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Courtney publication order #12
Triumf słońca
Powieść z popularnej sagi rodu Courtney`ów, która obejmuje także powieści Monsun i Błękitny horyzont. 1884. W Sudanie, po dziesięcioleciach zależności od Egiptu, wybucha krwawe powstanie i święta wojna. Mahdi, charyzmatyczny przywódca religijny, jednoczy plemiona arabskie i rozpoczyna oblężenie Chartumu. W celu ochrony interesów Korony i jej obywateli Brytyjczycy podejmują próbę odsieczy. W mieście, wraz z setkami innych, przebywa brytyjski kupiec Ryder Courtney. Jest tu też oficer wywiadu, doskonały fechmistrz, kapitan Penrod Ballantyne z królewskich husarów oraz brytyjski konsul David Benbrook z trzema pięknymi córkami - Rebeccą, Amber i Saffron. Penrod i Ryder rywalizują o względy siedemnastoletniej Rebeki, która wprawdzie ulega młodemu oficerowi, ale ostatecznie postanawia związać się z przedsiębiorczym Ryderem. Penrod dokonuje cudów odwagi i poświęcenia, odsiecz przybywa jednak za późno i Chartum zostaje zdobyty przez mahdystów. Konsul i dowodzący obroną generał Gordon giną, rozpoczyna się rzeź. Rebecca trafia do haremu, Mahdi czyni ją swoją nałożnicą. Penrod i Ryder postanawiają odbić dziewczynę...
528 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2005
662 people are currently reading
2467 people want to read
About the author
Wilbur Smith
279 books4,372 followersWilbur Smith was a prolific and bestselling South African novelist renowned for his sweeping adventure stories set against the backdrop of Africa’s dramatic landscapes and turbulent history. Born in 1933 in what was then Northern Rhodesia (now Zambia), he grew up in South Africa, where his love for storytelling was nurtured by the rich environment and tales of African history. His early years were shaped by his experiences in the wilderness, which later became a defining element in his fiction.
After studying at Rhodes University, Smith initially worked as an accountant, but his true passion lay in writing. His breakthrough came in 1964 with When the Lion Feeds, a historical adventure novel that introduced the Courtney family saga. The book’s success led to a long-running series chronicling the exploits of multiple generations of the Courtney family, spanning centuries of African and world history. Alongside this, Smith wrote the Ballantyne series, focused on colonial Africa, and the Ancient Egypt series, which delved into historical fiction with a mythical touch.
Over his six-decade career, Smith authored more than 50 novels, selling over 140 million copies worldwide. His works were characterized by meticulous research, vivid descriptions of the African wilderness, and gripping action-packed narratives. Whether set in the colonial era, the world of pharaohs, or modern-day Africa, his books often explored themes of survival, war, power, and human ambition. He collaborated with co-authors in his later years to expand his literary universe, ensuring his stories continued to reach new audiences.
Beyond writing, Smith was an avid traveler and adventurer, drawing inspiration from his own experiences hunting, sailing, and exploring remote corners of Africa. While he was passionate about wildlife and conservation, some of his views—particularly regarding big game hunting—sparked debate. Nonetheless, his deep affection for Africa was evident in his writing, which celebrated both its beauty and its historical complexities.
Smith’s influence on adventure fiction remains significant, with his books continuing to captivate readers around the world. His legacy endures through his richly woven tales of exploration, conquest, and the enduring spirit of Africa.
After studying at Rhodes University, Smith initially worked as an accountant, but his true passion lay in writing. His breakthrough came in 1964 with When the Lion Feeds, a historical adventure novel that introduced the Courtney family saga. The book’s success led to a long-running series chronicling the exploits of multiple generations of the Courtney family, spanning centuries of African and world history. Alongside this, Smith wrote the Ballantyne series, focused on colonial Africa, and the Ancient Egypt series, which delved into historical fiction with a mythical touch.
Over his six-decade career, Smith authored more than 50 novels, selling over 140 million copies worldwide. His works were characterized by meticulous research, vivid descriptions of the African wilderness, and gripping action-packed narratives. Whether set in the colonial era, the world of pharaohs, or modern-day Africa, his books often explored themes of survival, war, power, and human ambition. He collaborated with co-authors in his later years to expand his literary universe, ensuring his stories continued to reach new audiences.
Beyond writing, Smith was an avid traveler and adventurer, drawing inspiration from his own experiences hunting, sailing, and exploring remote corners of Africa. While he was passionate about wildlife and conservation, some of his views—particularly regarding big game hunting—sparked debate. Nonetheless, his deep affection for Africa was evident in his writing, which celebrated both its beauty and its historical complexities.
Smith’s influence on adventure fiction remains significant, with his books continuing to captivate readers around the world. His legacy endures through his richly woven tales of exploration, conquest, and the enduring spirit of Africa.
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April 26, 2016
This is a book I had no business reading. For one, I’d never heard of Wilbur Smith. This despite the fact that he is an international bestselling author, who is likely sitting atop a large pile of money somewhere in the world right now. For two, Triumph of the Sun is part of a long series of books written by Smith, detailing the lives of the Ballantyne and Courtney families and the continent of Africa. And to be clear, Triumph of the Sun is not the first book in the series. Based on a quick perusal of Wikipedia – which has never been nor ever will be wrong – it is the middle book of the Courtney chronicles, and the last book of the Ballantyne saga.
So there you have it. I decided to read a book by a guy I’d never heard of about characters who have been around since 1964.
Why, you might ask? Well, there was this brief period in which I was intensely interested in the Anglo-Sudanese War of 1881 (also known as the Mahdist Revolt). I wanted to read about Chinese Gordon, Khartoum, whirling dervishes and the battle of Omdurman. The thing is, there aren’t a ton of books about this vicious colonial conflict at the dawn of the 20th century. But there was this novel, Triumph of the Sun.
Of course, I hesitated. Then I read a scathing reader review by a guy who gave this book one star for, among other things, having too much gratuitous sex and violence.
Sold.
When it comes to historical novels, you can never have too much gratuitous sex and violence. Those two elements are the lifeblood of any bodice-ripping, throat-slashing historical novel worth buying used over the internet for a penny.
Time would prove that a penny well spent – along with four dollars shipping and handling.
The Anglo-Sudanese War began when a Muslim cleric named Muhammad Ahmad declared himself the Mahdi – a successor of Mohammed and a redeemer of Islam. The Mahdi attracted a large following and eventually revolted against the Egyptians in the Sudan. Great Britain, which for the most part controlled the Egyptian government, sent out an expedition against the Mahdi under the command of General William Hicks. At the battle of El Obeid, the Mahdi’s forces slaughtered the so-called Hicks Expedition and General Hicks lost his head.
Great Britain quickly decided that the Sudan was not worth the trouble and ordered a pullout. They sent an English officer – General Charles “Chinese” Gordon – to the Sudan to organize a withdrawal. Instead, Gordon drew himself up in Khartoum and decided to stay.
Triumph of the Sun opens with the Siege of Khartoum already well under way. We are quickly introduced to the Benbrook’s, an English family caught in Khartoum. The single father, David Benbrook, is the British consul. He mainly exists as a character, however, because natural law requires that daughters have a father.
Of daughters, David has three. Saffron and Amber, are beautiful twins. Their job throughout the novel is to get into all sorts of danger, necessitating their rescue. Their older sister, Rebecca, is beautiful as well, because English heroes don’t save homely housemaids. She also has a quandary: she is in love with two men (!). Yes, despite the closing noose of the dervish siege train, despite the starvation rations, despite the prospect of death or worse, Rebecca’s sole focus is on being the dull point of a tired love triangle. To quote our friend Buddy the Elf, she is a cotton-headed ninny-muggins. She’s the kind of flimsy female character who kisses a man and then runs away in hysterics. I almost expected her to be screaming I’ve got the vapors!.
Since there are three damsels, there has to be at least two heroes (and if you do the math, that means a “surprise” ending). The two English stalwarts are the ridiculously-named Penrod Ballantyne and the ridiculously-named Ryder Courtney (who sounds like he could be in One Direction).
Penrod is an officer in the 10th Hussars. He is all English. Stiff-lipped. Strong-limbed. He likes to sip his scotch, kill his enemies, and make ardent love to his women. Despite being lily-white, he is able to don a thawb and keffiya and slip in and out of the dervish ranks, speaking perfectly-accented Arabic.
Ryder is a trader. When he first appears, it is on the Blue Nile, in his trusty steamboat. He is the type of literary creation who is constantly grousing about how much money he is losing, but you know that in reality he has a heart of gold. He is mostly undifferentiated from Penrod, except that Ryder is not a soldier and both he and Penrod hate each other. Also, Ryder is all rogue, whereas Penrod is maybe only half.
There are also several Sudanese characters.
I found Smith’s take on the Mahdist armies to be very interesting – and not always interesting in a good way. He reminds me a bit of an American frontiersman, the kind who took the time to learn the language, dress, and customs of the Indians, and then killed them. It is clear from this book that Smith has done a prodigious amount of research on the lives and customs of the desert tribes. He devotes ample pages to their ornately formal way of speaking; he has taken the time to learn the language; he knows the religious customs; he vividly describes an elephant hunt. But he also doesn’t like them much; or at least he seems not to. Many of the Arab-centric scenes involve gruesome tortures, animalistic savagery, and ritualized sexual assault. There is, for instance, a very thorough account of a woman being stoned to death. (To be fair, Smith also has a scene in which the pompous, possibly-mad Chinese Gordon punishes some of his troops by blowing them off the walls with cannons. Really, you have to read it to believe it).
The chief dervish character is Osman Atalan, a fictional lieutenant of the Mahdi (who is also a major figure in the novel). Osman is an arch enemy of Penrod Ballantyne, which makes for several enjoyably silly moments when the two of them are able to find each other in the midst of a huge, swirling, dust-choked battle to clash with swords.
Unfortunately, the good Arabs in this book – and there are several – tend to be people without agency. They exist solely to serve their white masters. Penrod, Ryder, and the three Benbrook girls each has an Arab companion to selflessly help them through their trials.
All this is to say that Triumph of the Sun is more than a little clichéd when it comes to characterizations. It’s a 21st century book with an oddly gauzy view of English colonialism.
Triumph of the Sun is saved by its excesses. The battle scenes are really well done. They are exciting, vivid, and nasty. Smith is equally adept at writing a desperate camel chase across the desert as he is in describing the massive slugfest at Abu Klea, where a British infantry square, studded with Nordenfelt machine guns, banged it out with mounted dervishes wielding swords and lances. The violence is not for the faint of heart. There is the aforementioned stoning of a woman, the aforementioned shooting of men out of cannons, and half a dozen beheadings. The sack of Khartoum is especially horrific.
Then there’s the sex. Oh, boy, the sex. When I think of a great sex scene, one thing comes to mind: the poorer the taste the better. I’m serious. When I read fictional sex, I want it to be over-the-top. Triumph of the Sun succeeded beyond my wildest imagination. There are scenes of such questionable taste that I have to resist the urge to tell you every single one. But I won’t, except to say the word quimmy is thrown about with reckless abandon.
Also, this happens:
* Editor’s Note #1: I think I’m getting the vapors now!
** Editor’s Note #2: If I had a nickel…
*** Editor’s Note #3: You’re doing it wrong!
If it sounds a bit like I’m mocking this book, well, it’s because I’m mocking parts of it. Seriously – a love scene should never involve impalement. On the whole, though, I genuinely enjoyed Triumph of the Sun. Art is subjective, but there are certainly objective criteria for artistic quality that this novel falls well short of achieving. However, it easily surpasses the chief goal of a work of this kind, which is to entertain.
Smith is a great storyteller. He takes his two-dimensional characters (who say things like “I cannot live another moment without you inside me”) and puts them through their paces. He is able to graft a propulsive fictional narrative onto the well-researched and relatively-accurate historical framework.
It is a book that will satisfy Wilbur Smith fans. It is a book that will satisfy history buffs. It is a book that will please perverts. It is…a triumph.
So there you have it. I decided to read a book by a guy I’d never heard of about characters who have been around since 1964.
Why, you might ask? Well, there was this brief period in which I was intensely interested in the Anglo-Sudanese War of 1881 (also known as the Mahdist Revolt). I wanted to read about Chinese Gordon, Khartoum, whirling dervishes and the battle of Omdurman. The thing is, there aren’t a ton of books about this vicious colonial conflict at the dawn of the 20th century. But there was this novel, Triumph of the Sun.
Of course, I hesitated. Then I read a scathing reader review by a guy who gave this book one star for, among other things, having too much gratuitous sex and violence.
Sold.
When it comes to historical novels, you can never have too much gratuitous sex and violence. Those two elements are the lifeblood of any bodice-ripping, throat-slashing historical novel worth buying used over the internet for a penny.
Time would prove that a penny well spent – along with four dollars shipping and handling.
The Anglo-Sudanese War began when a Muslim cleric named Muhammad Ahmad declared himself the Mahdi – a successor of Mohammed and a redeemer of Islam. The Mahdi attracted a large following and eventually revolted against the Egyptians in the Sudan. Great Britain, which for the most part controlled the Egyptian government, sent out an expedition against the Mahdi under the command of General William Hicks. At the battle of El Obeid, the Mahdi’s forces slaughtered the so-called Hicks Expedition and General Hicks lost his head.
Great Britain quickly decided that the Sudan was not worth the trouble and ordered a pullout. They sent an English officer – General Charles “Chinese” Gordon – to the Sudan to organize a withdrawal. Instead, Gordon drew himself up in Khartoum and decided to stay.
Triumph of the Sun opens with the Siege of Khartoum already well under way. We are quickly introduced to the Benbrook’s, an English family caught in Khartoum. The single father, David Benbrook, is the British consul. He mainly exists as a character, however, because natural law requires that daughters have a father.
Of daughters, David has three. Saffron and Amber, are beautiful twins. Their job throughout the novel is to get into all sorts of danger, necessitating their rescue. Their older sister, Rebecca, is beautiful as well, because English heroes don’t save homely housemaids. She also has a quandary: she is in love with two men (!). Yes, despite the closing noose of the dervish siege train, despite the starvation rations, despite the prospect of death or worse, Rebecca’s sole focus is on being the dull point of a tired love triangle. To quote our friend Buddy the Elf, she is a cotton-headed ninny-muggins. She’s the kind of flimsy female character who kisses a man and then runs away in hysterics. I almost expected her to be screaming I’ve got the vapors!.
Since there are three damsels, there has to be at least two heroes (and if you do the math, that means a “surprise” ending). The two English stalwarts are the ridiculously-named Penrod Ballantyne and the ridiculously-named Ryder Courtney (who sounds like he could be in One Direction).
Penrod is an officer in the 10th Hussars. He is all English. Stiff-lipped. Strong-limbed. He likes to sip his scotch, kill his enemies, and make ardent love to his women. Despite being lily-white, he is able to don a thawb and keffiya and slip in and out of the dervish ranks, speaking perfectly-accented Arabic.
Ryder is a trader. When he first appears, it is on the Blue Nile, in his trusty steamboat. He is the type of literary creation who is constantly grousing about how much money he is losing, but you know that in reality he has a heart of gold. He is mostly undifferentiated from Penrod, except that Ryder is not a soldier and both he and Penrod hate each other. Also, Ryder is all rogue, whereas Penrod is maybe only half.
There are also several Sudanese characters.
I found Smith’s take on the Mahdist armies to be very interesting – and not always interesting in a good way. He reminds me a bit of an American frontiersman, the kind who took the time to learn the language, dress, and customs of the Indians, and then killed them. It is clear from this book that Smith has done a prodigious amount of research on the lives and customs of the desert tribes. He devotes ample pages to their ornately formal way of speaking; he has taken the time to learn the language; he knows the religious customs; he vividly describes an elephant hunt. But he also doesn’t like them much; or at least he seems not to. Many of the Arab-centric scenes involve gruesome tortures, animalistic savagery, and ritualized sexual assault. There is, for instance, a very thorough account of a woman being stoned to death. (To be fair, Smith also has a scene in which the pompous, possibly-mad Chinese Gordon punishes some of his troops by blowing them off the walls with cannons. Really, you have to read it to believe it).
The chief dervish character is Osman Atalan, a fictional lieutenant of the Mahdi (who is also a major figure in the novel). Osman is an arch enemy of Penrod Ballantyne, which makes for several enjoyably silly moments when the two of them are able to find each other in the midst of a huge, swirling, dust-choked battle to clash with swords.
Unfortunately, the good Arabs in this book – and there are several – tend to be people without agency. They exist solely to serve their white masters. Penrod, Ryder, and the three Benbrook girls each has an Arab companion to selflessly help them through their trials.
All this is to say that Triumph of the Sun is more than a little clichéd when it comes to characterizations. It’s a 21st century book with an oddly gauzy view of English colonialism.
Triumph of the Sun is saved by its excesses. The battle scenes are really well done. They are exciting, vivid, and nasty. Smith is equally adept at writing a desperate camel chase across the desert as he is in describing the massive slugfest at Abu Klea, where a British infantry square, studded with Nordenfelt machine guns, banged it out with mounted dervishes wielding swords and lances. The violence is not for the faint of heart. There is the aforementioned stoning of a woman, the aforementioned shooting of men out of cannons, and half a dozen beheadings. The sack of Khartoum is especially horrific.
Then there’s the sex. Oh, boy, the sex. When I think of a great sex scene, one thing comes to mind: the poorer the taste the better. I’m serious. When I read fictional sex, I want it to be over-the-top. Triumph of the Sun succeeded beyond my wildest imagination. There are scenes of such questionable taste that I have to resist the urge to tell you every single one. But I won’t, except to say the word quimmy is thrown about with reckless abandon.
Also, this happens:
She locked her thighs round his hips and felt him burrowing into the silken nest of curls at the fork of her legs.* “Quickly! I cannot live another moment without you inside me.”** She pressed down hard, screwing up her eyes with the effort, and felt all resistance to him give way. She dug her fingernails into his back and pushed down again. Then nothing else in the world mattered: all her worries and fears dissolved as he glided in, impaling her deeply. She felt her womb open to welcome him…***
* Editor’s Note #1: I think I’m getting the vapors now!
** Editor’s Note #2: If I had a nickel…
*** Editor’s Note #3: You’re doing it wrong!
If it sounds a bit like I’m mocking this book, well, it’s because I’m mocking parts of it. Seriously – a love scene should never involve impalement. On the whole, though, I genuinely enjoyed Triumph of the Sun. Art is subjective, but there are certainly objective criteria for artistic quality that this novel falls well short of achieving. However, it easily surpasses the chief goal of a work of this kind, which is to entertain.
Smith is a great storyteller. He takes his two-dimensional characters (who say things like “I cannot live another moment without you inside me”) and puts them through their paces. He is able to graft a propulsive fictional narrative onto the well-researched and relatively-accurate historical framework.
It is a book that will satisfy Wilbur Smith fans. It is a book that will satisfy history buffs. It is a book that will please perverts. It is…a triumph.
November 9, 2012
Wow! How is it that I never before read Wilbur Smith? How is it that, as a writer of historical fiction, I never even heard of him? I am thoroughly embarrassed.
But meanwhile, I am 75% through this non-stop blood and gore adventure, and I am enjoying every page. I am particularly impressed with the way Smith brings in detailed historical information without in any way slowing the flow of the story. That is a gift.
The book finished with almost the same momentum it had before, except for an extended period of "tell" instead of "show" to wrap up all of the characters. Maybe Smith just got tired. Still an excellent read, certainly good enough to try another. Any suggestions?
But meanwhile, I am 75% through this non-stop blood and gore adventure, and I am enjoying every page. I am particularly impressed with the way Smith brings in detailed historical information without in any way slowing the flow of the story. That is a gift.
The book finished with almost the same momentum it had before, except for an extended period of "tell" instead of "show" to wrap up all of the characters. Maybe Smith just got tired. Still an excellent read, certainly good enough to try another. Any suggestions?
October 6, 2019
I haven't read a historical novel since I have finished the school. And there's a good reason for that. I've never liked this genre. But after so many years, I decided to give it a chance. You know, over time the taste changes, what you didn't like in childhood, you are able to appreciate as adult. Nope, not really. I still don't like history books. Even in such a light form as here (most people probably would not even include this novel as history book).
It's one of those weird books that would be great as a TV show or movie. But as a book it is really average, if not tedious. If it was a TV show I would watch it with pleasure. The characters would annoy me much less and the absurdities of the plot would be much less irritating. And we would get rid of all those boring, lengthy descriptions that add nothing to the whole story. Probably a few boring scenes would also fall out. All this would be beneficial to this story. A nice TV show indeed.
Unfortunately, this is a book, not a television show. And we have to do with all these annoying things. I have nothing against long books if they are reasonable. This, however, goes on forever. What's worse, it seems to me that the author himself somewhere in the middle of this story completely lost the idea of how it should all end. The action, which in the first half of the book has some sense and continuity, in the second half is basically replaced by descriptions of the normal lives of the characters, life in the harem and some vague attempt to free Rebecca and Amber from their captivity. At this point, the book skips months and years in which I feel like nothing happens. There is nothing wrong with it, only that I had the impression of incoherence in relation to the first part. The truth is that I quickly lost interest in the whole story. Which is never good with a door stopper.
This is largely the fault of the characters. There is not even one character in this book that I would like and whose fate I would really care about. Female characters are the worst. Rebecca drives me crazy with her bigotry, naivety and snobbery. Only twins are worse than her. They are the most bratty and displeasing kids I've read about recently. I sincerely hoped that their constant disobedience would lead to their death at some point. I also don't like the two Rebecca’s admirers. Although I like Ryder a little more than Ballantyne.
I totally admit that I've skipped some pages to speed up this endless story a bit. And skip the more annoying scenes. I had really positive expectations of this book before. I thought it would be such a light, pleasant vacation read. But it is too long, too boring and sometimes simply pointless.
I haven't read any other Wilbur Smith book. And this book is just one from the whole series. But I think I will give myself the rest. Maybe I'll watch a movie based on one of his books, it can be much more interesting.
It's one of those weird books that would be great as a TV show or movie. But as a book it is really average, if not tedious. If it was a TV show I would watch it with pleasure. The characters would annoy me much less and the absurdities of the plot would be much less irritating. And we would get rid of all those boring, lengthy descriptions that add nothing to the whole story. Probably a few boring scenes would also fall out. All this would be beneficial to this story. A nice TV show indeed.
Unfortunately, this is a book, not a television show. And we have to do with all these annoying things. I have nothing against long books if they are reasonable. This, however, goes on forever. What's worse, it seems to me that the author himself somewhere in the middle of this story completely lost the idea of how it should all end. The action, which in the first half of the book has some sense and continuity, in the second half is basically replaced by descriptions of the normal lives of the characters, life in the harem and some vague attempt to free Rebecca and Amber from their captivity. At this point, the book skips months and years in which I feel like nothing happens. There is nothing wrong with it, only that I had the impression of incoherence in relation to the first part. The truth is that I quickly lost interest in the whole story. Which is never good with a door stopper.
This is largely the fault of the characters. There is not even one character in this book that I would like and whose fate I would really care about. Female characters are the worst. Rebecca drives me crazy with her bigotry, naivety and snobbery. Only twins are worse than her. They are the most bratty and displeasing kids I've read about recently. I sincerely hoped that their constant disobedience would lead to their death at some point. I also don't like the two Rebecca’s admirers. Although I like Ryder a little more than Ballantyne.
I totally admit that I've skipped some pages to speed up this endless story a bit. And skip the more annoying scenes. I had really positive expectations of this book before. I thought it would be such a light, pleasant vacation read. But it is too long, too boring and sometimes simply pointless.
I haven't read any other Wilbur Smith book. And this book is just one from the whole series. But I think I will give myself the rest. Maybe I'll watch a movie based on one of his books, it can be much more interesting.
August 5, 2023
One of my guilty pleasures is the 1960s movie, ‘Khartoum’ about the Mahdi overrunning the Sudan and the last stand of General Gordon. With a black face Lawrence Olivier, it seems very dated now.
The novel is set against the same historical background. It’s probably three decades since I've read a Wilbur Smith novel. I’d forgotten what an entertaining writer he is, producing gripping stories about Africa. Yes, some of it is cringeworthy such as the sex scenes, but it is nonetheless a really good read transporting you to Khartoum, the Nile, and the vast deserts surrounding them.
Be warned though, there is lots of blood and gore. His description of the slaughter of elephants is horrible. Strangely, I cared less about most of the the human suffering described in the novel, perhaps because there is so many of us and we aren’t an endangered species.
Despite being nearly seven hundred pages long, the end seemed rushed and largely a non fiction narration, and a mother’s reaction to her husband’s death unrealistic. These two things dropped it from five stars to four, in my opinion.
The novel is set against the same historical background. It’s probably three decades since I've read a Wilbur Smith novel. I’d forgotten what an entertaining writer he is, producing gripping stories about Africa. Yes, some of it is cringeworthy such as the sex scenes, but it is nonetheless a really good read transporting you to Khartoum, the Nile, and the vast deserts surrounding them.
Be warned though, there is lots of blood and gore. His description of the slaughter of elephants is horrible. Strangely, I cared less about most of the the human suffering described in the novel, perhaps because there is so many of us and we aren’t an endangered species.
Despite being nearly seven hundred pages long, the end seemed rushed and largely a non fiction narration, and a mother’s reaction to her husband’s death unrealistic. These two things dropped it from five stars to four, in my opinion.
June 7, 2008
Reading a Wibur Smith novel is like reading a romance novel packaged as well-researched historical fiction or vice-versa.
Lots of bodice ripping, relatively explicit sex, interspersed with bloody conflicts between the good guys, in this case the British and the bad guys, in this case the Sudanese dervishes under the leadership of the Mahdi, set during the siege of Khartoum in 1884-85.
It's great for a trans-Pacific flight which is what I was on when I finished it. The characters are often cardboard. The heroes are invincible, the heroines are beautiful and cultured and the villains literally drip evil from their "fangs".
I have read more than a few of Smith's African adventure stories, many of them involving the Courtneys and the Ballantynes and I swear off them from time to time but always find a reason to come back. Reminds me of my addiction to Krispy Kreme doughnuts. This time my excuse was a 70% off sale at a local bookstore's going out of business sale.
In my opinion, his best work is in the ancient Egypt novels like River God. Please do not expect a review of a Wilbur Smith novel here until the next 70% off sale.
Lots of bodice ripping, relatively explicit sex, interspersed with bloody conflicts between the good guys, in this case the British and the bad guys, in this case the Sudanese dervishes under the leadership of the Mahdi, set during the siege of Khartoum in 1884-85.
It's great for a trans-Pacific flight which is what I was on when I finished it. The characters are often cardboard. The heroes are invincible, the heroines are beautiful and cultured and the villains literally drip evil from their "fangs".
I have read more than a few of Smith's African adventure stories, many of them involving the Courtneys and the Ballantynes and I swear off them from time to time but always find a reason to come back. Reminds me of my addiction to Krispy Kreme doughnuts. This time my excuse was a 70% off sale at a local bookstore's going out of business sale.
In my opinion, his best work is in the ancient Egypt novels like River God. Please do not expect a review of a Wilbur Smith novel here until the next 70% off sale.
March 10, 2025
One of the best books of adventure fiction that I’ve ever read. It stands shoulder to shoulder with Shogun and Tai-Pan.
March 3, 2023
Oh. My. God.
To call this an unrelenting load of crap would be to give unrelenting crap a bad name. This was about the worst book I have ever read - or at least begun to read. The writing style ranges from non-existent to awkwardly textbookish ("such a matching trio of firearms was known as a garnish of guns") to blatant xenophobic ("he could hear their terrible war cry of 'Allah Akbar! There is no God but God and Muhammad is his prophet!'," which I can only assume is 'terrible' in the same way as "God is great, and Jesus is his only Son" would be?).
But worst of all is the sex, which at best sounds like it was written by a never-seen-a-naked-woman teenager ("she wore nothing beneath it, and her buttocks were pale and round as a pair of ostrich eggs"), and at worst like a five-year-old ("His tammy is singing to my quimmy, she thought, and my quimmy likes the tune").
The whole thing - or at least as far as I got - just reads like a horrible James Clavell spoof. Spoiling it further is the fact that I am actually in Khartoum as I write this, and visited the tomb of the Mahdi in Omdurman just this afternoon (long story) - only to then return to my hotel and read about the British slave girl Rebecca exchanging 'oral favors' with the Mahdi himself; an image I can now never disconnect from my otherwise once-in-a-lifetime visit, thank you very much Wilbur.
So...an extremely reluctant 1-star, only because I cannot give it negative stars. To all who know and trust me, please avoid this like the plague.
To call this an unrelenting load of crap would be to give unrelenting crap a bad name. This was about the worst book I have ever read - or at least begun to read. The writing style ranges from non-existent to awkwardly textbookish ("such a matching trio of firearms was known as a garnish of guns") to blatant xenophobic ("he could hear their terrible war cry of 'Allah Akbar! There is no God but God and Muhammad is his prophet!'," which I can only assume is 'terrible' in the same way as "God is great, and Jesus is his only Son" would be?).
But worst of all is the sex, which at best sounds like it was written by a never-seen-a-naked-woman teenager ("she wore nothing beneath it, and her buttocks were pale and round as a pair of ostrich eggs"), and at worst like a five-year-old ("His tammy is singing to my quimmy, she thought, and my quimmy likes the tune").
The whole thing - or at least as far as I got - just reads like a horrible James Clavell spoof. Spoiling it further is the fact that I am actually in Khartoum as I write this, and visited the tomb of the Mahdi in Omdurman just this afternoon (long story) - only to then return to my hotel and read about the British slave girl Rebecca exchanging 'oral favors' with the Mahdi himself; an image I can now never disconnect from my otherwise once-in-a-lifetime visit, thank you very much Wilbur.
So...an extremely reluctant 1-star, only because I cannot give it negative stars. To all who know and trust me, please avoid this like the plague.
October 30, 2023
"Nelle società occidentali, noi siamo orgogliosi delle nostre gloriose tradizioni e del nostro alto livello morale. Eppure, presso i popoli illetterati e incolti l'ignoranza è essa stessa fonte di una grande energia perché è proprio l'ignoranza a costituire un irresistibile incentivo al fanatismo">.
Nelle quasi 600 pagine di questo romanzo di Wilbur Smith (datato 2005), ci troviamo davvero di tutto: avventura, amore, guerra, fanatismo religioso, tradimenti e speranza. La storia si svolge sul finire del 1800... eppure, in alcuni punti, sembra di leggere la cronaca dei nostri tempi: si parla, infatti, della guerra di "ideologia religiosa" tra la cultura occidentale e quella islamica. Da segnalare, inoltre, che qui si incontrano per la prima volta le due "famiglie" protagoniste di due epiche saghe di Smith: i Courteney ed i Ballantyne.
Romanzo molto descrittivo, anche troppo. Nell'ardore della battaglia, l'estenuante descrizione delle armi, dell'equipaggiamento e dei vestiti dei soldati di entrambi gli schieramenti e dei finimenti dei cavalli e dei cammelli, spezza il ritmo dell'azione proprio sul più bello.
Viceversa, e in maniera quasi paradossale, il punto di forza di Il trionfo del sole (e di tanti altri libri di Wilbur Smith) è proprio la magnifica e divina descrizione dei paesaggi africani: mentre stiamo leggendo un capitolo (ma anche un semplice paragrafo) con la scena che si svolge o nella savana o in pieno deserto, Smith riesce a catapultarti nel libro stesso e a darti l'impressione di sentire sul serio tutta l'afa (e la polvere del deserto) del continente africano.
[https://lastanzadiantonio.blogspot.co...]
Nelle quasi 600 pagine di questo romanzo di Wilbur Smith (datato 2005), ci troviamo davvero di tutto: avventura, amore, guerra, fanatismo religioso, tradimenti e speranza. La storia si svolge sul finire del 1800... eppure, in alcuni punti, sembra di leggere la cronaca dei nostri tempi: si parla, infatti, della guerra di "ideologia religiosa" tra la cultura occidentale e quella islamica. Da segnalare, inoltre, che qui si incontrano per la prima volta le due "famiglie" protagoniste di due epiche saghe di Smith: i Courteney ed i Ballantyne.
Romanzo molto descrittivo, anche troppo. Nell'ardore della battaglia, l'estenuante descrizione delle armi, dell'equipaggiamento e dei vestiti dei soldati di entrambi gli schieramenti e dei finimenti dei cavalli e dei cammelli, spezza il ritmo dell'azione proprio sul più bello.
Viceversa, e in maniera quasi paradossale, il punto di forza di Il trionfo del sole (e di tanti altri libri di Wilbur Smith) è proprio la magnifica e divina descrizione dei paesaggi africani: mentre stiamo leggendo un capitolo (ma anche un semplice paragrafo) con la scena che si svolge o nella savana o in pieno deserto, Smith riesce a catapultarti nel libro stesso e a darti l'impressione di sentire sul serio tutta l'afa (e la polvere del deserto) del continente africano.
[https://lastanzadiantonio.blogspot.co...]
May 9, 2021
Протистояння імперії та колонії
Не зовсім зрозуміло чому саме цей роман видали спочатку, оскільки в серії він значно дальше, водночас його можна читати незалежно від розуміння подій попередніх подій. Отож…
Події книги розпочинаються в кінці 19 століття на теренах Судану, що належить Британії. Насправді система управління цього африканського краю значно складніше, як і його історія. Тут панує колоніальна ідилія вікторіанської епохи, яку нараз руйнує раптове повстання під егідою Магді, того, що проголошує себе спадкоємцем Магомета. Він стрімко збирає навколо себе значне військо і створює власну квазідержаву. Безлад, свавілля та ґвалт, прирікають чимало людей на страждання та вигнання. Кожний з протагоністів, а їх тут вистачає, зіштовхується з низкою випробувань: втрата товару, полон тощо. Любовна лінія також наявна і вона містить дещо незвичний сюжетний хід.
Позаяк автору вдалося достатньо реалістично відобразити жахіття війни та зберігати напругу, попри той факт, що хід історії наперед відомий. Хай там як, такі романи привертають увагу до історії країн африканського континенту. Підозрюю, що «Тріумф сонця» припаде до душі читачам, яким подобаються пригодницькі романи в дусі творів А. Дюми, Г.Р. Гаґґарда та інших.
Не зовсім зрозуміло чому саме цей роман видали спочатку, оскільки в серії він значно дальше, водночас його можна читати незалежно від розуміння подій попередніх подій. Отож…
Події книги розпочинаються в кінці 19 століття на теренах Судану, що належить Британії. Насправді система управління цього африканського краю значно складніше, як і його історія. Тут панує колоніальна ідилія вікторіанської епохи, яку нараз руйнує раптове повстання під егідою Магді, того, що проголошує себе спадкоємцем Магомета. Він стрімко збирає навколо себе значне військо і створює власну квазідержаву. Безлад, свавілля та ґвалт, прирікають чимало людей на страждання та вигнання. Кожний з протагоністів, а їх тут вистачає, зіштовхується з низкою випробувань: втрата товару, полон тощо. Любовна лінія також наявна і вона містить дещо незвичний сюжетний хід.
Позаяк автору вдалося достатньо реалістично відобразити жахіття війни та зберігати напругу, попри той факт, що хід історії наперед відомий. Хай там як, такі романи привертають увагу до історії країн африканського континенту. Підозрюю, що «Тріумф сонця» припаде до душі читачам, яким подобаються пригодницькі романи в дусі творів А. Дюми, Г.Р. Гаґґарда та інших.
May 13, 2024
Wilbur Smith is definitely my guilty pleasure. Good guys are the best, bad guys are the worst, and all the heroes are incredibly good looking. The African history and cultural background seem to be well done (I am not well-versed), and the stories are always page-turners. This story looks at the British battles in the Sudan in the late 1800s with both real and fictional characters driving the story. As always, all of the women seemed obsessed with sex in a Smith book, but I suppose that tracks with the type of story-telling. Like I said - a guilty pleasure.
June 17, 2019
Set against the backdrop of the Siege of Khartoum in Africa in 1884-85, this novel follows two main characters, both with rich family histories already chronicled in Wilbur Smith’s other works. Penrod Ballantyne is an officer in the 10th Hussars, the quintessential Englishman. Ryder Courtney is a trader, a roguish entrepreneur who always finds ways to profit from misadventure. While they are rivals for a woman’s love, they also grow to admire one another as the adventurous plot unfolds.
I’ve read quite a number of Wilbur Smith novels, and this one leaves me no reason to stop now. They are always filled with adventure and both the Courtney and Ballantyne series in particular, are also packed with historically accurate locations, characters, and cultures. And just to keep it all going, there is a fair share of sex and violence to keep us turning the pages.
This is the first time the Courtney and Ballantyne families have met in any of the myriads of Wilbur Smith’s novels. Technically, it’s the 12th book in the Courtney series (according to Goodreads) and the 5th and final book in the Ballantyne series. That doesn’t really matter though as the book can really be read as a stand-alone.
I’ve read quite a number of Wilbur Smith novels, and this one leaves me no reason to stop now. They are always filled with adventure and both the Courtney and Ballantyne series in particular, are also packed with historically accurate locations, characters, and cultures. And just to keep it all going, there is a fair share of sex and violence to keep us turning the pages.
This is the first time the Courtney and Ballantyne families have met in any of the myriads of Wilbur Smith’s novels. Technically, it’s the 12th book in the Courtney series (according to Goodreads) and the 5th and final book in the Ballantyne series. That doesn’t really matter though as the book can really be read as a stand-alone.
November 17, 2018
Another fine novel from Wibur Smith. There's an excellent balanced mix of history, characters, plot and action, all against the background of Africa. The main focus of this book is the siege of the city of Khartoum and the various battles that occurred during the 1880's in the Sudan.
I'm not sure of the historical accuracy of the events in this book more than the basic facts. I remember covering it in school and I have seen the movie with Charlton Heston as General Gordon. Checking in Wikipedia I found that he was quite a colorful character.
Well worth reading. But a word of caution. There is quite a lot of brutality on the part of the Dervish people so not one for the feint of heart.
I'm not sure of the historical accuracy of the events in this book more than the basic facts. I remember covering it in school and I have seen the movie with Charlton Heston as General Gordon. Checking in Wikipedia I found that he was quite a colorful character.
Well worth reading. But a word of caution. There is quite a lot of brutality on the part of the Dervish people so not one for the feint of heart.
January 26, 2019
“Il trionfo del sole” è il primo libro di Wilbur Smith che leggo e ne devo dare un giudizio largamente positivo seppur segnato da qualche nota di demerito. Avventura allo stato puro e grande Storia si completano splendidamente in questo avvincente romanzo ambientato durante l'assedio della città sudanese di Khartoum nel 1884. Il romanzo segue le vicende di tre ragazze, figlie del console Benbrook e di due coraggiosi uomini d'avventura Ryder Courtney e Pernod Ballantyne che faranno di tutto per salvarle dal crudele destino che le attende. Alla testa di circa 50.000 dervisci il Mahdi, successore di Maometto, preme per conquistare Khartoum, capitale del Sudan e testa di ponte del protettorato britannico dell'Egitto. Dalla Gran Bretagna viene mandato in città il famoso generale Charles Gordon detto Il Cinese per evacuare gli abitanti e scortarli in territorio sicuro. Gordon disattende gli ordini e tenta di resistere all'assedio e in questa cornice storica si inseriscono i due avventurieri che dopo tante sofferenze e mille vicissitudini riescono a salvare e a sposare due ragazze inglesi mentre la terza diventerà sposa del braccio destro del Mahdi.
Teso e incalzante sino alla capitolazione di Khartoum e alla rocambolesca liberazione di Saffron e Amber Benbrook, il libro rallenta il ritmo e si trascina stancamente sino alla riconquista della città sudanese avvenuta nel 1896, favorita anche dalla grande superiorità tecnologica britannica che con la ferrovia che portò rapidamente le truppe riposate al fronte, con nuove e più sicure cannoniere che solcarono il Nilo e soprattutto con le micidiali mitragliatrici Maxim riuscì a dare un supporto tecnico indispensabile alla vittoria sui dervisci. Sembra quasi che Smith voglia mettere in primo piano l'aspetto umano della lotta e della guerra e si disinteressi dell'aspetto freddamente tecnologico che non crea pathos. In filigrana al romanzo si legge anche quello che Samuel Huntington chiama “Lo scontro delle civiltà”, titolo di un suo celebre saggio. Tra l'Impero britannico e l'esercito del Mahdi si compie uno dei tanti scontri tra due concezioni del mondo quella occidentale e quella araba e nel romanzo si percepisce chiaramente l'influenza degli avvenimenti dell'11 settembre 2011.
Teso e incalzante sino alla capitolazione di Khartoum e alla rocambolesca liberazione di Saffron e Amber Benbrook, il libro rallenta il ritmo e si trascina stancamente sino alla riconquista della città sudanese avvenuta nel 1896, favorita anche dalla grande superiorità tecnologica britannica che con la ferrovia che portò rapidamente le truppe riposate al fronte, con nuove e più sicure cannoniere che solcarono il Nilo e soprattutto con le micidiali mitragliatrici Maxim riuscì a dare un supporto tecnico indispensabile alla vittoria sui dervisci. Sembra quasi che Smith voglia mettere in primo piano l'aspetto umano della lotta e della guerra e si disinteressi dell'aspetto freddamente tecnologico che non crea pathos. In filigrana al romanzo si legge anche quello che Samuel Huntington chiama “Lo scontro delle civiltà”, titolo di un suo celebre saggio. Tra l'Impero britannico e l'esercito del Mahdi si compie uno dei tanti scontri tra due concezioni del mondo quella occidentale e quella araba e nel romanzo si percepisce chiaramente l'influenza degli avvenimenti dell'11 settembre 2011.
September 4, 2025
Good book besides the blatant child grooming that went on with multiple protagonists . Would be hesitant to recommend due to the multiple instances of child grooming (oh which there are many -trump voice), but was entertained throughout(besides the grooming). Wilbur, Wilbur, Wilbur… bad boy
March 9, 2016
As the Courtney series trudges along, Smith moves the story ahead to the latter decades of the 19th century, leaving the previous three novels and their context up to the reader's imagination. Smith sets the novel in the Sudan, which is being ruled by the Egyptian Khedive, though the narrative hints that things are mishandled under an iron fist in Cairo. Locals turn to the Mahdi, the 'Expected One' to toss the shackles of subservience and return the region to Arab control. Ryder Courtney, a British subject and trader in the region (not to mention the kid brother of Waite, whose sons play a key role in the first series of Courtney novels), finds himself trapped in the capital city of Khartoum, alongside the British Consul-General, David Benbrook, the Consul-General's three daughters, and Captain Penrod Ballantyne. While plotting an escape from the region, both Courtney and Ballantyne find themselves romantically drawn to and involved with the eldest Benbrook daughter, Rebecca, though neither can completely claim her heart. After the Mahdi raises a significant military force, the Arab soldiers raid Khartoum and seize the foreign inhabitants while permitting the locals to live under a more relaxed governing structure. While Courtney is able to flee the region with one of the Benbrook twins, Saffron, the others are not as lucky. A British military insurgence is unable to push the Arabs back and they take many prisoners, but slay a number of others. Rebecca and Amber Benbrook are two chosen by the Mahdi to serve in his concubine, which is a pivotal part of the story, as Rebecca becomes ensconced in her new way of life and eventually becomes a Muslim wife to the Caliph. Ballantyne suffers greatly, though is able to escape and encounters Courtney, who returns to retrieve those with whom he forged a bond before Khartoum fell. Smith offers an interesting end to the novel, which solidifies that it is the Benbrook women, and not either a Courtney or Ballantyne, who play a central role in the overall plot. A powerful addition to the Courtney series, that can also be read independently and thoroughly enjoyed.
Smith has created a complex novel that stirs up much interest and controversy all at once. He finally makes a connection to the first series of novels by introducing Ryder Courtney, though there is but passing mention of Waite and his sons, Sean and Garrick. Penrod Ballantyne is surely a relative of those who sailed from England and settled in what became Rhodesia, but there is no firm connection to Robyn et. al., leaving the reader to speculate. The three Benbrook girls (and eventually women) play a central role, though their introduction in the early sections of the book does not hint to their eventual importance. Each of them chooses a groom and their lives change accordingly, though by the end there is no clear connection to the furthering of either the Courtney or Ballantyne series. In the case of Rebecca's children, Smith offers a narrative that seems to encompass their entire lives in a few paragraphs, leaving the reader to wonder if the final two Courtney novels will veer off into another direction. One area that came to fruition and cannot be missed (as it has been a theme in the entire third collection of Courtney novels) is the presents of Arabs as the key antagonists. The attentive and cognizant reader will see that the time around when Smith penned these novels parallels the rise and Western vilification of the Taliban and al-Qaeda. Just as in the more current newsworthy stories, Smith depicts these Arabs as ruthless and willing to inflict horrific tortures on their captives, while also forcing their arcane beliefs on women. I noticed this throughout and wonder, while historically accurate, if use of this group as villains helped sell books and propel Smith to offer up his own soap box sentiment about issues in the headlines as he sat composing these novels. It is worth further investigation in book club and reading circles. Overall, a very powerful piece that forces the reader to think while offering a new and insightful angle of colonial subjugation.
Kudos, Mr. Smith for offering such a wonderful piece of work that kept me on the edge of my seat while leaving me wanting more. Thankfully, we still have two novels to go in the series.
Like/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
Smith has created a complex novel that stirs up much interest and controversy all at once. He finally makes a connection to the first series of novels by introducing Ryder Courtney, though there is but passing mention of Waite and his sons, Sean and Garrick. Penrod Ballantyne is surely a relative of those who sailed from England and settled in what became Rhodesia, but there is no firm connection to Robyn et. al., leaving the reader to speculate. The three Benbrook girls (and eventually women) play a central role, though their introduction in the early sections of the book does not hint to their eventual importance. Each of them chooses a groom and their lives change accordingly, though by the end there is no clear connection to the furthering of either the Courtney or Ballantyne series. In the case of Rebecca's children, Smith offers a narrative that seems to encompass their entire lives in a few paragraphs, leaving the reader to wonder if the final two Courtney novels will veer off into another direction. One area that came to fruition and cannot be missed (as it has been a theme in the entire third collection of Courtney novels) is the presents of Arabs as the key antagonists. The attentive and cognizant reader will see that the time around when Smith penned these novels parallels the rise and Western vilification of the Taliban and al-Qaeda. Just as in the more current newsworthy stories, Smith depicts these Arabs as ruthless and willing to inflict horrific tortures on their captives, while also forcing their arcane beliefs on women. I noticed this throughout and wonder, while historically accurate, if use of this group as villains helped sell books and propel Smith to offer up his own soap box sentiment about issues in the headlines as he sat composing these novels. It is worth further investigation in book club and reading circles. Overall, a very powerful piece that forces the reader to think while offering a new and insightful angle of colonial subjugation.
Kudos, Mr. Smith for offering such a wonderful piece of work that kept me on the edge of my seat while leaving me wanting more. Thankfully, we still have two novels to go in the series.
Like/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
March 29, 2018
i know wilbur smith. i've read wilbur smith. you sir, are no wilbur smith... well, maybe you are, but your better works are definitely behind you, with the ancient egyptian titles. i used to read smith all the time, 20 years ago.. what happened? i really struggled with this one, all 650+ pages of it. it was like reading a bodice-ripping harlequin 'novel' that had been mistakenly repackaged as a fully-researched tome of historical fiction. what could have been really interesting, multi-faceted history was reduced to unsavory explicit sex and grotesque conflicts, interspersed with long passages of snoozefest dialogue and over-explanation. i suppose if you were on some long trip and wanted cookie cutter characters and a plot you can barely believe, or it was on sale, then this is your book. but it wasn't mine. 2 stars because i finished it, but it was almost 1 star for DNF-ing multiple times. from here on out i'll stick with re-reads of smith's better books, and find other authors within this genre.
February 20, 2019
absolutely brilliant
great story superbly written. now having finished it perhaps I might get to sleep at a reasonable time. highly recommend
great story superbly written. now having finished it perhaps I might get to sleep at a reasonable time. highly recommend
September 29, 2021
В основі цієї книги – реальна історія, як це часто буває у Вілбура Сміта. Наприкінці 19-го століття в Судані спалахує повстання. Його лідер на ймення Магді оголошує джихад британсько-єгипетській адміністрації і після вдалої військової кампанії бере в облогу столицю – Хартум. У цей час там перебувають: відданий Британській імперії посол Девід Бенбрук, його злегка емансипована донька Ребекка, її нестримні молодші сестри-близнючки Сеффрон і Ембер. На підмогу з життєвонеобхідними товарами до Хартума прибуває авантюрист Райдер Кортні, а через пустелю пробивається лейтенант Пенрод Беллентайн. А по той бік Нілу за обложеним містом спостерігає кривавий Магді і його найкращий полководець – Осман Аталан.
Загалом це те, що любить Вілбур Сміт – товстезний пригодницький роман. Додав він сюди і трохи приводів для роздумів, але акцент здебільшого не на цьому.
Тут є все. Облога, голод, епідемії і виживання на межі смерті. Полювання на слонів, сутички у пустелі і повномасштабні бої. Дорослішання, перше кохання і продовження роду. Смертельна ненависть до ворога і відданість до останньої хвилини життя. Расизм, сексизм і 15-літні, здавалося б, цивілізовані британки, яким норм народжувати від дорослих чоловіків. Великий об’єм книги дозволив вмістити багато чого. Проте склалося враження, що останні десятки сторінок – це конспект. Ніби автор зрозумів, що 700 сторінок – це вже забагато, тому вирішив не роздувати закінчення ще на стільки ж.
Загалом це те, що любить Вілбур Сміт – товстезний пригодницький роман. Додав він сюди і трохи приводів для роздумів, але акцент здебільшого не на цьому.
Тут є все. Облога, голод, епідемії і виживання на межі смерті. Полювання на слонів, сутички у пустелі і повномасштабні бої. Дорослішання, перше кохання і продовження роду. Смертельна ненависть до ворога і відданість до останньої хвилини життя. Расизм, сексизм і 15-літні, здавалося б, цивілізовані британки, яким норм народжувати від дорослих чоловіків. Великий об’єм книги дозволив вмістити багато чого. Проте склалося враження, що останні десятки сторінок – це конспект. Ніби автор зрозумів, що 700 сторінок – це вже забагато, тому вирішив не роздувати закінчення ще на стільки ж.
April 14, 2022
Finally the Courtney Family meets the Ballantyne's.
I was looking forward for this one. The setting is great with African realities that suit the Courtneys and the British politics that suit the Ballantynes.
The action was set in Soudan in the 19th century with brutal battles and daring escapes.
Ryder and Penrod's action scenes are thrilling and it is nice to see how two best persons react to each other when their interests align but even more so when their interests diverge.
There are some brutal scenes that involve mutilation or plain murder and torture, but inserted in all of this there are some scenes that would make Joey Tribbiani recall the 'Vicar'. But I think that the 'Vicar' is an omnipresent figure in every Wilbur Smith book.
Overall, this was a great story and I will search to see how much of this is real from a historic point of view.
I was looking forward for this one. The setting is great with African realities that suit the Courtneys and the British politics that suit the Ballantynes.
The action was set in Soudan in the 19th century with brutal battles and daring escapes.
Ryder and Penrod's action scenes are thrilling and it is nice to see how two best persons react to each other when their interests align but even more so when their interests diverge.
There are some brutal scenes that involve mutilation or plain murder and torture, but inserted in all of this there are some scenes that would make Joey Tribbiani recall the 'Vicar'. But I think that the 'Vicar' is an omnipresent figure in every Wilbur Smith book.
Overall, this was a great story and I will search to see how much of this is real from a historic point of view.
April 9, 2024
Loved it could not put it down got me right back into wilbur
June 2, 2024
Bellissimo!
May 24, 2019
No question - Wilbur Smith
If you've read Wilbur Smith, this book will feel like a warm blanket. Fun and set in rich and expansive Egypt and Sudan. The ending isn't great - predictable and rushed, like Smith needed to explain a few more decades in a few pages. Otherwise, a great read.
If you've read Wilbur Smith, this book will feel like a warm blanket. Fun and set in rich and expansive Egypt and Sudan. The ending isn't great - predictable and rushed, like Smith needed to explain a few more decades in a few pages. Otherwise, a great read.
March 3, 2022
Non ricordavo questo romanzo prima di rileggerlo qualche settimana fa, ma quando l'ho ricominciato, dopo circa 20 pagine, mi sono ricordato che è stato proprio questo romanzo a costituire per me un giro di boa nei confronti di Wilbur Smith come autore. Fino ad allora avevo apprezzato e anche amato la maggior parte dei suoi romanzi, anche alcuni meno riusciti, ma la stupidità di questo in particolare creò una spaccatura che ho colmato con cautela solo dopo più di 17 anni.
È un romanzo strano: gran parte della prima metà sembra scritta da qualcun altro, qualcuno che oscilla senza soluzione di continuità tra fantasie porno-adolescenziali che suonano ridicole, alla stregua di un romanzetto Harmony o di un romanzo finto-trasgressivo à-la Mandingo, con inaspettati picchi di crudeltà così compiaciuta da risultare, più che nauseante, stucchevole. La caratterizzazione dei personaggi è altalenante: i personaggi maschili sono sempre i soliti maschi alfa stereotipati a cui Smith ci ha abituato, ma sono quelli femminili ad essere atroci. Soprattutto la protagonista femminile, Rebecca Benbrook, vittima di un risveglio dei sensi a dir poco repentino (praticamente sempre arrapata fin dalla prima pagina) e per nulla combattuto dalla mentalità vittoriana che sarebbe stata il cardine della sua educazione, passa da un uomo all'altro non sapendo decidersi per puro opportunismo. Educata anche in questo senso dalla volenterosa tata araba Nazira, che le insegna tutti i trucchi per ammaliare un uomo, riesce difficile provare empatia per lei. È la protagonista di tutti i siparietti porno-soft del romanzo, alcuni scritti così male da suscitare risate involontarie: somigliano alle fantasie che potrebbe avere un ragazzino particolarmente immaginoso che vede una donna nuda per la prima volta.
Le altre due sorelle benbrook, volubili, capricciose e - diciamola tutta - rompiballe, sono a loro volta protagoniste di precoci risvegli dei sensi per i virili protagonisti, ma qui (forse perché nel corso della storia hanno un'età compresa tra i 12 e i 15 anni? Non vorremmo mai scatenare le ire dei benpensanti e le fantasie dei maniaci, eh!) Wilbur evita di scendere troppo nei dettagli e si limita a descriverle un po' stupidine e con l'innata capacità di mettersi nei casini per costringere il protagonista del caso (Amber con Penrod Ballantyne, Saffron con Ryder Courtney) a salvarle e a farle innamorare definitivamente per un finale alla "vissero-tutti-felici-e-contenti".
Tutti? Non esattamente. Mi è difficile ignorare un sottotesto vagamente razzista nel facile manicheismo di Smith: gli inglesi sono tutti valorosi e onorevoli, gentiluomini idealisti fanatici della guerra e dell'avventura, che uccidono solo in battaglia in aspri duelli all'arma bianca o solo per salvarsi la pelle. Gli arabi sono una roboante massa di violenti, soffocata dalla superstizione, incapace di trattenersi dallo sbudellare e mutilare un bianco non appena se lo trovano davanti I compagni "indigeni" dei due protagonisti hanno tutte le caratteristiche del "buon selvaggio", innamorato del rispettivo padrone, leggermente caricaturali, a loro volta abilissimi nello sgusciare tra le truppe dervisce e fenomenali conoscitori del deserto, pronti a guidare i loro padroni nelle imprese più azzardate o folli senza protestare.
Sono arrivato stanco all'ultimo terzo del romanzo, dove ho percepito nettamente un cambio di ritmo. Perché è proprio verso il finale in cui sembra che Wilbur si sia reso conto di averla tirata troppo a lungo con il sesso, i massacri, le mutilazioni e le cacce alla fauna selvaggia (elefanti su tutti: almeno una in ogni romanzo, evidentemente non li trova gradevoli) e di dover in qualche modo chiudere la storia. Le ultime 150 pagine sono un fuoco di fila di eventi che si susseguono nel corso di mesi e di anni riassunti in poche righe. Paradossalmente, quest'ultima parte, non perdendosi inutilmente in lunghe digressioni o episodi inutili ai fini della narrazione, è quella che funziona meglio. Mi sono trovato a pensare che se avesse mantenuto un ritmo simile per tutto il romanzo, evitando di perdere quasi 200 pagine appresso alle voglie di Rebecca e alle inutili cacce alla selvaggina, il romanzo sarebbe stato molto più concreto e piacevole.
Non mancano salti logici che per un romanzo storico costringe più di una volta a sospendere l'incredulità e ad accettare alcuni fatti così come sono. Due esempi, che hanno per protagonista Penrod Ballantyne:
Risulta chiaro che Smith si è quantomeno sforzato di effettuare delle ricerche a proposito del periodo storico, ma fatico a non trovare, nelle sue pagine, gli echi di film molto famosi che sembrano essere stati la vera spina dorsale della sua narrazione. Mi riferisco soprattutto a Lawrence d'Arabia e a Khartoum, da cui sembra aver preso di peso almeno un paio di sequenze adattandole ai suoi protagonisti.
Sono giunto a leggere questo romanzo dopo una attenta e ragionata rilettura di gran parte della sua bibliografia (ho iniziato in ordine cronologico e per saghe, partendo da Il destino del leone e intervallando ogni "troncone" con i suoi romanzi extra saghe), e proprio per questo il salto tra lo stile di narrazione dei precedenti romanzi e di questo qui salta all'occhio. Come girava voce da tempo, prima che i suoi co-autori venissero chiaramente nominati in copertina, sembra che questo romanzo sia stato scritto per almeno una buona metà da qualcun altro, e che solo alla fine, magari pescando una "traccia" scritta da Wilbur come base per il romanzo, si sia ritornati in carreggiata con il suo solito stile per chiudere la storia e passare alla cassa.
In definitiva non mi sento di raccomandare il romanzo: oltre a quanto già detto, è veramente faticoso superare la barriera delle prime 300 pagine. Noioso, verboso, stipato di sequenze inutili, è stato una autentica delusione. Consiglio di saltare questo e di passare direttamente ai successivi come Grido di guerra o di recuperare i precedenti.
È un romanzo strano: gran parte della prima metà sembra scritta da qualcun altro, qualcuno che oscilla senza soluzione di continuità tra fantasie porno-adolescenziali che suonano ridicole, alla stregua di un romanzetto Harmony o di un romanzo finto-trasgressivo à-la Mandingo, con inaspettati picchi di crudeltà così compiaciuta da risultare, più che nauseante, stucchevole. La caratterizzazione dei personaggi è altalenante: i personaggi maschili sono sempre i soliti maschi alfa stereotipati a cui Smith ci ha abituato, ma sono quelli femminili ad essere atroci. Soprattutto la protagonista femminile, Rebecca Benbrook, vittima di un risveglio dei sensi a dir poco repentino (praticamente sempre arrapata fin dalla prima pagina) e per nulla combattuto dalla mentalità vittoriana che sarebbe stata il cardine della sua educazione, passa da un uomo all'altro non sapendo decidersi per puro opportunismo. Educata anche in questo senso dalla volenterosa tata araba Nazira, che le insegna tutti i trucchi per ammaliare un uomo, riesce difficile provare empatia per lei. È la protagonista di tutti i siparietti porno-soft del romanzo, alcuni scritti così male da suscitare risate involontarie: somigliano alle fantasie che potrebbe avere un ragazzino particolarmente immaginoso che vede una donna nuda per la prima volta.
Le altre due sorelle benbrook, volubili, capricciose e - diciamola tutta - rompiballe, sono a loro volta protagoniste di precoci risvegli dei sensi per i virili protagonisti, ma qui (forse perché nel corso della storia hanno un'età compresa tra i 12 e i 15 anni? Non vorremmo mai scatenare le ire dei benpensanti e le fantasie dei maniaci, eh!) Wilbur evita di scendere troppo nei dettagli e si limita a descriverle un po' stupidine e con l'innata capacità di mettersi nei casini per costringere il protagonista del caso (Amber con Penrod Ballantyne, Saffron con Ryder Courtney) a salvarle e a farle innamorare definitivamente per un finale alla "vissero-tutti-felici-e-contenti".
Tutti? Non esattamente. Mi è difficile ignorare un sottotesto vagamente razzista nel facile manicheismo di Smith: gli inglesi sono tutti valorosi e onorevoli, gentiluomini idealisti fanatici della guerra e dell'avventura, che uccidono solo in battaglia in aspri duelli all'arma bianca o solo per salvarsi la pelle. Gli arabi sono una roboante massa di violenti, soffocata dalla superstizione, incapace di trattenersi dallo sbudellare e mutilare un bianco non appena se lo trovano davanti I compagni "indigeni" dei due protagonisti hanno tutte le caratteristiche del "buon selvaggio", innamorato del rispettivo padrone, leggermente caricaturali, a loro volta abilissimi nello sgusciare tra le truppe dervisce e fenomenali conoscitori del deserto, pronti a guidare i loro padroni nelle imprese più azzardate o folli senza protestare.
Sono arrivato stanco all'ultimo terzo del romanzo, dove ho percepito nettamente un cambio di ritmo. Perché è proprio verso il finale in cui sembra che Wilbur si sia reso conto di averla tirata troppo a lungo con il sesso, i massacri, le mutilazioni e le cacce alla fauna selvaggia (elefanti su tutti: almeno una in ogni romanzo, evidentemente non li trova gradevoli) e di dover in qualche modo chiudere la storia. Le ultime 150 pagine sono un fuoco di fila di eventi che si susseguono nel corso di mesi e di anni riassunti in poche righe. Paradossalmente, quest'ultima parte, non perdendosi inutilmente in lunghe digressioni o episodi inutili ai fini della narrazione, è quella che funziona meglio. Mi sono trovato a pensare che se avesse mantenuto un ritmo simile per tutto il romanzo, evitando di perdere quasi 200 pagine appresso alle voglie di Rebecca e alle inutili cacce alla selvaggina, il romanzo sarebbe stato molto più concreto e piacevole.
Non mancano salti logici che per un romanzo storico costringe più di una volta a sospendere l'incredulità e ad accettare alcuni fatti così come sono. Due esempi, che hanno per protagonista Penrod Ballantyne:
Risulta chiaro che Smith si è quantomeno sforzato di effettuare delle ricerche a proposito del periodo storico, ma fatico a non trovare, nelle sue pagine, gli echi di film molto famosi che sembrano essere stati la vera spina dorsale della sua narrazione. Mi riferisco soprattutto a Lawrence d'Arabia e a Khartoum, da cui sembra aver preso di peso almeno un paio di sequenze adattandole ai suoi protagonisti.
Sono giunto a leggere questo romanzo dopo una attenta e ragionata rilettura di gran parte della sua bibliografia (ho iniziato in ordine cronologico e per saghe, partendo da Il destino del leone e intervallando ogni "troncone" con i suoi romanzi extra saghe), e proprio per questo il salto tra lo stile di narrazione dei precedenti romanzi e di questo qui salta all'occhio. Come girava voce da tempo, prima che i suoi co-autori venissero chiaramente nominati in copertina, sembra che questo romanzo sia stato scritto per almeno una buona metà da qualcun altro, e che solo alla fine, magari pescando una "traccia" scritta da Wilbur come base per il romanzo, si sia ritornati in carreggiata con il suo solito stile per chiudere la storia e passare alla cassa.
In definitiva non mi sento di raccomandare il romanzo: oltre a quanto già detto, è veramente faticoso superare la barriera delle prime 300 pagine. Noioso, verboso, stipato di sequenze inutili, è stato una autentica delusione. Consiglio di saltare questo e di passare direttamente ai successivi come Grido di guerra o di recuperare i precedenti.
May 20, 2019
Magic
Once again could not put the book down. Wilbur Smith must go down as one of the greatest storytellers of all time.
Once again could not put the book down. Wilbur Smith must go down as one of the greatest storytellers of all time.
May 2, 2017
I do not usually post written reviews, but this was a very difficult book to rate, so I will elaborate a bit here.
It seemed to be very well researched, and the author definitely did not shy away from detail even on the goriest battle scenes. I actually really enjoyed the first part of the book. However, about 300 pages in, it felt like there was a moment where the publisher called saying that the manuscript was overdue, and the author was going to be paid by the word. From that point on, the writing became increasingly sloppy and repetitive, and the story line fell apart, with many rushed side-plots beginning and ending, sometimes within just a page or two. Because of this, the last 100 pages read more like the world's longest afterward. I enjoyed the book less as I read on, and was relieved when it finally ended.
Throughout the book, the character development was lacking, a fault especially glaring with the women in the story. It is possible the author has never actually seen or spoken to a human female. At times, the book had the style of a harlequin romance, which I personally did not like although some may find it appealing.
The basic dilemma I faced with the rating is that some elements of the book were exceptionally good, and others were exceptionally bad; I could have defended any rating from one to four stars. I settled on two stars because 1) I felt a sense of betrayal about the book starting off so strong and letting me down, 2) because the end of the book was the worse part, it is the most recent impression I have, and 3) being female myself, I was definitely a little disgruntled by the way women were portrayed. But 4) the beginning really was quite good.
It seemed to be very well researched, and the author definitely did not shy away from detail even on the goriest battle scenes. I actually really enjoyed the first part of the book. However, about 300 pages in, it felt like there was a moment where the publisher called saying that the manuscript was overdue, and the author was going to be paid by the word. From that point on, the writing became increasingly sloppy and repetitive, and the story line fell apart, with many rushed side-plots beginning and ending, sometimes within just a page or two. Because of this, the last 100 pages read more like the world's longest afterward. I enjoyed the book less as I read on, and was relieved when it finally ended.
Throughout the book, the character development was lacking, a fault especially glaring with the women in the story. It is possible the author has never actually seen or spoken to a human female. At times, the book had the style of a harlequin romance, which I personally did not like although some may find it appealing.
The basic dilemma I faced with the rating is that some elements of the book were exceptionally good, and others were exceptionally bad; I could have defended any rating from one to four stars. I settled on two stars because 1) I felt a sense of betrayal about the book starting off so strong and letting me down, 2) because the end of the book was the worse part, it is the most recent impression I have, and 3) being female myself, I was definitely a little disgruntled by the way women were portrayed. But 4) the beginning really was quite good.
July 20, 2009
The heart rending story of a city under siege, "The Triumph of the Sun" tells the tale of the last days of British rule in the Sudanese city of Khartoum in 1885, as well as the aftermath.
I had a difficult time getting into this book. Smith seems to have written this in the old-fashioned omniscient point of view which tends to keep characters at arm's length from the reader. I never could warm up to Rebecca, and her complete absorption with sexual desire made her appear to be a nymphomaniac. For anyone who wants to read such gratuitous sex there are the so-called "bodice rippers" or the Kama Sutra.
The beginning of the story plodded along tediously and I put it aside three different times before I finally made the effort to finish it. Once I was into the perspective of Captain Penrod Ballentyne--more than 70 pages into the book--the story began to come alive for me. Some of it is pretty blood-thirsty and I don't think I could have stomached this book if it weren't for the historical accuracy and the wonderful descriptions of the various locations. About the characters I had mixed feelings. The young twins were likeable as were Ryder Courtney and Ballentyne's often put-upon-servant and friend, Yakub.
There is no doubt Smith is a master researcher. The historical background made the story interesting and he does a wonderful job of transporting you to that time and place. Nevertheless, I didn't find it the quality of his other African novels.
I had a difficult time getting into this book. Smith seems to have written this in the old-fashioned omniscient point of view which tends to keep characters at arm's length from the reader. I never could warm up to Rebecca, and her complete absorption with sexual desire made her appear to be a nymphomaniac. For anyone who wants to read such gratuitous sex there are the so-called "bodice rippers" or the Kama Sutra.
The beginning of the story plodded along tediously and I put it aside three different times before I finally made the effort to finish it. Once I was into the perspective of Captain Penrod Ballentyne--more than 70 pages into the book--the story began to come alive for me. Some of it is pretty blood-thirsty and I don't think I could have stomached this book if it weren't for the historical accuracy and the wonderful descriptions of the various locations. About the characters I had mixed feelings. The young twins were likeable as were Ryder Courtney and Ballentyne's often put-upon-servant and friend, Yakub.
There is no doubt Smith is a master researcher. The historical background made the story interesting and he does a wonderful job of transporting you to that time and place. Nevertheless, I didn't find it the quality of his other African novels.
May 6, 2019
Really enjoyed this book. It is set at a time when the English empire was very strong and had the military strength to press its demands on Egypt and the Sudan. The clash of cultures and religions was very dramatic and lead to a great read. Wilbur Smith continues to be one of my favourite authors
June 25, 2019
, The Triumph of the Sun (Ballantyne, #5)
by Wilbur Smith
Based om the true story of the Mahdist war against Great Britain between 1881-1899, anyway Wilbur is continuing his fictional family saga's but point of difference in this tome is that the Courtney's meet the Ballantyne for the first time.
Now the Courtneys normally a cross between a shrewd businessman a part time buccaneer frequent mercenary and on occasions known to pirate, nearly all Courtneys are always driven by profit money and riches they also seem to have a keen eye for getting that girl no matter what.
When compared to the Ballantyne family who are mostly professional soldiers career driven and totally geared to seek glory accolades and always manage to find the thickest part of any battlefield and always end up slaughtering umpteen bad guys and always ready for a fabulous root.
Wilbur has all the formulas wound up in this book all the normal big animal hunts (elephants), the running chasing desperate fights across harsh deserts, the beautiful girl being seduced, the totally evil villain, the loyal sidekick, and the good ending. But the twist at the end sort of blurs the roles of the Courtneys and Ballantynes around a bit. Anyway loved this escapism from Wilbur, just nicely done.
by Wilbur Smith
Based om the true story of the Mahdist war against Great Britain between 1881-1899, anyway Wilbur is continuing his fictional family saga's but point of difference in this tome is that the Courtney's meet the Ballantyne for the first time.
Now the Courtneys normally a cross between a shrewd businessman a part time buccaneer frequent mercenary and on occasions known to pirate, nearly all Courtneys are always driven by profit money and riches they also seem to have a keen eye for getting that girl no matter what.
When compared to the Ballantyne family who are mostly professional soldiers career driven and totally geared to seek glory accolades and always manage to find the thickest part of any battlefield and always end up slaughtering umpteen bad guys and always ready for a fabulous root.
Wilbur has all the formulas wound up in this book all the normal big animal hunts (elephants), the running chasing desperate fights across harsh deserts, the beautiful girl being seduced, the totally evil villain, the loyal sidekick, and the good ending. But the twist at the end sort of blurs the roles of the Courtneys and Ballantynes around a bit. Anyway loved this escapism from Wilbur, just nicely done.
July 7, 2018
It’s a very long time since I’ve enjoyed a Wilbur Smith book as much as this one. It could be that my tastes have changed as I’ve got older but as a young man I always loved his books and read and read each one, pretty much without putting it down, until I’d finished it. I always found them exciting, fast paced, full of great characters and with twists and turns in the plot that meant I never got bored. Unfortunately his more recent offerings have led me to start avoiding his newer novels as frankly, the few that I have tried to read were dull, formulaic and not what I remember him for at all.
‘The Triumph of the Sun’ is everything I used to enjoy about Mr Smiths books. A romping good read, full of heroes and heroines, baddies who get it in the end and a bit of history thrown in for good measure. And to top it all, the chief baddie, the Mahdi, has the smallest penis in the book! I was equating him to Donald Trump, so laughed my socks off when I got to that bit - I’ll bet it’s true as well!!!
So, if you want a good old fashioned boys own adventure, with lots of unfashionable Imperialism winning the day, this is the book for you.
‘The Triumph of the Sun’ is everything I used to enjoy about Mr Smiths books. A romping good read, full of heroes and heroines, baddies who get it in the end and a bit of history thrown in for good measure. And to top it all, the chief baddie, the Mahdi, has the smallest penis in the book! I was equating him to Donald Trump, so laughed my socks off when I got to that bit - I’ll bet it’s true as well!!!
So, if you want a good old fashioned boys own adventure, with lots of unfashionable Imperialism winning the day, this is the book for you.
January 14, 2015
I can't believe I never read Wilbur Smith before I stumbled on this book. After reading it, I educated myself on the author and his work. Like many prolific writers who crank out historical fiction, Wilbur Smith has created some fictional family trees, and crafted multiple stories around the generations thereof. In this novel, the Courtney and Ballentyne families intersect during the siege of Khartoum. The novel takes the characters years beyond that event, and makes use of the author's extensive research on Africa, and the Sudan in particular, to provide a glimpse inside 2 distinct cultures. I suspect Wilbur Smith is a closet anthropologist...not just because of the attention he gives animals in some of his novels, but because of the human actions and interactions he depicts--usually according to type. This book has a lot to offer: adventure, romance, action, tragedy, and a couple happy mini-endings.
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