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Assegai (Hardcover)

by Wilbur Smith (Author)
4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (100 customer reviews)
RRP: £18.99
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  • This item: Assegai by Wilbur Smith

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Product details

  • Hardcover: 478 pages
  • Publisher: Macmillan; First Edition; 1st printing. edition (1 April 2009)
  • Language English
  • ISBN-10: 0230529208
  • ISBN-13: 978-0230529205
  • Product Dimensions: 23.4 x 15.8 x 4.6 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (100 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 803 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

    Popular in these categories:

    #2 in  Books > Fiction > Authors, A-Z > S > Smith, Wilbur
    #13 in  Books > Fiction > Genre > Historical
    #13 in  Books > Crime, Thrillers & Mystery > Thrillers

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Product Description

Product Description

It is 1913 and ex-soldier turned professional big game hunter, Leon Courtney, is in British East Africa guiding rich and powerful men from America and Europe on safaris in the Masai tribe territories. One of his clients, German industrialist Count Otto Von Meerbach, has a company which builds aircraft and vehicles for the Kaiser’s burgeoning army. But Leon had not bargained for falling passionately in love with Eva, the Count’s beautiful and enigmatic mistress.

Just prior to the outbreak of World War I, Leon is recruited by his uncle, Penrod Ballantyne, Commander of the British Forces in East Africa , to gather information from Von Meerbach. He stumbles on a plot against the British involving the disenchanted survivors of the Boer War, but it is only when Eva and Von Meerbach return to Africa that Leon finds out who and what is really behind the conspiracy.



About the Author

Wilbur Smith was born in Central Africa in 1933. He was educated at Michaelhouse and Rhodes University. He became a full-time writer in 1964 after the successful publication of When the Lion Feeds, and has since written over thirty novels, all meticulously researched on his numerous expeditions worldwide. His books are now translated into twenty-six languages.

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Customer Reviews

100 Reviews
5 star:
 (54)
4 star:
 (22)
3 star:
 (5)
2 star:
 (11)
1 star:
 (8)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
4.0 out of 5 stars (100 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
47 of 50 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Well I couldn't put it down..., 4 April 2009
By Mr. S. M. Davies - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
Wilbur Smith's story of a young big game hunter captivates you from the opening pages with its distinguished, convincing and evocative descriptions of colonial Africa. Whether you have visited Africa or not, an enriching experience of the continent is in store as the author transports you to confrontations with the big five, altercations with rebels, and the ghostly visions from the hero, Leon Courtney's, past, present and future.

The book is a page turner not just for an well-conceived plot. As 'Assegai' demonstrates in every lucid description, Wilbur Smith is a genuine writer, and a stylist of distinction. The writing is a joy to read. The cultural details expand upon the plot and never seem tacked on. The novel illuminates a crucial juncture in early twentieth century history, the steep incline to the First World War, the problems and pitfalls of imperialism.

What is most impressive is the way in which Smith marshalls and orchestrates the structure of this plot and his characters. The way the novel segues from a straightforward action and suspense largely focussed on Masai rituals and customs, to a Western intrigue in which Courteney is essentially the outsider looking in on the west is seemless. This deepens the characterisation of Courtney and genuinely questions ideas of national identity.

I have a few issues with some of the characters (Snell is your archetypal pen-pushing underachiever with an axe to grind), and sometimes the portrayal of Africans and their deference to the physically and morally excellent Courtney is a bit too conventional, but what's important is their interrelationships and interiorirty, and these have a palapable veracity at their core.

If you're a fan of Smith work then this is another winner. For new readers, expect a well-orchestrated plot where the perspective and identity of the protagonist is adjusted by the uncontrollable events around him, either by supernatural fate or the growing, undeniable reality of war. Above all, expect good writing and an enveloping experience.
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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
1.0 out of 5 stars Assegai, 12 May 2009
By A. Jordan (UK) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
Really rather disappointing. I am a Smith fan, but he seems to have run out of ideas recently. To me this seemed like two, if not three or four, separate stories that were not really linked, other than by the central character. The middle section, concerning an ex American President's son and a then rich German Princess, is just pointless and has no relation to the final part of the story. I also do not understand why Smith seems to have become obsessed with mysticism, his stories were better without this. I think it is now time for Mr. Smith to retire so that his deserved reputation, created by his earlier novels, remains intact.
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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars Inferior Wilbur Smith, 7 Oct 2009
This review is from: Assegai (Paperback)
I have read all of Wilbur Smiths books and thoroughly enjoyed most of them but this is most certainly his poorest yet, unfortunatly continuing the trend of his latest offerings.I think that I will now probably not be buying any of his next books as life is too short to waste on reading rubbish.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

1.0 out of 5 stars Not usual standard
I found this dissapointing from previous books and gave away my copy to a charity shop.
Published 2 days ago by Barry N. Allen

4.0 out of 5 stars Back
Like others have said this book goes someway to re-establishing Smith, as he was most definately in decline, not back to his first novels quality but definately a step in the... Read more
Published 3 days ago by B. Taverner

5.0 out of 5 stars What africa is all about.
Having never read a Wilbur Smith book before, was suggested to read this because of my love for South Africa. Found it fantastic storyline, and captivating caractor. Read more
Published 14 days ago by Mrs. S. Scoines

2.0 out of 5 stars Very disappointing again...
After the dreadful drivel of The Quest I was hoping for better when I saw he'd gone back to the area in which he had so much of his original success with the fabulous Courtney... Read more
Published 23 days ago by Heather

5.0 out of 5 stars Wilbur Smith -Assegai
I have been reading Wilbur Smith books since the "Sound of Thunder" and have been waiting eagerley for his ltaest book. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Mr. Barry W. Fletcher

4.0 out of 5 stars Blunt Spear
A good read but not one of his best. The middle part of the story seemed to drag and the end was rather abrupt. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Nauticalnod

5.0 out of 5 stars Wilbur Smith's Assegai
Another great Wilbur Smith book. Just could not put it down. Roll on the next addition, hopefully at the wonderful Amazon price!!
Published 1 month ago by C. M. Cowling

5.0 out of 5 stars Assegai
Cracking Book as you would expect by Wilbur Smith. Lots of action and a super Read. Once again Best price by Amazon.
Published 2 months ago by Peter J. Kelly

3.0 out of 5 stars ASSEGAI
He seems to have laid the groundwork for another series of Courtney sagas. A bit thin but holds the promise that more of his best series is yet to come.
Published 2 months ago by BILL MAC

3.0 out of 5 stars Worth a read
As a new reader of Wilbur Smith, I wasn't entirely certain what to expect from this book. However, I like Africa, history and reading - so how wrong could I go here? Read more
Published 2 months ago by Graeme Carter

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