Fans of Smith's previous chronicles involving the swashbuckling Courtneys (The Sunbird, etc.) will embrace this event-packed addition, which finds the British clan plying the shipping trade in 18th-century South Africa. Set 25 years after Smith's Monsoon (1999), it concentrates on the family's "new" generation-headstrong young Jim Courtney and his proud cousin Mansur. The feverish action begins when Jim falls under the spell of a stunningly beautiful prisoner aboard a Dutch convict ship. Naturally, she is guiltless. Naturally, he helps her escape into the dark continent's wilderness, placing them both in peril and the family business in jeopardy. What follows is a relentless succession of harrowing chases, narrow escapes, battles on land and sea, assassinations and assignations. Pigott-Smith's British accent, at times clipped enough to draw blood, softens to an almost roguish intimacy during the novel's romantic interludes, when women writhe "voluptuously" or make gifts of "the flower of [their] maidenhood." For the scheming non-British villains, he opts for a sinister whine that resembles the voice of the late Peter Lorre on speed. In short, he is the ideal audio interpreter for this highly melodramatic, ripping yarn. Simultaneous release with the St. Martin's/Dunne hardcover (Forecasts, Apr. 28). (Aug.) Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.
This recording is a bit longer than others on the market and about a quarter the length of an unabridged reading of Smith's 620-page novel. He fills in a gap (mid-1700s) he left in his Courtney family series set in Southern Africa. The fine reading by Tim Pigott-Smith helps to keep the listener engaged, though Smith fans will sorely miss his finely detailed descriptions of the countryside, people, wildlife, and macho imperialism that breathes real life into his fictionalized 18th-century African history. Tom Courtney's son Jim falls in love, abducts his future wife from a Dutch prison ship, and is chased through the unexplored wilderness, capturing herds of cattle and tons of ivory along the way. Of course, he encounters a host of nefarious characters, gory killings, narrow escapes, romantic sex, deceptions, betrayals, masquerades, several sea battles, and a couple of sieges. It's a lot of fun. Folks familiar with Smith's other works will enjoy this a bit more since they will recognize terminology that is not well defined here. Recommended for adventure fiction collections.-Cliff Glaviano, Bowling Green State Univ. Libs., OH Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.
Superprolific chronicler of Afro-colonial glory days Smith continues the saga of the Courtney family from where it left off in Monsoon (1999). The outcome of Smith's Big African Adventures is never in doubt: big lusty white men will prevail over evil, grasping white men with considerable assistance from hordes of adoring black men who have had the good sense to recognize lusty leadership when they see it. So what tension there is must come from the many, many, many intermediate battles between the big lusty white men and the evil, grasping white men, and from the electricity that flies between the big lusty white men and the fair bodies of the straight-shooting, outdoor-loving women lucky enough to come into their lives. Sailing now into the lives of the superrich 17th-century British Courtney family is long-legged Louisa Leuven, a plucky Dutch orphan who escaped the plague only to fall into the clutches of a sexually predatory, sadomasochistic, Amsterdam burgher who framed her when she tried to blow the whistle on him. As the ship transporting her and other hussies to the Indies rounds the Cape of Good Hope, Louisa captures the heart of young Jim Courtney, who, when the ship comes a cropper in a squall, spirits her away, enraging the grumpy Dutch overlords of the Cape Colony and forcing the entire Courtney clan to flee with their fortune. Louisa, understandably off sex for the present, is not immune to the manly charms of her rescuer, but Jim is a perfect gentleman, never pushing, just showing her a swell time as they hack their way north, dodging pursuers, slaying animals by the score, riding the finest horseflesh in Africa, prying the biggest tusks anyone has ever seen from elephantsunlucky enough to meet up with them. While the young folk blaze new trails, the older generation sails up the east coast and into big trouble. Time to call in those adoring native armies. Utter nonsense, but as readable as ever. Really big retro-fun for the gents.
More than 600 pages of pure pleasure...Smith can stretch a yarn and drag every emotion you have along with it...Smith has a way of drawing you into a story, and the time period matters not a whit.” —Times Record News (Wichita Falls, TX)
“Wilbur Smith is one of those benchmarks against whom others are compared” —The Times
“ Everything Smith's fans have come to expect from his epic adventure novels. His consummate skill at crafting vast battle scenes, passionate and wildly romantic characters, cruel and bloodthirsty villains, and larger-than-life heroes makes Blue Horizon irresistible.” —The Flint Journal
“The eleventh volume in Smith's saga of the Courtney clan is every bit as riveting as its predecessors. Brimming with bravado, greed, and romance.” —Booklist
“A swashbuckling, brawling, sprawling historical epic. Rich, exciting, and fascinating.” —Library Journal
“Really big retro-fun.” —Kirkus
“Gripping. The writer's fans will enjoy the ride.” —Publishers Weekly
“Master storyteller Smith takes his story into another generation of adventurers battling on the sea and on land in the settling of South Africa.” —Tulsa World
“The eleventh volume in Smith's saga of the Courtney clan is every bit as riveting as its predecessors. Brimming with bravado, greed, and romance.” —Booklist
“Adventure and danger at every turn.” —New York Daily News
Jim Courtney, the son of a settler in Southern Africa, falls in love at first sight with Louisa, a wrongfully accused woman he spies aboard a prison ship. When the ship crashes, he seizes the opportunity to rescue her, but his quick decision means they must flee. When Courtney's actions shame an official, his family is put in danger, as well. The action starts quickly and builds throughout, leading to an exciting--and bloody-- confrontation. Tim Pigott-Smith reads the tale as a tough adventure yarn but doesn't shy away from the romance between Jim and Louisa. Listeners who like adventure, historical or otherwise, will enjoy this chase on land and sea. J.A.S. © AudioFile 2003, Portland, Maine
