Description

Birds Of Prey – Wilbur Smith

Birds of Prey is a 1977 adventure novel by Wilbur Smith. It is the first book in the Courtney series, and follows the adventures of Sir Francis Courtney, a British sailor who is shipwrecked on the coast of South Africa in the early 1800s.

Courtney is rescued by a group of Khoikhoi people, and he learns about their culture and traditions. He also falls in love with a Khoikhoi woman named Mbegu.

Courtney eventually decides to leave the Khoikhoi people and return to England. However, he is captured by a group of Dutch slavers. Courtney is taken to Cape Town, where he is sold as a slave.

Courtney manages to escape from slavery, and he joins a group of pirates who are attacking the Dutch East India Company’s ships. Courtney becomes a successful pirate, and he amasses a large fortune.

Courtney eventually returns to South Africa, where he buys a farm and starts a family with Mbegu. However, Courtney’s past as a pirate catches up with him, and he is forced to defend his family from the Dutch East India Company.

Birds of Prey is a thrilling adventure novel that is full of action, suspense, and romance. It is a story about courage, determination, and the power of love.

Themes

The novel explores a number of themes, including:

• Courage
• Determination
• The power of love
• The dangers of slavery
• The importance of fighting for freedom

Characters

• Sir Francis Courtney: A British sailor who is shipwrecked on the coast of South Africa in the early 1800s.
• Mbegu: A Khoikhoi woman who rescues Courtney and falls in love with him.
• Captain Van der Velden: A Dutch slaver who captures Courtney.
• Admiral Pieter de Jong: The governor of Cape Town and the commander of the Dutch East India Company’s forces in South Africa.

Critical reception

Birds of Prey was a critical and commercial success upon its publication. It was praised for its fast-paced plot, its well-developed characters, and its exciting action sequences. The novel has been translated into over 20 languages and has sold over 2 million copies.

Birds of Prey is a must-read for fans of adventure novels. It is a thrilling and exciting story that will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very end.

Tags

• adventure
• historical fiction
• pirates
• slavery
• freedom
• courage
• determination
• love
• fast-paced
• well-developed characters
• exciting action sequences
• best-selling