Early in his career, Wilbur Smith's publisher and later agent Charles Pick advised him to write only about those things he knew well.

Smith hewed to this advice, concentrating mostly on Africa, the stories he'd heard from his grandfather, father and others, and his adventures in hunting, fishing, flying, diving and travel.

Enhanced by research on the topics involved, this practice resulted in the publishing of more than 50 global bestsellers. A number of those books were adapted for film and attracted new fans. In addition to pleasing readers of adventure fiction, his books offered a window into the magic of Africa and its turbulent politics.

His path to success had some early drawbacks, but once he connected with Pick he enjoyed good fortune any writer would envy.

I confess I haven't read many of his books save for a few of the Courtney family series and The Sunbird (my favorite of those I've read). But I discovered we shared a fondness for some of the writers who first inspired him: Steinbeck, Hemingway, H. Rider Haggard and Stuart Cloete.

This is a readable memoir and one I enjoyed. I believe most readers will find the stories about his colorful family and life interesting and fans will like learning more about the background of his books. Those of us who write may also profit from his comments on the subject.

Wilbur Smith died in 2021. Before his death, he established a foundation to empower writers, promote literacy and advance the genre of adventure writing.

[ visit the author's website ]