War Cry: A Courtney Family Novel

by Wilbur Smith

Hardcover, 2017

Status

Available

Call number

823.914

Collection

Publication

William Morrow (2017), Edition: First Edition, 512 pages

Description

Fiction. Historical Fiction. HTML: The saga of the legendary Courtney family continues in this fourteenth installment in Wilbur Smith's bestselling series�??the sequel to 2009's Assegai�??a thrilling tale of espionage, adventure, and danger, set in Africa and spanning from the Great War's end to the dark days of World War II. As a member of the remarkable Courtney family, Leon Courtney knows how quickly fortunes can be won and lost. Over the course of more than two centuries, generations of his family have risen and fallen with the tides of history. Leon, too, has experienced his own share of triumph and pain. In the wake of his beloved wife's death, the renowned big-game hunter is raising his young daughter, Saffron, alone in colonial Kenya. In the 1920s, the continent of Africa is a dangerous place. As Leon attempts to navigate the murky political waters of this most exquisitely beautiful and wildest of lands, his daughter grows into an independent and headstrong young woman bound for a far different life in Britain, as a student at Oxford. But over the course of more than two decades, spies, traitors, and adventurers will dog their every step. As the fitful years of peace lead to the outbreak of the Second World War�??involving Africa once more�??Leon and Saffron must fight for their survival . . . and that of their illustrious family. Wilbur Smith masterfully captures the tensions that will spark a war across continents�??and the uncertainty and hopes of a father and daughter caught in its grips�??in this engrossing novel that delivers the fast-paced action and vivid history that have made him a l… (more)

User reviews

LibraryThing member Smits
As always I enjoy Wilbur Smith and was happy to read again about the Courtneys of Africa. As Steven King says, "Wilbur Smith is the best historical novelist" and I would dare to say, adventure writer too. Having said this there was one part of this novel that did not sit well with me. I had trouble
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with the credability of the romance between Saffron and her German Nazi army lover Gerhard from the fact that they were on opposite sides of the war to the family dynamics that her father leon killed his father. Bit hard to believe.
It's quite evident that there will be a sequel to War Cry and I say "Can't wait!!!"
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LibraryThing member martinhughharvey
Always eagerly anticipate the arrival of a Wilbur Smith book. A magnificent author of historical fiction and always with African characters in the prominent roles. This book sees more of the Courtney family, of whom so many wonderful books have been produced. But alas I am disappointed. This is
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surely the first of a series and really 80% of it is almost like a biography or documentary of the families and key characters. Additionally, Africa itself plays a magic character in his books which I find lacking in this book even though half is set in Kenya. A bit of a shadow of his earlier works.
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Awards

Bad Sex in Fiction Award (Shortlist — 2017)

Original language

English

Original publication date

2017

Physical description

512 p.; 7.5 inches

ISBN

0062276492 / 9780062276490
Page: 0.1301 seconds