Wilbur Smith

[Heym SR20]

He will be missed. I suspect many on here grew up loving his books especially all the bits about hunting. As well as an author he was a hunter and conservationist and will be sadly missed.

Legendary novelist Wilbur Smith passes away at the age of 88

Legendary novelist Wilbur Smith passes away at the age of 88

wilbursmithbooks.com

And if you haven’t read any of his novels, well you are in fir a treat.

Start with his first - “When the Lion Feeds”

 

[stevec]

I didn't get in to them until last year. I can't reccomend them enough. They are brilliant and available as audio books for long drives. I was given some of his books nearly 20 years ago and wish I had started then.

A good thing is he goes in to a lot of detail on almost everything from female anatomy to the handloads and design of a rifle used by one of the characters.

I used to enjoy Hemingway but in my view, Wilbur Smith is even better.

Very sad to loose such a gifted man an advocate for sustainable hunting and conservation.

 

[Ooops]

He was a wonderful author

 

[tozzybum]

Awesome books ,the Courtney's and Ballentines true likeable rogues .
He took you to Africa when men were men and fortune,s where made.

 

[Claret_Dabbler]

I used to enjoy Hemingway but in my view, Wilbur Smith is even better..

That’s a big shout.

Smith wrote great page turners in the boy’s own style.

Hemingway was a giant of 20th century literature.

Not even in the same ballpark.

 

[stevec]

That’s a big shout.

Smith wrote great page turners in the boy’s own style.

Hemingway was a giant of 20th century literature.

Not even in the same ballpark.

I know that, but for pure enjoyment that suits me (perhaps not others), I prefer Wilbur Smith. Perhaps not better from a literary point of view but it is for a good distraction, for me anyway.

 

[stevec]

I know that, but for pure enjoyment that suits me (perhaps not others), I prefer Wilbur Smith. Perhaps not better from a literary point of view but it is for a good distraction, for me anyway.

One of my favourite meals is white pudding and chips, so I appreciate my tastes aren't particularly refined!

 

[Woodsmoke]

This saddens me immensely. I've been a huge fan of his books for a long long time.

 

[greenshoots]

read nearly all his books him and louis lamour were my go to books in my youth

greenshoots

 

[Claret_Dabbler]

I know that, but for pure enjoyment that suits me (perhaps not others), I prefer Wilbur Smith. Perhaps not better from a literary point of view but it is for a good distraction, for me anyway.

Smith is definitely a more enjoyable read in a lot of ways.
Hemingway requires a certain commitment.

 

[Ade8mm]

Wilbur Smith stories-Absolutely splendid stuff.
He's off the the happy hunting ground in the sky now.
RIP
Here's one if you like a film version of a great book. (Based on a real event)

 

[Heym SR20]

Given that for the last few years he has had other writers doing the hard graft, whilst he came up with ideas, I hope there are still a few more stories to be told by him from beyond the grave as it were.

My Pa had a very similar upbringing to Wilbur Smith in Northern Rhodesia and both went to the same school in Natal, although Wlibur left as my Pa arrived. He spent a huge amount of his childhood in the bush or the Kafuwe flats hunting guinae fowl, ducks spurwing geese and crocodiles with a .22rf and later a 6.5 mannlicher. Many of the Courtney and Ballantyne novels many of the characters are based on very real life individuals - perhaps with a bit of literary flourish, but plenty from Africa on all sides of the racial and political divide were hard living larger than life characters so not a lot, other than names had to change.

As a kid dragged kicking and screaming to cold dark UK in the 1970's and then sent an English boarding school, Wilbur was the escape that I immersed myself in.

I love Hemingway as well, but Hemingway you have to concentrate and work your way through. Wilburitis - as it is none in my family is a two or three day disease, which involves crawling into your pit and reappearing once you have finished whatever is the latest novel. I have read most several times and they are comfort food. Hemingway and Lawrence Van der Post (Story like the Wind, A Far off Place) are very rich fine dining - wonderful but hard work.

Others of a similar vein - John Gordon-Davies - "Hold my Hand I'm Dying" - also a movie, but the book is much better.

Bryce Courtney - "Power of One" and "Tandia" - again there is a fim version, but books so much better.

 

[bowji john]

Given that for the last few years he has had other writers doing the hard graft, whilst he came up with ideas, I hope there are still a few more stories to be told by him from beyond the grave as it were.

My Pa had a very similar upbringing to Wilbur Smith in Northern Rhodesia and both went to the same school in Natal, although Wlibur left as my Pa arrived. He spent a huge amount of his childhood in the bush or the Kafuwe flats hunting guinae fowl, ducks spurwing geese and crocodiles with a .22rf and later a 6.5 mannlicher. Many of the Courtney and Ballantyne novels many of the characters are based on very real life individuals - perhaps with a bit of literary flourish, but plenty from Africa on all sides of the racial and political divide were hard living larger than life characters so not a lot, other than names had to change.

As a kid dragged kicking and screaming to cold dark UK in the 1970's and then sent an English boarding school, Wilbur was the escape that I immersed myself in.

You and me both

I couldn’t stand returning to school in the UK so in Jan 1976, I Walked out of the transit lounge airport in Francistown, Bots. Got a lift with two lads who had been on holiday and were retuning for another spell of national service

Before I knew it I was doing basic and did 2 years with first 4 indep and then RLI

Those early works “when the lion feeds” and “the sound of thunder” captured those early years with great authenticity

Do you happen to know where in N Rhodesia he was borne?

I was borne in Brokenhill, now Kabwe

 

[Gzl]

Assegai fantastic

 

[Jamouk]

My kindle is full of his books

 

[Heym SR20]

You and me both

I couldn’t stand returning to school in the UK so in Jan 1976, I Walked out of the transit lounge airport in Francistown, Bots. Got a lift with two lads who had been on holiday and were retuning for another spell of national service

Before I knew it I was doing basic and did 2 years with first 4 indep and then RLI

Those early works “when the lion feeds” and “the sound of thunder” captured those early years with great authenticity

Do you happen to know where in N Rhodesia he was borne?

I was borne in Brokenhill, now Kabwe

Wilbur was also born in Brokenhill in 1933. Wilbur Smith - Wikipedia.

 

[bowji john]

I didn’t know that - wow

1933 I believe he was borne - I didn’t come along until 1958

 

[Heym SR20]

I didn’t know that - wow

1933 I believe he was borne - I didn’t come along until 1958

And me 11 years later.

 

[bowji john]

And me 11 years later.

In Brokenhill too?

 

[Heym SR20]

In Brokenhill too?

Nope - in Malawi