Description
The Eye of the Tiger – Wilbur Smith
The Eye of the Tiger is a 1975 novel by Wilbur Smith, set in the Indian Ocean and in England. The novel follows the story of Harry Fletcher, a former soldier turned big game fisherman, who is drawn into a dangerous adventure to recover a legendary treasure from the bottom of the sea.
The novel opens with Harry Fletcher fishing for sharks in the Indian Ocean. He is approached by a mysterious man named David Palmer, who offers him a job: to recover a treasure from a shipwreck that lies on the ocean floor. The treasure is said to be guarded by dangerous creatures and deadly currents, but Palmer is willing to pay Fletcher a large sum of money if he can succeed.
Fletcher agrees to Palmer’s offer, and he sets out on the expedition with his crew. However, he soon discovers that Palmer is not who he seems, and that the treasure is more dangerous than he could have imagined.
Along the way, Fletcher meets and falls in love with a beautiful woman named Ruth. Ruth is also involved in the search for the treasure, and she helps Fletcher to overcome the many challenges that he faces.
Fletcher and his crew eventually reach the shipwreck, and they begin to recover the treasure. However, they are attacked by a group of mercenaries who are also after the treasure. Fletcher and his crew fight bravely, but they are outnumbered and outgunned.
Just when it seems that all is lost, Fletcher is saved by Ruth. She arrives with a boat and helps Fletcher and his crew to escape. Fletcher and Ruth then take the treasure to England, where they sell it for a fortune.
Themes
The novel explores a number of themes, including:
- Adventure
- Greed
- Love
- Redemption
- The power of the human spirit
Characters
- Harry Fletcher: A former soldier turned big game fisherman who is drawn into a dangerous adventure to recover a legendary treasure.
- David Palmer: A mysterious man who offers Fletcher the job of recovering the treasure.
- Ruth: A beautiful woman who helps Fletcher to overcome the many challenges that he faces.
- The mercenaries: A group of ruthless men who are also after the treasure.
Critical reception
The Eye of the Tiger was a critical and commercial success upon its publication. It was praised for its fast-paced plot, its exciting action sequences, and its well-developed characters. The novel has been translated into over 20 languages and has sold over 10 million copies worldwide.
The Eye of the Tiger is a classic adventure novel that has resonated with readers for generations. It is a thrilling story about greed, love, redemption, and the power of the human spirit.
Tags
- adventure
- thriller
- treasure hunt
- lost treasure
- romance
- greed
- redemption
- classic
- bestseller