Review - On Leopard Rock by Wilbur Smith
By Carmen, 10 October 2018
The Copy that I Read
Year Published: 2018
Genre: Biography; Memoir
Blurb:
Wilbur Smith has lived an incredible life of adventure, and now he shares the extraordinary true stories that have inspired his fiction.
I've been writing novels for over fifty years. I was lucky enough to miss the big wars and not get shot, but lucky enough to grow up among the heroes who had served in them and learn from their example. I have lucked into things continuously. I have done things which have seemed appalling at the time, disastrous even, but out of them have come another story or a deeper knowledge of human character and the ability to express myself better on paper, write books which people enjoy reading.
Along the way, I have lived a life that I could never have imagined. I have been privileged to meet people from all corners of the globe, I have been wherever my heart has desired and in the process my books have taken readers to many, many places. I always say I've started wars, I've burned down cities and I've killed hundreds of thousands of people - but only in my imagination!
From being attacked by lions to close encounters with deadly reef sharks, from getting lost in the African bush without water to crawling the precarious tunnels of gold mines, from marlin fishing with Lee Marvin to near death from crash-landing a Cessna airplane, from brutal school days to redemption through writing and falling in love, Wilbur Smith tells us the intimate stories of his life that have been the raw material for his fiction. Always candid, sometimes hilarious and never less than thrillingly entertaining, On Leopard Rock is testament to a writer whose life is as rich and eventful as his novels are compellingly unputdownable.
About the Author:
Wilbur Smith was born in Central Africa in 1933. He was educated at Michaelhouse and Rhodes University. After the successful publication of WHEN THE LION FEEDS in 1964 he became a full-time writer, and has since written 30 novels, all meticulously researched on his numerous expeditions worldwide. His books have been translated into twenty-six different languages.
Connect with the Author:
Facebook: Wilbur Smith Facebook
Twitter: Wilbur Smith Twitter
Author Website: Wilbur Smith Author Website
Buy the Book:
Amazon: Amazon Purchase Link
My Take on the Book:
I really enjoyed reading this book – this has ended up being one of my favourites along with ‘River God’ and ‘The Quest’. In this book you get a combination of places he’s been to, things he’s experienced as well as the writing he has made a career of. Those that are fans of Wilbur Smith will enjoy this book – I would only consider myself a casual fan. One thing I was hoping that there would have been more of is photos. I ended up giving this leisurely read a five star rating.
Last Word:
Having read this book; I’m definitely considering reading his other books. So far – I’ve only read ‘The Egyptian’ Series as well as the ‘Hector Cross’ series. I’m also considering getting the paperback version of this book for myself, since – for those that don’t know – I lent this book from my dad. That is how much I enjoyed this book.
Enjoy,
Carmen