Birds of Prey - Softcover

Smith, Wilbur A.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0312963815 ISBN 13: 9780312963811

Publisher: St Martins Pr, 1998

Synopsis

The year is 1667; Sir Francis Courteney and his son Hal are on patrol in their fighting caravel off the Agulhas Cape of South Africa. They are lying in wait for one of the treasure-laden galleons of the Dutch East India Company returning from the Orient. So begins a quest for adventure and the spoils of war that sweeps them from the settlement of Good Hope at the southern tip of Africa to the Great Horn of Ethiopia far to the north - at a time when international maritime law permitted acts of piracy, rape, and murder otherwise punishable by death. Wilbur Smith introduces a generation of the indomitable Courteneys and thrillingly re-creates their part in the struggle for supremacy and riches on the high seas.

About this title

Review:

Look up "classic adventure novel" in the dictionary and you'll find the strong and capable features of South Africa's own Wilbur Smith, who--in books as varied and enjoyable as River God, The Seventh Scroll, When the Lion Feeds, and The Diamond Hunters--displays an awesome storytelling ability. His latest is one of his best efforts: a richly detailed story of war and piracy on the high seas in 1667, 150 years before Patrick O'Brian's Aubrey and Maturin books

Review:

"Constant excitement...[A] fast-moving tale. What could be better for the beach or backyard?" --The Washington Post Book World

"Birds of Prey is a wonderful novel filled with excitement, pirates and vivid sea battles. The heroes are handsome and memorable and overcome tremendous odds to defeat unscrupulous enemies, to remain honorable and wise and always win the fair maiden in the end...In short, it is vintage Wilbur Smith." --Times Record News (Wichita Falls, TX)

"Smith's novel is far more than your typical pirate script ... A fascinating account ... Smith deftly evokes not only the horrific but also the beautiful, particularly the lush landscape of Africa." --The Washington Post Book World

"A rousing adventure story ... Smith is a captivating storyteller. His writing is fast-paces yet richly textured. His characters are unique and intriguing ... As with Smith's previous two bestsellers, River God and The Seventh Scroll, this latest epic transcends the average action-adventure yarn." --The Orlando Sentinel

"Smith knows what his readers want, and once again he delivers the goods." --Publishers Weekly

"Wilbur Smith carries all the powerful drama and rich emotions of a bygone time into his action packed tale of the sea. BiIrds Of Prey is magnificent story of adventure, he enthralled the world of readers once again." --The Daily Mai, The Daily Mail

"The scope is magnificent and the epic scale breathtaking ... Wilbur Smith is one of those benchmarks against whom others are compared" --The Times

"A gripping tale, relentless in its flow, that evokes a more colourful age - one of passion and a majesty of spirit that is seldom illustrated with such nerve." --Express

"Meticulous research support constant excitement in a fast-moving tale" --Washington Post

"Smith knows what his readers want, and once again he delivers the goods." --Publishers Weekly

"Colorful historical snippets amid the swash and buckle of 17th century buccaneers." --People

"Swashbuckling adventures at sea and on land highlight Smith's latest. Smith knows what his readers want, and once again he delivers the goods." --Publishers Weekly

"Will be relished by those who enjoy swashbuckling tales with nonstop action." --Booklist

"Swashbuckling and sensuous. Wilbur Smith's gallant, highly sexed heroes and gorgeous, highly sexed heroines are once again rampaging across Africa." --Ft. Worth Star Telegram

"A breathlessly plotted...swashbuckler of English pirates harrying Dutch traders off the Cape of Good Hope in 1667. Well-researched, fast paced." --Kirkus

"A wonderful novel filled with excitement, pirates, and vivid sea battles...vintage Wilbur Smith." --Times Record News (Wichita Falls, TX)

About this edition

• Publisher: St Martins Pr
• Publication date: 1998
• ISBN 10: 0312963815
• ISBN 13: 9780312963811
• Binding: Mass Market Paperback
• Number of pages: 664