Courtneys through to the late 1900's with the African Courtneys.

Often subdivided into 3 series. Go to the Courtney page for more details.

The Books

• A Falcon Flies
• Men of Men
• The Angels Weep
• The Leopard Hunts in the Darkness
• Triumph of the Sun

Series Synopsis

This series follows the Ballantyne family, telling the story of their family in Rhodesia, during the struggle between black and white in Rhodesia's history.

The Books

• River God
• Warlock
• The Seventh Scroll
• The Quest (To be released)

Series Synopsis

A slightly different style for Wilbur Smith, this series focuses around the Taita character - an Ancient Egypian eunoch slave. River God and Warlock are both set in Ancient Egypt, the Seventh Scroll is set in Modern times.

The Books

• The Dark of the Sun
• Shout at the Devil
• Gold Mine
• The Diamond Hunters
• The Sunbird
• Cry Wolf
• The Eye of the Tiger
• Hungry as the Sea
• Wild Justice
• Elephant Song
• Eagle in the Sky

Series Synopsis

In addition to the above three series, Wilbur Smith has written a number of standalone books.

Whilst not as popular as the series books, many of these standalones are great books in their own right - notably The Sunbird and Elephant song.

Go to the Standalone pages for more details.