Inspirational Authors - Wilbur Smith

My latest Inspirational Author is the adventure/thriller writer Wilbur Smith, and I have a recommendation of a book of his which you probably won’t have heard of, but which you ought to read: it’s thrilling, intense and authentic.
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Cheers for now!
Mike

[@neverlookback1244]

Wilbur smith was born in my country Zambia I really enjoyed reading his books

[@writerlywitterings]

I still love them - well, the earlier ones!

[@angbane]

My Dad read all of Wilbur Smith's books-always wondered what they were about as never picked one up myself. Thanks for enlightening me! I look forward to your Arthur C. Clarke & Isaac Asimov reviews-I need to re/read more classic sci-fi.

[@writerlywitterings]

Thanks, Angela - and, as I keep telling my blasted daughter, even old men like me can have moderate taste. Although not in clothing, she says ...!

[@endeavour1976]

I have read two or three books by this author, and they have entertained me a lot. It is not "highest literature" but if its purpose is to entertain, they get it. Thank You Míster Jecks.

[@writerlywitterings]

Many thanks, Miguel! They are real adventure stories, aren't they?

[@mcd3379]

Smith is / was a hugely successful commercial writer - and very capable, as he showed when he shifted gears with his books set in Ancient Egypt. His autobiography and interviews are also very revealing. He worked hard for every ounce of success and thoroughly deserves it, facing many obstacles along the way. And Smith, even though he is a great writer and very successful, is also completely honest in how lonely and challenging the craft is, and the tenacity required to "stick at it" and make it work despite all of the roadblocks and setbacks a writer will face in trying to get published and make a living.

[@writerlywitterings]

Quite right. He was a fascinating character, and his books were magnificent, covering great sweeps of history and territory.

[@briangarrow448]

One of my favorite authors discussing another of my favorites! Thank goodness I'm retired now and have the time to enjoy these great books without interruptions.

[@writerlywitterings]

Thanks so much, Brian. I am very honoured to be considered in the same league!

[@herrknott9610]

Mr. Smith is better than 100% of American writers out there. At least the ones that have been published. Cheers!

[@writerlywitterings]

Cheers - and I would agree with that for his earlier books in particular, although I think the more recent ones have been quite ... variable!

[@derekgreen7319]

I plan to read his ancient Egypt series soon. Smith is one of my favorites!

[@writerlywitterings]

Same here! Great adventure writer.

[@BossPenguin]

Hello there and happy Easter! Great video, as always. Thank you for uploading! Cheers!

[@writerlywitterings]

Cheers, Chris, and thanks for watching!

[@joenperkins2138]

Interesting as usual! Have fun gardening.

[@writerlywitterings]

I did! Thanks, Joen!

[@JBFire97]

Happy Easter,! A new author to me, so thank you.

[@writerlywitterings]

Ah, I envy you, then. Smith is a fantastic author, with really brilliant adventure stories. You'll enjoy them!

[@tontowilliams]

I haven't read all of Wilbur Smith's books, but I have read many of them, and most of the ones that you mentioned Michael, I agree great reads and certainly opened my eyes to many issues that I wasn't really aware of when I was in my late teens and early twenties. There was one - The Leopard Hunts in Darkness (??) which I think was the very first one I read that got me hooked.

[@writerlywitterings]

I haven't heard of that book - but what a brilliant title! I'll have to look it up.

[@TurnFullCircle]

Interesting background info as usual....super enjoyable wittering! Cheers

[@writerlywitterings]

Cheers, Chris - wittering is what I'm good at, obviously!

[@yelibenworkayeleweldegiorg7673]

I don't understand how you were " not so taken with" A Falcon Flies. I have read it three times in 20 years. I have read about seven or eight of Wilbur Smith's novels and I like them all, but A Falcon Flies is still my most favourite. I love both his stories and the beauty of his English. Thank you for reviewing my favourite author. I can forgive you for not being impressed by one of his best thrillers. I am happy to say that two of Wilbur Smith's great novels, Cry Wolf, and The Seventh Scroll are completely set in my country, Ethiopia 🇪🇹

[@writerlywitterings]

And I loved Cry Wolf and most of his other books, too. I did love A Falcon Flies when I first read it, but trying it again recently, I'm afraid it just didn't work at all for me. But that's what happens sometimes. You have to be in the right frame of mind etc. Thanks for the comments, my friend.

[@yelibenworkayeleweldegiorg7673]

@@writerlywitterings Thank you very much, Writerlywitterings. I have the same experience as you. I had read Room at the Top by John Braine when I was a grade 10 student and I was convinced that it was the world's best novel and that I would never ever find a book as good as it. However, more than ten years later, I tried to read it again expecting to enjoy it as much as I had before but I couldn't. Thanks for taking the time to reply to my comment. I like your reviews and will follow them.

[@hammothw4814]

Am currently reading A Falcon Flies, and so far is awesome. Smith is my favourite author; his adventures are such an escape, primal, nature, and.....'sunny' is the word that comes to mind. hope i enjoy the rest of the book and Balyntine series.

[@rickcroucher]

I thoroughly enjoyed his Egyptian series so many years ago

[@writerlywitterings]

So did I!

[@fashionearrings]

Except for Seventh Scroll. I didn't like that one.

[@rachaeljackson3759]

I loved River God! Was my first book of his I read for a history class of mine in high school!

[@hammothw4814]

River God was amazing

[@rickcroucher]

@@hammothw4814 yes it was

[@IvanKinsmanSDP]

I loved his books as a teenager and they are perfect for boys of that age - action packed heros fighting against dark forces and powerful descriptions of Africa. But once you become an adult then I think they are rather too simplistic, so have not revisited them. I had a friend who was his agent in the UK and she used to accompany him when he visited London.

[@writerlywitterings]

I absolutely agree. Some of his books do stand out - thinking of the original series about the Courtenays or Eagle In The Sky - but as I grew older, I found his later books less and less appealing. However I still go back to The Mercenaries occasionally. Still stands up well.

[@peterrooke5336]

If you read Rider Haggard's "SHE" you will notice the story is very similar to Wilbur's "quest" . More than a coincidence methinks 🤔

[@writerlywitterings]

Ah, well, even Shakespeare wasn't averse to pinching other people's stories!

[@hammothw4814]

Do any of his books take place in Burundi area? loved his books that I've read

[@writerlywitterings]

I honestly don't know. He has written about pretty much every area from Ethiopia to the Cape, so I expect he has somewhere, but I think you'd be best served doing a google search for that!

[@hammothw4814]

@@writerlywitterings thanks. i will search a bit.

[@hemantkothari909]

Hi Mike, nice shirt

[@writerlywitterings]

Thanks, Hemant!

[@jaytomkinson66]

Not sure why, but it appears my previous comment about the Twsbi Go has been removed. Oh well. Loved your video anyway!

[@writerlywitterings]

Thanks, Jay. Yes, occasionally I find comments disappear for no apparent reason. Most peculiar! Still, hope you enjoyed the GO! video. I love those pens.

[@serverlan763]

I like Smiths books mostly but he really stereo type's characters in a very primitive and predictable way. He's also become very PC compared to his classics. The Sound of Thunder is a true master piece but books like Assagai seem rushed and flawed with supposed Alpha male characters displaying a lot of Beta tendencies. His last Courtney book 'Legacy of War' ends with the main characters becoming philanthropist and giving away all their wealth basically to the Kenya Govt, just totally non plausible for the Courtney characters.

[@writerlywitterings]

I'm afraid you're right. I think it's largely because he has started writing with other people. So his books are now written by other people from basic ideas he has had. The newer writers tend to be more PC than he was in the days of Sound of Thunder etc. Still, his earlier books still work very well, I think, as historical sagas, especially the original Courtney stories. Thanks for the comment!

[@serverlan763]

@@writerlywitterings I know I don't understand him, he must be a multi millionaire so why sell your soul to the Woke crowd at this stage of your life?