- Paperback: 624 pages
- Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin (May 2003)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0312317123
- ISBN-13: 978-0312317126
- Product Dimensions: 23.5 x 15.2 x 3.9 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (58 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 4,788,030 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
Monsoon
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Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
Before there was empire, there was trade, and military force to protect that trade. Wilbur Smith's new, full-blooded historical novel starts with the commissioning, by King William III of Sir Hal Franklin. Franklin's mission is to rid the Indian Ocean of the pirate known as al-Aouf, the Bad One, and tells us more than we knew about the East India trade, Channel smuggling, the Arab slave trade and the struggle to keep Oman free from the Ottoman Empire.
Smith's solid, competent prose does not always avoid the hackneyed, but effectively conveys both the heat of battle and the savoury smells of lands experienced for the first time. Hal Franklin has four sons and the complex tragedy of their relationships dominates the book as brother is pitted against brother in love, and war, and treachery. The plot, though, is only a part of what is important here; the Indian Ocean trade was the site of one of the great confrontations between the English-speaking world and Islam--a conflict, between the brash mariners with their shiny new guns and the long-established, scholarly, brave, pious rulers of Arabia and the East African coast. A conflict whose outcome was open to doubt.--Roz Kaveney --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
Product Description
Follow up to BIRDS OF PREY and continuing the saga of the Courteney family. Set at the start of the 18th century in England, East Africa and Arabia. Following the lives of the three sons of Hal Courteney, who are drawn inexorably to Africa. The adventure and excitement take place on the ocean but gradually the brothers are seduced by Africa.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
26 of 26 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I've been an avid follower of Wilbur Smith for many years now and i'm glad to say that this book lived up to my very high expectations of him.
Whilst writing this review I don't want to ruin any of the immense enjoyment that the reader should get from reading this book, so I won't write anyting about what happens. Instead I'll try to set the picture of what the reader should come to expect from such a fine book:
This book should come with a warning sticker on the cover - "MAY SERIOUSLY AFFECT SLEEPING PATTERNS" - I just couldn't put it down and often ended up reading till the 'wee small hours of the morning'. Action, romance, death, scandal; this book has it all...and more.
'Monsoon' starts off at a fast pace and maintains the momentum throughout. Ranging from the South coast of England to the plains of Africa, deserts of Asia and the seas of the Atlantic and Indian Oceans, Wilbur Smith manages to set the picture for all of these locations beautifully.
It's been a while since I read a book that can make the hairs stand on end and not since 'When The Lion Feeds" have i felt so shocked and saddened by the death of a fictional character. The way Wilbur draws the reader to one conclusion then throws a totally different one back at them is amazing.
Wilbur got the fine line between a fast paced read and allowing the reader to understand and follow the numerous plots in this fine book just right. The only bad thing that I can possibly say about 'Monsoon' is that it actually came to an end; I can't wait till his next release. I can't praise this book enough; the best book of an excellent bunch!
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
What a book, I became so engrossed in this that I found myself reading it in any spare moment I had.
I found myself almost living the emotions of Tom and Dorian Courtney, so brilliant is this tale told by the ever brilliant Wilbur Smith. Make sure you read Birds of prey first though.
I found myself almost living the emotions of Tom and Dorian Courtney, so brilliant is this tale told by the ever brilliant Wilbur Smith. Make sure you read Birds of prey first though.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
What a brilliant story teller!,having read Birds of Prey i bought Monsoon as soon as it was published.I have since read it twice,and will probably read it again.If you like a good period adventure then it's a must.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Compelling, epic and cinematically detailed
The book opens at the end of the 17th century with teenage Tom Courtney up to mischief, sneaking into the chapel of his father's great estate with his twin brother Guy to meet with... Read more
Published 12 months ago by Jo Bennie
A Fantastic achievement
The words "difficult to put down" for a novel are often used but for a 800 page book it is a major achievement. Read more
Published 14 months ago by Lee Hanley
The greatest adventure story ever written !
I first read this book many moons ago , & I firmly believe this is his greatest work ever . I just did not want it to end . Read more
Published 16 months ago by rip clint
Quite simply the greatest book ever written
Quite simply the greatest book ever written. I cannot praise it enough. Not only is my favourite book of all time but my two brothers as well. Read more
Published 17 months ago by Mr. P. D. Sinnott
peace, for a while
Bought this item for my husbands xmas, tried elsewhere, but got it on amazon.
Never saw him through xmas, except when he was hungry, not for the cleaning up. Read more
Never saw him through xmas, except when he was hungry, not for the cleaning up. Read more
Published 17 months ago by Dulux
Excellent
It's got to be said I did enjoy this book, initially I thought it was going to be similar to Birds of Prey, but no this is totally different and equallly enjoyable. Read more
Published on 28 Jan 2010 by edzshed
The best book I have read in the Wilbur Smith series.
It has taken me many years to actually sit down and read Monsoon. I am glad that I have done so, it was the best book out of all Wilbur Smith's books and it was a pleasure to read... Read more
Published on 6 Jan 2010 by Brian Kennedy
Rip-roaring!
Monsoon is by far the best novel by Wilbur Smith that I have read. It is an epic generation-spanning tale of war, violence, love, lust, deceit and despair, all rolled in to one. Read more
Published on 3 Dec 2007 by B. J. Madeley
The ultimate easy read
The ultimate long, lazy holiday read. Its fantasy with a bit violence, love and mystery all thrown in for good measure, set in a bygone age. Read more
Published on 29 Nov 2007 by KEN SCOTT author
Simply the best book I have ever read.
I have now bought four copies of this book, because I keep recommending to people, lending it to them and not getting it back. Read more
Published on 13 Sep 2007 by Graddick
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