What do you think?
Rate this book
On Leopard Rock
The first ever memoir from the Number One global bestselling adventure author
Wilbur Smith has lived an incredible life of adventure, and now he shares the extraordinary true stories that have inspired his fiction. I've been writing novels for over fifty years. I was lucky enough to miss the big wars and not get shot, but lucky enough to grow up among the heroes who had served in them and learn from their example. I have lucked into things continuously. I have done things which have seemed appalling at the time,disastrous even, but out of them have come another story or a deeper knowledge of human character and the ability to express myself better on paper, write books which people enjoy reading. Along the way, I have lived a life that I could never have imagined. I have been privileged to meet people from all corners of the globe, I have been wherever my heart has desired and in the process my books have taken readers to many, many places. I always say I've started wars, I've burned down cities, and I've killed hundreds of thousands of people - but only in my imagination! From being attacked by lions to close encounters with deadly reef sharks, from getting lost in the African bush without water to crawling the precarious tunnels of gold mines, from marlin fishing with Lee Marvin to near death from crash-landing a Cessna airplane, from brutal schooldays to redemption through writing and falling in love, Wilbur Smith tells us the intimate stories of his life that have been the raw material for his fiction. Always candid, sometimes hilarious, and never less than thrillingly entertaining, On Leopard Rock is testament to a writer whose life is as rich and eventful as his novels are compellingly unputdownable.
Wilbur Smith has lived an incredible life of adventure, and now he shares the extraordinary true stories that have inspired his fiction. I've been writing novels for over fifty years. I was lucky enough to miss the big wars and not get shot, but lucky enough to grow up among the heroes who had served in them and learn from their example. I have lucked into things continuously. I have done things which have seemed appalling at the time,disastrous even, but out of them have come another story or a deeper knowledge of human character and the ability to express myself better on paper, write books which people enjoy reading. Along the way, I have lived a life that I could never have imagined. I have been privileged to meet people from all corners of the globe, I have been wherever my heart has desired and in the process my books have taken readers to many, many places. I always say I've started wars, I've burned down cities, and I've killed hundreds of thousands of people - but only in my imagination! From being attacked by lions to close encounters with deadly reef sharks, from getting lost in the African bush without water to crawling the precarious tunnels of gold mines, from marlin fishing with Lee Marvin to near death from crash-landing a Cessna airplane, from brutal schooldays to redemption through writing and falling in love, Wilbur Smith tells us the intimate stories of his life that have been the raw material for his fiction. Always candid, sometimes hilarious, and never less than thrillingly entertaining, On Leopard Rock is testament to a writer whose life is as rich and eventful as his novels are compellingly unputdownable.
352 pages, Paperback
First published May 1, 2018
370 people are currently reading
1550 people want to read
About the author
Wilbur Smith
320 books4,392 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.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 127 reviews
June 2, 2020
I'm not much of a nonfiction reader. I love the Fictive Dream, a way to escape, a story that makes my time on this world stand still. Wilbur Smith did that for me in his wonderful adventure stories of Africa when I was a younger man. I discovered him later in his writing career and as it happens many times, my eye caught a brilliantly executed cover of Rage in a bookstore. I picked it up and read the first few pages and was hooked. I read all of his African series with the two interlocking families, high adventure, romance, and sometimes even war. Wonderful books. Now he's written an autobiography about his life and it reads (at least for me) like one of his novels. But in this case he also adds in this journey to writing which as an author I took to and ate it up with a spoon. This one is a solid five stars and I'm keeping this book to reread later on.
Highly recommend
David Putnam Author of The Bruno Johnson Series.
Highly recommend
David Putnam Author of The Bruno Johnson Series.
May 18, 2018
Master storytelling and international bestselling author Wilbur Smith takes a break from his adventure novels to offer the reader a snapshot into his personal life. Having penned this memoir of sorts, Smith explores his life, both as a young person in Rhodesia and his eventual success as an author. Having grown up on a large swath of land, young Wilbur learned the important of farming and protecting the livestock. His father instilled in him the need to always be on the lookout for predators, particularly of the animal variety. Smith shot his first lions (three in one event) as a child and used these skills to ensure he was never left unprepared. While his father was stern and happy to hand out needed punishment, Smith’s mother nurtured him and introduced a love of reading. This would continue into his boarding school years, where older prefects sought to break him down, but Smith took his punches and escaped into a world of fictional lands whenever he could. Diligent academics saw him earn a spot in university and eventually as a tax assessor, a menial job that numbed his mind, but left Smith much time to write. While his first novel left him with nothing but a slew of rejection letters—enough to paper the walls of his first flat—Smith did not give up, writing about about he knew. This led to an adventure all about the African subcontinent’s coming of age in an era when war was carving up vast lands. By the time Smith sent When the Lion Feeds to his agent, he was hopeful that all his thoughts had finally made a difference. In 1964, the novel caught the eye of many and began his passion with writing. An instant success led Smith to churn out more novels about the region, which added to his highly popular Courtney Series and thus began a passion for reading. Smith explores how his personal experiences influenced the narratives of his novels, but that they were entirely fictitious, never seeking to communicate covert messages or provide him with a soapbox for political and social views. The more he wrote, the deeper his passion grew and soon Smith was developing many novels with deep themes that touched him in a part of the world under horrific racial divide. Apartheid and white minority movements in South Africa and Rhodesia fuelled a number of Smith’s novels, though the success he found in their publication permitted him to see other parts of the world and thereby pen new pieces based on these experiences. As the reader is swept up in the narrative, Smith explores his love of Egyptology, sailing, diving, and hunting, all of which found their way into his vastly popular pieces. Anyone with a love of Wilbur Smith’s novels should not let this piece slip by, as his stories offer much to explain some of the rationale behind his popular novels. Highly recommend to anyone who enjoys biographical pieces or Africa in general, as they will walk away with much more than they might have suspected.
I caught the Wilbur Smith bug a few years ago and have been hooked on the Courtney and Ballantyne series ever since. I often wondered what gave him these ideas and how they came to pass so fluidly. Also, being the attentive reader than I am, I had to know why there was such a gap between Courtney novels and what might have helped pull Smith back into writing them. All of these answers can be found within the pages of this quick to read piece. Just as in his fiction writing, Smith develops a narrative that flows so smoothly that the reader will be shocked to see how much they can devour in a single setting. Smith may not write in an entirely chronological manner, but the themes that emerge can be easily stitched together to give the reader a clear picture of the larger story that Smith seeks to portray. It was somewhat disheartening to see Smith dismiss his previous marriages and children, as though they were a distraction to his passion of reading. However, there may be more of a story behind them, one that is not yet ready for public consumption. Additionally, in his closing chapter about writing and the passion he has for it, there is little to no mention about his handing the reins of the Courtney series over to others, who have helped to dilute the stories and lessen their quality, something that might turn new readers away from looking to the start of both series. These were thoughts I had hoped would be recounted in detail when the memoir was before me, but I am left wondering still. I did take much away from this piece, which filled in more gaps than it left. Wilbur Smith truly is a masterful writing and I will try my best to continue reading his work—as well as delving into the Egyptian series—as long as he has an idea to convey.
Kudos, Mr. Smith, for such a detailed piece. I learned a great deal and it has helped me develop an even greater appreciation for you as a man and author. I hope many of your fans will take the time to find this book, as it enriches the reading experience.
Like/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
A Book for All Seasons, a different sort of Book Challenge: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...
I caught the Wilbur Smith bug a few years ago and have been hooked on the Courtney and Ballantyne series ever since. I often wondered what gave him these ideas and how they came to pass so fluidly. Also, being the attentive reader than I am, I had to know why there was such a gap between Courtney novels and what might have helped pull Smith back into writing them. All of these answers can be found within the pages of this quick to read piece. Just as in his fiction writing, Smith develops a narrative that flows so smoothly that the reader will be shocked to see how much they can devour in a single setting. Smith may not write in an entirely chronological manner, but the themes that emerge can be easily stitched together to give the reader a clear picture of the larger story that Smith seeks to portray. It was somewhat disheartening to see Smith dismiss his previous marriages and children, as though they were a distraction to his passion of reading. However, there may be more of a story behind them, one that is not yet ready for public consumption. Additionally, in his closing chapter about writing and the passion he has for it, there is little to no mention about his handing the reins of the Courtney series over to others, who have helped to dilute the stories and lessen their quality, something that might turn new readers away from looking to the start of both series. These were thoughts I had hoped would be recounted in detail when the memoir was before me, but I am left wondering still. I did take much away from this piece, which filled in more gaps than it left. Wilbur Smith truly is a masterful writing and I will try my best to continue reading his work—as well as delving into the Egyptian series—as long as he has an idea to convey.
Kudos, Mr. Smith, for such a detailed piece. I learned a great deal and it has helped me develop an even greater appreciation for you as a man and author. I hope many of your fans will take the time to find this book, as it enriches the reading experience.
Like/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
A Book for All Seasons, a different sort of Book Challenge: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...
June 26, 2022
Jun 25, 530am ~~ Fascinating memoir. Review asap.
1045am ~~ Wilbur Smith died in November 2021.
I had read many of his books over the years, mostly before joining GR. In 2019 I read a number of the Courtney titles, after finishing The Burning Shore and deciding I wanted to read or reread the beginnings of the series in proper order.
When I learned about his passing, I did what I usually do and went to my favorite online used book seller to explore a little, and bought The Sun Bird, Elephant Song and this book.
The memoir was just as fast- moving as the novels. It was published in 2018 and Smith fills it not only with stories from his life but with stories about his books: how he researched them, which people inspired his characters, how they were received in his home country of South Africa (most were banned there, which was something I did not know until a few years ago) and a delightful final chapter with advice to those who want to be novelists.
I appreciated how he talked about his books without giving away plot spoilers. And how he shared the personal reasons for each book. He knew critics said he wasn't literary enough but he says flat out that he never cared about being literary he just wanted to tell a good story. And boy howdy he could certainly do that! I was excited at his comments about The Sun Bird, which was an absolutely amazing book. Turned out it was the one where he felt he had found more depth and maturity as a writer, so became one of his favorites. Mine too!
The entire memoir is friendly, a mix of chatty uncle and Bwana patriarch, and Smith was never afraid to tell a story on himself. The picture section was impressive also. I really enjoyed myself with it and of course I have ordered a few other stand alone titles that I did not have in my bookcases, so here I am with yet another project for next year ~~ five rip-snorting adventures waiting for me, maybe six if I decide to go ahead and reread The Sunbird so soon.
Yeah, what the heck, let's make it six.
1045am ~~ Wilbur Smith died in November 2021.
I had read many of his books over the years, mostly before joining GR. In 2019 I read a number of the Courtney titles, after finishing The Burning Shore and deciding I wanted to read or reread the beginnings of the series in proper order.
When I learned about his passing, I did what I usually do and went to my favorite online used book seller to explore a little, and bought The Sun Bird, Elephant Song and this book.
The memoir was just as fast- moving as the novels. It was published in 2018 and Smith fills it not only with stories from his life but with stories about his books: how he researched them, which people inspired his characters, how they were received in his home country of South Africa (most were banned there, which was something I did not know until a few years ago) and a delightful final chapter with advice to those who want to be novelists.
I appreciated how he talked about his books without giving away plot spoilers. And how he shared the personal reasons for each book. He knew critics said he wasn't literary enough but he says flat out that he never cared about being literary he just wanted to tell a good story. And boy howdy he could certainly do that! I was excited at his comments about The Sun Bird, which was an absolutely amazing book. Turned out it was the one where he felt he had found more depth and maturity as a writer, so became one of his favorites. Mine too!
The entire memoir is friendly, a mix of chatty uncle and Bwana patriarch, and Smith was never afraid to tell a story on himself. The picture section was impressive also. I really enjoyed myself with it and of course I have ordered a few other stand alone titles that I did not have in my bookcases, so here I am with yet another project for next year ~~ five rip-snorting adventures waiting for me, maybe six if I decide to go ahead and reread The Sunbird so soon.
Yeah, what the heck, let's make it six.
May 15, 2024
Wilbur Smith wrote great adventure novels because he lived a life of narrow escapes from death on the veldt, in the air, and diving under the sea. The writer faced down lions and the red eyed actor Lee Marvin on the set of an adaptation of Shout at the Devil. There are many who looked down at his novels as being more commerce than art but I still like them. What I see as a problem with his books is some may see him as an author of the past when big game hunters were heroes along with two fisted adventurers. Wilbur Smith saw political correctness that rejected the old ideals of his work as the worst thing ever invented because it makes men too timid to be manly. Only time will tell if this view or political correctness will prevail.
October 4, 2018
Having read Wilbur Smith books for more than 25 years, it was such a joy to read about his life in his own words! Yet again, I felt myself lost in adventure; the only difference is that this time it was real!
February 12, 2021
For the thousands of readers who have enjoyed the action-packed tales of Africa and the courageous people who sought to tame it, by the legendary, Wilbur Smith, you’re in for treat. The Author tells us of his long life and the incidents and trials that shaped him, birth as a man and an author.
He walks the reader through each of his books and speaks of his triumphs and pitfalls as he established himself to be a worldwide bestselling author. For writers, this is an eloquent guide to writing for the love of it, as well as a writing for a living.
The first book of Smith’s that I read was Elephant Song. After falling in love with his storytelling, I read every book he ever wrote and am still excited when the announcement of a new story comes out.
There is much wisdom in this story, and I am sure I will visit time and time again.
He walks the reader through each of his books and speaks of his triumphs and pitfalls as he established himself to be a worldwide bestselling author. For writers, this is an eloquent guide to writing for the love of it, as well as a writing for a living.
The first book of Smith’s that I read was Elephant Song. After falling in love with his storytelling, I read every book he ever wrote and am still excited when the announcement of a new story comes out.
There is much wisdom in this story, and I am sure I will visit time and time again.
October 10, 2018

It's October once again. The leaves are falling down. As the song by Bethany Joy Galeotti goes. It's autumn in some parts of the world. I think Autumn is a magical time of the year. The leaves are turning gold and falling from the branches covering the ground in soft carpet. I haven't experienced autumn yet. As you know, I'm from the Philippines and we don't have autumn, spring, or winter. It's all just summer and rain. I am hoping that one day I could actually spend autumn in New York or in Paris, or in any other beautiful city in the world.
So, the book I'm going to be reviewing doesn't actually have anything to do with autumn in it because most of what's in it happens in Africa. And as you may well know, Africa doesn't have autumn as well. I was so thrilled that I was asked to review this book. Until now, I can't help but wonder how it happened. Wilbur Smith is one of my favorite authors and to be asked to review his autobiography is such an honor. I thank the book gods that this book found me. This is such an incredible book. It's not just a peek but an close look into the life of this famed author and his experiences. Where his stories came from and his great influences in his life and writing. I was so enamored by the book that it felt like reading one of the author's sagas. It didn't feel like an autobiography at all but rather reading of Mr. Smith's great adventures.
What a delightful adventure this is. I actually feel envy knowing of Mr. Smith's life growing up because it was filled with a lot of adventures and time spent in the African landscape which is just filled with wondrous gifts of nature. But it wasn't all safaris and fun, there were a lot of very scary incidents too that has marked the author for life. Though I could say that his experiences with lions and snakes are ones I surely wouldn't survive, but reading them here is both frightening and in a way comical.
The thing that strikes me the most in this book is the author's close relationship with his dad. That's another thing that I envy. He kept that relationship till he was older and till his dad passed away. His dad was his own hero and the inspiration in more than one of his great stories. His dad was a larger than life figure who had greatly influenced Wilbur Smith as an author and as a person.
Reading this was a really great and immersing experience. To actually have a better understanding of the author as a real person and know how his stories came to life because of his rich experiences is such a rewarding experience. It was like being there under the African sun and having to relive the author's childhood, all his mischief, his failures, all his struggles before he became one of the world's most published and widely read authors and being shown his first high as the first of his many amazing stories were published.
Like us readers, the author humbly admits that he too is inspired by his readers. He recalled in this book some of the times when some of his readerreades have touched his life because they have read his books. And I count myself one of those lucky people who have greatly appreciated Mr. Smith's gift for storytelling. My first encounter with Wilbur Smith was through Reader's Digest condensed books. If I remember correctly,The Sunbird was the first book I've read and my life was never the same after that. Yes, if you're one of his avid fan and readers, you know that his books are quite hard yet very engaging. Hard because it exposes the realities of life in Africa, o r wherever the setting of the story is, the human struggles and frailties. It's blunt and honest and no holds barred. Not to mention sex and violence. But all these weren't there just to sensationalized the story but rather because they help make the story more authentic.
With that said, my only wish is long life for Mr. Smith so he can continue to enrich the world with his wonderful stories. As I have said, I am so fortunate to have grown to love this author and his countless stories. I don't think a bookworm's life is complete without having known him or be enthralled by one of his numerous stories.
I would say, I'm not fit to rate this book. There was no need for that. I think this author has earned his laurels and is way past needing reviews. I just gobbled up and allowed this book to take me to the author's childhood, his years growing up in boarding school and be regaled with his experiences in the African landscape. It was definitely a great feast for the senses. Again, I am so honored to have been given the opportunity to experience this book. So, I give this a pride of lions. A fierce autobiography fit for a very fierce man and talented author who have battled more than lions and deadly snakes in his life, who have accomplished more than most of the world aspires yet still humble enough to admit that none of his stories ever came easy to him. Even at this stage in his success as an author, he still says that he's just like the other writers who have struggles but he just kept on.
Literature throws many great heroes at us, but real life invariably outdoes them.
The human need to seek out heroes is deep-seated and it’s been recognized by storytellers ever since Homer wrote his epic of the Trojan War, The Iliad, nearly three thousand years ago. My passion is to bring to life those heroes--and, if ever I need a model for one, all I do is remember that night when I was eight years old: my father, his Remington rifle, and three man-eating lions, rampaging in the night.
- Wilbur Smith, On Leopard Rock -
Thanks again, Gretchen Crary for the book copy and Mr. Wilbur Smith for sharing this wonderful experience with the world.
It's October once again. The leaves are falling down. As the song by Bethany Joy Galeotti goes. It's autumn in some parts of the world. I think Autumn is a magical time of the year. The leaves are turning gold and falling from the branches covering the ground in soft carpet. I haven't experienced autumn yet. As you know, I'm from the Philippines and we don't have autumn, spring, or winter. It's all just summer and rain. I am hoping that one day I could actually spend autumn in New York or in Paris, or in any other beautiful city in the world.
So, the book I'm going to be reviewing doesn't actually have anything to do with autumn in it because most of what's in it happens in Africa. And as you may well know, Africa doesn't have autumn as well. I was so thrilled that I was asked to review this book. Until now, I can't help but wonder how it happened. Wilbur Smith is one of my favorite authors and to be asked to review his autobiography is such an honor. I thank the book gods that this book found me. This is such an incredible book. It's not just a peek but an close look into the life of this famed author and his experiences. Where his stories came from and his great influences in his life and writing. I was so enamored by the book that it felt like reading one of the author's sagas. It didn't feel like an autobiography at all but rather reading of Mr. Smith's great adventures.
What a delightful adventure this is. I actually feel envy knowing of Mr. Smith's life growing up because it was filled with a lot of adventures and time spent in the African landscape which is just filled with wondrous gifts of nature. But it wasn't all safaris and fun, there were a lot of very scary incidents too that has marked the author for life. Though I could say that his experiences with lions and snakes are ones I surely wouldn't survive, but reading them here is both frightening and in a way comical.
The thing that strikes me the most in this book is the author's close relationship with his dad. That's another thing that I envy. He kept that relationship till he was older and till his dad passed away. His dad was his own hero and the inspiration in more than one of his great stories. His dad was a larger than life figure who had greatly influenced Wilbur Smith as an author and as a person.
Reading this was a really great and immersing experience. To actually have a better understanding of the author as a real person and know how his stories came to life because of his rich experiences is such a rewarding experience. It was like being there under the African sun and having to relive the author's childhood, all his mischief, his failures, all his struggles before he became one of the world's most published and widely read authors and being shown his first high as the first of his many amazing stories were published.
Like us readers, the author humbly admits that he too is inspired by his readers. He recalled in this book some of the times when some of his readerreades have touched his life because they have read his books. And I count myself one of those lucky people who have greatly appreciated Mr. Smith's gift for storytelling. My first encounter with Wilbur Smith was through Reader's Digest condensed books. If I remember correctly,The Sunbird was the first book I've read and my life was never the same after that. Yes, if you're one of his avid fan and readers, you know that his books are quite hard yet very engaging. Hard because it exposes the realities of life in Africa, o r wherever the setting of the story is, the human struggles and frailties. It's blunt and honest and no holds barred. Not to mention sex and violence. But all these weren't there just to sensationalized the story but rather because they help make the story more authentic.
With that said, my only wish is long life for Mr. Smith so he can continue to enrich the world with his wonderful stories. As I have said, I am so fortunate to have grown to love this author and his countless stories. I don't think a bookworm's life is complete without having known him or be enthralled by one of his numerous stories.
I would say, I'm not fit to rate this book. There was no need for that. I think this author has earned his laurels and is way past needing reviews. I just gobbled up and allowed this book to take me to the author's childhood, his years growing up in boarding school and be regaled with his experiences in the African landscape. It was definitely a great feast for the senses. Again, I am so honored to have been given the opportunity to experience this book. So, I give this a pride of lions. A fierce autobiography fit for a very fierce man and talented author who have battled more than lions and deadly snakes in his life, who have accomplished more than most of the world aspires yet still humble enough to admit that none of his stories ever came easy to him. Even at this stage in his success as an author, he still says that he's just like the other writers who have struggles but he just kept on.
Literature throws many great heroes at us, but real life invariably outdoes them.
The human need to seek out heroes is deep-seated and it’s been recognized by storytellers ever since Homer wrote his epic of the Trojan War, The Iliad, nearly three thousand years ago. My passion is to bring to life those heroes--and, if ever I need a model for one, all I do is remember that night when I was eight years old: my father, his Remington rifle, and three man-eating lions, rampaging in the night.
- Wilbur Smith, On Leopard Rock -
Thanks again, Gretchen Crary for the book copy and Mr. Wilbur Smith for sharing this wonderful experience with the world.
September 13, 2018
They recommend that you write about your own experiences in life when starting out as a writer. And despite the early age that Wilbur Smith first put pen to paper, he had already racked up enough adventures to inspire several books. l really enjoyed learning about his early life growing up in the African bush of the 1940s and 1950s. The days when hunting was for food for the table not sport, not just the family’s, but also the people who worked the land with them from the local villages. Wilbur Smith the boy, along with his best friend would take off for the day, walking miles in search of elusive game, and still make it home for supper. Sometimes barely! It was very different time and attracted some interesting characters from all walks of life to farm this rich land.
What also impressed me about Wilbur Smith’s approach to writing, was the commitment to researching each book meticulously, including spending time on a whaling ship, working side by side with workers in a gold mine, and immersing himself in the life he was portraying. I have read all of Wilbur Smith’s books; some of the earlier novels at least three times. I find my reading enjoyment has only deepened as my experience of the world has matured. Having read this memoir, I am looking forward to revisiting his books with a new perspective, one that respects the amount of time and thought that went into each and every one of them.
It was also fascinating to read about the 1960s in South Africa, in relation to Wilbur Smith’s books that were banned because of apartheid. I was in school in Cape Town at the time, and at that age didn’t really see the pervasive influence on all aspects of society that this produced. I read those banned books on our return to the UK when I was 11 years old little knowing that my school friends would be denied that pleasure for many years.
Apart from the stories about Africa, there are also other challenges during the writing process, and it would seem that dogged determination is also one of Wilbur Smith’s attributes. Hollywood it would seem is a jungle in its own right…
If you love the books of Wilbur Smith then I do recommend that you read this exciting adventure story that reads more like one of his novels than a non-fiction account of his life. There are thrills and danger, as well as inspiration for all writers to keep doing what you love, do it well and enjoy life to the full.
What also impressed me about Wilbur Smith’s approach to writing, was the commitment to researching each book meticulously, including spending time on a whaling ship, working side by side with workers in a gold mine, and immersing himself in the life he was portraying. I have read all of Wilbur Smith’s books; some of the earlier novels at least three times. I find my reading enjoyment has only deepened as my experience of the world has matured. Having read this memoir, I am looking forward to revisiting his books with a new perspective, one that respects the amount of time and thought that went into each and every one of them.
It was also fascinating to read about the 1960s in South Africa, in relation to Wilbur Smith’s books that were banned because of apartheid. I was in school in Cape Town at the time, and at that age didn’t really see the pervasive influence on all aspects of society that this produced. I read those banned books on our return to the UK when I was 11 years old little knowing that my school friends would be denied that pleasure for many years.
Apart from the stories about Africa, there are also other challenges during the writing process, and it would seem that dogged determination is also one of Wilbur Smith’s attributes. Hollywood it would seem is a jungle in its own right…
If you love the books of Wilbur Smith then I do recommend that you read this exciting adventure story that reads more like one of his novels than a non-fiction account of his life. There are thrills and danger, as well as inspiration for all writers to keep doing what you love, do it well and enjoy life to the full.
October 24, 2018
What an unexpected delightful, insightful and fascinating read.
Strangely I am neither a biography nor Smith fanatic but have certainly read and enjoyed many of his novels, and many a biography. But with ‘so little time and so many books to read’, I often pass on autobiographies.
A native South African myself, I had many laugh-out-loud moments of Smith’s recollections, quips, colloquialisms and phrases. The idea that words can paint a picture are created in this read.
Not only is this an illustrative account of his journey, it is an excellent political and historical account of life in Southern Africa. Fascinating and as well-researched as his novels.
With a life as full as his has been it is no wonder there are a few repetitive tales and references in this read but it is so worth the time. My only other ‘sensitivity’ was the graphic descriptions of hunting and fishing (but that is my issue), the conservation message however prevails.
Sometimes you find a book and at other times they find you...that is how I feel about this one...glad we found each other.
Strangely I am neither a biography nor Smith fanatic but have certainly read and enjoyed many of his novels, and many a biography. But with ‘so little time and so many books to read’, I often pass on autobiographies.
A native South African myself, I had many laugh-out-loud moments of Smith’s recollections, quips, colloquialisms and phrases. The idea that words can paint a picture are created in this read.
Not only is this an illustrative account of his journey, it is an excellent political and historical account of life in Southern Africa. Fascinating and as well-researched as his novels.
With a life as full as his has been it is no wonder there are a few repetitive tales and references in this read but it is so worth the time. My only other ‘sensitivity’ was the graphic descriptions of hunting and fishing (but that is my issue), the conservation message however prevails.
Sometimes you find a book and at other times they find you...that is how I feel about this one...glad we found each other.
March 10, 2019
This book is a read for a fan of Wilbur Smith as you will know about his life and the books he's written, he gives a little more insight into his private life which is what most people dream about. All told not a substantial book but interesting.
September 17, 2022
A thrilling and exciting journey, with each page leaving me in amazement, On Leopard rock, is an
overall enlightening read, taking us through the snapshots of Wilbur Smith’s life of achievement
and experience as a Best-selling Author.
Having written down his memory to the page, this book goes through the start of his life with his
family in Rhodesia all the way to his eventual success as a best-selling author.
As a child, Smith was instilled with courage and hunting skills by his stern father. From him, he learned the importance of farming and the hunt that would forever keep him actively aware of rural
Africa. Through his mother, a very caring person came his knack for writing and love of the arts.
These two characteristics ultimately made him who he was, following him through boarding
school, where seemingly everyone wanted to bring him down. But often he escaped into a
different world whenever he could, blocking himself out from everything else.
The book then follows Smith through his first career as a tax assessor, a tedious job, but one that
left him lots of time to write. His story tells us - readers- about the widespread rejection
received from his first book, The gods first make mad. However, he learned from this experience,
which prepared him mentally for other challenges, such as the war that terrorized many parts of
his homeland. He learned so much that by the end of it, his next book, When the Lion Feeding, was a big hit and propelled his writing to new highs, creating lots of fans and a big opportunity for
his writing to be known all across the world.
Over the course of his life, Smith continued to write best-sellers, ranging from topics like
hunting, diving, flying even to deep-themed novels about the racial divide of Apartheid
sometimes even making his books banned from his home country of South Africa.
Page after page, this book shows the hardships of his days, the good and bad, the beautiful and
ugly, and is a testament to an ideal life.
On Leopard Rock is honestly such an amazing story and is a worthwhile read. This is my first
read of Wilbur Smith’s work, and I will be sure to pick up other books that he has written. I
recommend that you read it too!
Temi Owolabi
overall enlightening read, taking us through the snapshots of Wilbur Smith’s life of achievement
and experience as a Best-selling Author.
Having written down his memory to the page, this book goes through the start of his life with his
family in Rhodesia all the way to his eventual success as a best-selling author.
As a child, Smith was instilled with courage and hunting skills by his stern father. From him, he learned the importance of farming and the hunt that would forever keep him actively aware of rural
Africa. Through his mother, a very caring person came his knack for writing and love of the arts.
These two characteristics ultimately made him who he was, following him through boarding
school, where seemingly everyone wanted to bring him down. But often he escaped into a
different world whenever he could, blocking himself out from everything else.
The book then follows Smith through his first career as a tax assessor, a tedious job, but one that
left him lots of time to write. His story tells us - readers- about the widespread rejection
received from his first book, The gods first make mad. However, he learned from this experience,
which prepared him mentally for other challenges, such as the war that terrorized many parts of
his homeland. He learned so much that by the end of it, his next book, When the Lion Feeding, was a big hit and propelled his writing to new highs, creating lots of fans and a big opportunity for
his writing to be known all across the world.
Over the course of his life, Smith continued to write best-sellers, ranging from topics like
hunting, diving, flying even to deep-themed novels about the racial divide of Apartheid
sometimes even making his books banned from his home country of South Africa.
Page after page, this book shows the hardships of his days, the good and bad, the beautiful and
ugly, and is a testament to an ideal life.
On Leopard Rock is honestly such an amazing story and is a worthwhile read. This is my first
read of Wilbur Smith’s work, and I will be sure to pick up other books that he has written. I
recommend that you read it too!
Temi Owolabi
August 1, 2019
I wonder how I could have not known of this great Author long before now? He was born in 1933 and currently I believe he is still going strong. Writing and Adventure.
This book is a Memoir by Wilbur Smith and I am known to be partial to memoirs. This one is by an author who has written many books: mostly fiction, a number of series of fiction and all kinds of adventures. I have never that I recall read anything that he has written. But the whole time I was reading this book, I kept telling myself, Get Started reading these books!
Per his memoir, Smith's life is full of adventures, a great father whom he truly admired, and a number of marriages. It saddened me somewhat that Smith's own personal family life as an adult was not discussed much in the book, and what was written, was not very positive - at least from my point of view.
I won this book in a Goodreads' giveaway!
This book is a Memoir by Wilbur Smith and I am known to be partial to memoirs. This one is by an author who has written many books: mostly fiction, a number of series of fiction and all kinds of adventures. I have never that I recall read anything that he has written. But the whole time I was reading this book, I kept telling myself, Get Started reading these books!
Per his memoir, Smith's life is full of adventures, a great father whom he truly admired, and a number of marriages. It saddened me somewhat that Smith's own personal family life as an adult was not discussed much in the book, and what was written, was not very positive - at least from my point of view.
I won this book in a Goodreads' giveaway!
June 1, 2018
Wilbur Smith is one of fiction's best known and best selling authors. "On Leopard Rock" Wilbur Smith shares his life, it's ups and downs, and how he overcame adversity to create his first successful story "When the Lion Feeds" in 1964.
The best piece of advice he was given which helped launch his career was to write about what he knew. That advice is what spawned his focus on creating books and series of stories about his native Africa.
With over fifty years under his belt Wilbur Smith's own story is really interesting as he enjoyed an adventurous life from which he developed story lines which his growing audience of readers found enticing.
I've been reading Smith's books from the very start and it was fun to be introduced to the back story of his characters and their exploits.
The best piece of advice he was given which helped launch his career was to write about what he knew. That advice is what spawned his focus on creating books and series of stories about his native Africa.
With over fifty years under his belt Wilbur Smith's own story is really interesting as he enjoyed an adventurous life from which he developed story lines which his growing audience of readers found enticing.
I've been reading Smith's books from the very start and it was fun to be introduced to the back story of his characters and their exploits.
November 12, 2018
Wilbur Smith is an iconic author in my eyes, and reading his memoir was absolutely enlightening. Having lived in Zimbabwe, I was amazed to read how much time he spent there and also how many of his early books were written there. As an aspiring author, I also found his advice for writers to be very helpful and I wrote an article about this, which can be read here: https://writingcooperative.com/12-les...
I hope that my future novels manage to reach as many people as his have. He is and will continue to be a big influence in my writing life.
I hope that my future novels manage to reach as many people as his have. He is and will continue to be a big influence in my writing life.
May 10, 2018
Lovely book, the adventures Wilbur has been on are just crazy! When you think he has seen everything and nothing else could happen, he tells you about another equally bizarre and exciting adventure. Wilbur has a way of making you feel like you are there with him, experiencing the highs, lows and sometimes dangerous situations he gets himself into. Despite everything, Wilbur has managed to achieve what some people can only dream about happening to them in their lifetime. The book isn't big enough to tell all of his stories, and you get the feeling that there is definitely more to some of them than meets the eye. I would like to have an evening with him, listening to some of the excursions he went on with his childhood friends. South Africa sounds in parts like a wonderful place to visit and Wilbur has managed to capture that so brilliantly in his book. I have never read anything of his before, but after reading this I will definitely be purchasing his other titles.
May 7, 2018
I have read Wilbur Smith books since I was young and found a paperback copy of one of early books. That was quite some time ago and I have looked for his books ever since.
I have an even greater appreciation for his books after reading On Leopard Rock. He is a man of principal, courage and character; much like many of the characters in his books.
I always thought Wilbur’s books had more to tell than just the story presented. Just like many learn about life around the campfire, on a hunt or some harrowing adventure; Wilbur’s stories take you there. I think that is what give his central characters a role that carries from book to book, if not generation to generation
On Leopard Rock provides an understanding of the life Wilbur led and the knowledge that he drew on to write about it. Along the way he makes some comments that I totally agree with such as society calling people hero’s who just go out and do their job everyday. It shows his understanding of what we want in a heroic character be it a man or women.
For a writer, I believe Wilbur’s insights on writing would be invaluable. Quick read but there is lots there. I’d say if you haven’t read Wilbur Smith, pick out one of his books, then read this. If you have read his books you’ll love it. I did
I have an even greater appreciation for his books after reading On Leopard Rock. He is a man of principal, courage and character; much like many of the characters in his books.
I always thought Wilbur’s books had more to tell than just the story presented. Just like many learn about life around the campfire, on a hunt or some harrowing adventure; Wilbur’s stories take you there. I think that is what give his central characters a role that carries from book to book, if not generation to generation
On Leopard Rock provides an understanding of the life Wilbur led and the knowledge that he drew on to write about it. Along the way he makes some comments that I totally agree with such as society calling people hero’s who just go out and do their job everyday. It shows his understanding of what we want in a heroic character be it a man or women.
For a writer, I believe Wilbur’s insights on writing would be invaluable. Quick read but there is lots there. I’d say if you haven’t read Wilbur Smith, pick out one of his books, then read this. If you have read his books you’ll love it. I did
February 8, 2020
An annoyingly disjointed memoir. I was disappointed that such a great author would jump from one story to another without following the sequence of events and without more insight into his personal life. That said, his own adventures were certainly in line with his stories and I was interested to learn more about the man behind the books.
January 25, 2022
Il racconto di una vita incredibile, che ha ispirato avventure indimenticabili.
May 17, 2023
A great insight what inspired Wilbur Smith to become one of my favorite authors
April 27, 2024
Continua la saga di io che leggo autobiografie di persone che non mi sono mai cagata prima. Questa però mi è sembrata un po' scialba, sebbene cosparsa di leoni ed elefanti. Alcune idee dell'autore per altro un po' discutibili, influiscono sul giudizio complessivo.
August 2, 2024
Having been an avid Wilbur Smith book reader in my early twenties I thoroughly enjoyed this memoir as an audiobook. It has inspired me to read some of his standalone books and revisit my favourites.
October 5, 2021
I read quite a few Wilbur Smith novels when I was younger and quite enjoyed most of them at the time, but I think I simply grew out of this type of heroic adventure fiction and developed a taste for more literary writing. It's now many years since I have indulged in one of Wilbur Smith's African sagas.
I was gifted a copy of On Leopard Rock in a promotion by my local bookstore a while back. It's not something I would have chosen to spend my hard earned cash on. And yet, I was keen to read it, being a memoir, feeling quite certain that Smith would have had an interesting life worth recording and sharing.
And, to some extent, that was true. The book was easy to read, written in a breezy, descriptive narrative style and Smith did, indeed, have many fascinating tales to relate. His years growing up in Africa and his interactions with the landscape, the wildlife and the eclectic peoples that make up the Dark Continent were certainly tales worth the telling.
But I became increasingly annoyed and dissatisfied with the memoir as it progressed.
As the tale reached the point in his personal life where he became an increasingly successful and wealthy writer, the memoir became one of self-congratulation and the ardent blowing of one's own trumpet.
Over and over again, we were treated to a synopsis of each of his many novels, some yarn about how each of the brilliant ideas came to him, and the people (mostly family) on whom his heroic and cliched characters were based. It is clear that young Wilbur was strongly influenced by his father.
And then we were told of the relative commercial successes of each of his novels (not quite actual sales figures, but almost), and regaled with anecdotes about the increasingly privileged life a wealthy, well-connected white man can afford to lead.
And again, I was reminded of his old-fashioned, conservative, right-leaning values about what makes a heroic man, a strong man, a valued man, all very chauvinist and bordering on toxic masculinity.
I found myself in vehement disagreement with many of his views and values about political correctness and the role of males in modern society. Wilbur Smith is yesterday's hero in this regard.
So, while lovers of his fiction will probably lap this up and thoroughly enjoy his blowhard yarns, it left me feeling disenchanted and even less likely to ever pick up a Wilbur Smith novel again.
This one is going straight to the Op Shop.
I was gifted a copy of On Leopard Rock in a promotion by my local bookstore a while back. It's not something I would have chosen to spend my hard earned cash on. And yet, I was keen to read it, being a memoir, feeling quite certain that Smith would have had an interesting life worth recording and sharing.
And, to some extent, that was true. The book was easy to read, written in a breezy, descriptive narrative style and Smith did, indeed, have many fascinating tales to relate. His years growing up in Africa and his interactions with the landscape, the wildlife and the eclectic peoples that make up the Dark Continent were certainly tales worth the telling.
But I became increasingly annoyed and dissatisfied with the memoir as it progressed.
As the tale reached the point in his personal life where he became an increasingly successful and wealthy writer, the memoir became one of self-congratulation and the ardent blowing of one's own trumpet.
Over and over again, we were treated to a synopsis of each of his many novels, some yarn about how each of the brilliant ideas came to him, and the people (mostly family) on whom his heroic and cliched characters were based. It is clear that young Wilbur was strongly influenced by his father.
And then we were told of the relative commercial successes of each of his novels (not quite actual sales figures, but almost), and regaled with anecdotes about the increasingly privileged life a wealthy, well-connected white man can afford to lead.
And again, I was reminded of his old-fashioned, conservative, right-leaning values about what makes a heroic man, a strong man, a valued man, all very chauvinist and bordering on toxic masculinity.
I found myself in vehement disagreement with many of his views and values about political correctness and the role of males in modern society. Wilbur Smith is yesterday's hero in this regard.
So, while lovers of his fiction will probably lap this up and thoroughly enjoy his blowhard yarns, it left me feeling disenchanted and even less likely to ever pick up a Wilbur Smith novel again.
This one is going straight to the Op Shop.
June 16, 2019
I grew up in a house filled with Wilbur Smith books. My Dad was a huge fan and as a result my brothers and I were fans too. I remember being entranced by The Burning Shore and going on from there. It has been many years since I read a Wilbur Smith book, but as soon as I saw his autobiography was out it went on my wish list. Hearing Smith’s story narrated by Saul Reichlin with his South African accent made me want to revisit some of those books I read as a teen.
Wilbur Smith can write a tremendous story of adventure and draw you in like no other. His books are well-researched and his characters are memorable. There is a reason he has spent decades appearing on the best-seller lists of the world. Unfortunately, his own story is not nearly so exciting. Not that there is anything wrong with that! He has lived a full and interesting life and it was certainly much more adventure-filled than my own staid existence. Some of his earliest memories include getting lost in the bush and watching his father single-handedly kill three man-eating lions. His research for his books took him down gold mines and into tombs of ancient Egyptian royalty, but somehow the fizz and excitement of such adventures is missing from this book. It’s not because these experiences are not awesome, it’s because the reader gets the definite feeling that Smith is holding back. He talks about his first marriages hardly at all and likewise about his children. After I finished the book I got more details about these aspects of his life from the internet. Without any reference to his relationships (other than the important bookends of this parents and his current wife) the book becomes a laundry list of cool things I once did. Smith does a good job of tying those experiences to how they impacted his writing, but the overall effect is flat.
Wilbur Smith was, for me, always a writer who could take you on a tremendous roller-coaster of storytelling. It was a ride you did not want to end. I cannot say the same for his autobiography.
Wilbur Smith can write a tremendous story of adventure and draw you in like no other. His books are well-researched and his characters are memorable. There is a reason he has spent decades appearing on the best-seller lists of the world. Unfortunately, his own story is not nearly so exciting. Not that there is anything wrong with that! He has lived a full and interesting life and it was certainly much more adventure-filled than my own staid existence. Some of his earliest memories include getting lost in the bush and watching his father single-handedly kill three man-eating lions. His research for his books took him down gold mines and into tombs of ancient Egyptian royalty, but somehow the fizz and excitement of such adventures is missing from this book. It’s not because these experiences are not awesome, it’s because the reader gets the definite feeling that Smith is holding back. He talks about his first marriages hardly at all and likewise about his children. After I finished the book I got more details about these aspects of his life from the internet. Without any reference to his relationships (other than the important bookends of this parents and his current wife) the book becomes a laundry list of cool things I once did. Smith does a good job of tying those experiences to how they impacted his writing, but the overall effect is flat.
Wilbur Smith was, for me, always a writer who could take you on a tremendous roller-coaster of storytelling. It was a ride you did not want to end. I cannot say the same for his autobiography.
May 17, 2018
My Dad is a massive Wilbur Smith fan, devouring every book as soon as it's released. I vaguely think I've read one (can't remember which) and thought it a bit too "boy's own" for my liking so have never re-visited his novels since.
I thought this memoir may go the same way - early recollections of hunting were a bit of an initial turn off - but I'm glad I kept going as this really is an entertaining book.
It's definitely a whole different ball game if you grow up in Africa, as the son of a renowned hunter. Not many kids could recount tales of their father shooting three lions one night when they invaded camp or of their attempts to retrieve bird's eggs from a nest only to find a deadly black mamba sitting there.
These, though, are exactly the type of experiences that shaped both the man and the author. From hob-nobbing with the stars to perilous, almost deadly, diving expeditions Wilbur Smith really has had a life packed full of adventure.
What was lovely about hearing all these tales though was the underlying message of how lucky he considers himself.
They say fortune favours the brave and in this instance it provides inspiration for countless books as well.
I thought this memoir may go the same way - early recollections of hunting were a bit of an initial turn off - but I'm glad I kept going as this really is an entertaining book.
It's definitely a whole different ball game if you grow up in Africa, as the son of a renowned hunter. Not many kids could recount tales of their father shooting three lions one night when they invaded camp or of their attempts to retrieve bird's eggs from a nest only to find a deadly black mamba sitting there.
These, though, are exactly the type of experiences that shaped both the man and the author. From hob-nobbing with the stars to perilous, almost deadly, diving expeditions Wilbur Smith really has had a life packed full of adventure.
What was lovely about hearing all these tales though was the underlying message of how lucky he considers himself.
They say fortune favours the brave and in this instance it provides inspiration for countless books as well.
March 28, 2019
It was fun to read about Wilbur Smith's life. I enjoyed reading about his childhood, his love of adventure, his African upbringing, his loving family. Some of his chapters read like his fiction, really interesting and compelling! On the other hand, some were a little bland.
As a writer, he had one failure, his very first book, but then he went back and wrote a second, and it was a blockbuster, and after that it was all glory. Happy for him, but it doesn't make for very suspenseful reading.
But his anecdotes of his life! Fabulous. He's a good man, sensitive, curious, emotional and driven. He created a spectacular body of work, and a fine life for himself and his family. Wilbur is capable of appreciating and reporting on the highs and lows of humanity, as well as the great gift of being born on this planet. All his books came out of this gifted perspective. I'm glad he wrote this memoir.
As a writer, he had one failure, his very first book, but then he went back and wrote a second, and it was a blockbuster, and after that it was all glory. Happy for him, but it doesn't make for very suspenseful reading.
But his anecdotes of his life! Fabulous. He's a good man, sensitive, curious, emotional and driven. He created a spectacular body of work, and a fine life for himself and his family. Wilbur is capable of appreciating and reporting on the highs and lows of humanity, as well as the great gift of being born on this planet. All his books came out of this gifted perspective. I'm glad he wrote this memoir.
January 7, 2022
I was never very much interested in Wilbur Smith's book, but I decided to try his memoir, because I heard it is written in a very compelling way, as if you were reading one of his other novels.
And honestly, I did enjoy it. It was a fun book.
Not sure if it persuaded me to read any of his novels, but as it stands, I had enjoyed this book well enough on it's own.
And honestly, I did enjoy it. It was a fun book.
Not sure if it persuaded me to read any of his novels, but as it stands, I had enjoyed this book well enough on it's own.
Read
January 16, 2019Warning
Biography
Boring
DNF
Biography
Boring
DNF
December 16, 2022
I used to read a lot of Wilbur Smith when I was younger. I preferred his early period, from his debut When the Lion Feeds up to Hungry As The Sea. The Sunbird in particular was an excellent novel, blending the modern day with an imagined, but still startlingly realistic ancient past. After 1979, he became bogged down with regurgitations of his original Courtney Trilogy, first its reinvention as the Ballantyne Quadrology, then endless spin offs. I stopped reading anything after The Leopard Hunts in Darkness – a modern day starkly violent yet beautifully tinged bush thriller set in Zimbabwe. My last attempt, after many years, was the Hector Cross debut Those in Peril. I found it distasteful and wondered if I would feel the same way about Mr Smith’s earlier output. I have dared not pick up a novel of his since lest is spoil my adolescent memories.
This is Smith’s biography. He writes his own story with the same flair and relative economy he uses in his prose. I enjoyed it. It’s a very swift read. He certainly has had some adventures and has experienced many activities I have either tried and failed at – skiing and scuba diving, for instance – or find distasteful, big game hunting being the obvious one. Like most globally successful authors, he is well travelled and become very well connected. Some of his anecdotes were brilliant. I particularly liked the one about book signings. He doesn’t concentrate much on the personal; a few minor infringements, plenty of youthful memories, lots of eulogising about his Pa and Grandpa, both of whom he idolises before changing tack as an older man and recognising it was his peerless and almost unseen Mother who was the real artistic influence on his life. Smith seems welded to the veldt like his characters and, much like them, he’s also not able to fully comprehend his actions and attitudes. He seems bitter about his books being banned from publication is various countries, and I get they were banned on spurious grounds, but he does hark on about it. Similarly, he is at pains to stress his inclusive writing and his non-racist views; views which don’t always surface in his books, or are disguised by the location and historical time frame of his stories. Except a passing reference to not being good at relationships, he barely mentions his marriages or children, all of whom he is estranged from. This might be so as not to offend his current spouse.
As a writer his sage advice – or rather that of his publisher / agent Charles Pick – is to “write what you know.” This crops up a lot in Creative Writing teaching. It is fine for Smith to do that, with his father’s money, the huge ranch, the safaris, the foreign holidays, the public school, etc, which formed his early life. Spells as an accountant and businessman didn’t excite him, but he was never poor, he was never short of funds and he always had a stream of life experiences that many of us could never claim to. His stories are bold and after a fashion slightly comic-book, boy’s own stuff, much like his major influences H. Rider Haggard and W.E. Johns. Opportunities to experience what Smith has in his life only start from a point of privilege and he misses that needle in the authorial haystack. He also never mentions imagination.
An easy read. The final appendix is the short story On Flinder’s Face, which was submitted to the Argosy Magazine and was Smith’s first published work. Rough at the edges, it shows his potential and much of what made him a prolific and exciting author for the majority of his career.
This is Smith’s biography. He writes his own story with the same flair and relative economy he uses in his prose. I enjoyed it. It’s a very swift read. He certainly has had some adventures and has experienced many activities I have either tried and failed at – skiing and scuba diving, for instance – or find distasteful, big game hunting being the obvious one. Like most globally successful authors, he is well travelled and become very well connected. Some of his anecdotes were brilliant. I particularly liked the one about book signings. He doesn’t concentrate much on the personal; a few minor infringements, plenty of youthful memories, lots of eulogising about his Pa and Grandpa, both of whom he idolises before changing tack as an older man and recognising it was his peerless and almost unseen Mother who was the real artistic influence on his life. Smith seems welded to the veldt like his characters and, much like them, he’s also not able to fully comprehend his actions and attitudes. He seems bitter about his books being banned from publication is various countries, and I get they were banned on spurious grounds, but he does hark on about it. Similarly, he is at pains to stress his inclusive writing and his non-racist views; views which don’t always surface in his books, or are disguised by the location and historical time frame of his stories. Except a passing reference to not being good at relationships, he barely mentions his marriages or children, all of whom he is estranged from. This might be so as not to offend his current spouse.
As a writer his sage advice – or rather that of his publisher / agent Charles Pick – is to “write what you know.” This crops up a lot in Creative Writing teaching. It is fine for Smith to do that, with his father’s money, the huge ranch, the safaris, the foreign holidays, the public school, etc, which formed his early life. Spells as an accountant and businessman didn’t excite him, but he was never poor, he was never short of funds and he always had a stream of life experiences that many of us could never claim to. His stories are bold and after a fashion slightly comic-book, boy’s own stuff, much like his major influences H. Rider Haggard and W.E. Johns. Opportunities to experience what Smith has in his life only start from a point of privilege and he misses that needle in the authorial haystack. He also never mentions imagination.
An easy read. The final appendix is the short story On Flinder’s Face, which was submitted to the Argosy Magazine and was Smith’s first published work. Rough at the edges, it shows his potential and much of what made him a prolific and exciting author for the majority of his career.
July 11, 2024
Review of "On Leopard Rock: A Life of Adventure" by Wilbur Smith
Rating: 3.5/5
As someone who has never delved into Wilbur Smith's novels, I approached his memoir, "On Leopard Rock: A Life of Adventure," with a specific interest in the history of Zimbabwe/Rhodesia and the broader context of Africa's colonization. My intrigue was piqued by Smith's upbringing in Rhodesia and his extensive life experiences in South Africa. While I am not typically drawn to adventure novels, this memoir offered a different perspective that I found compelling, leading me to consider exploring some of his historical fiction works.
The most enjoyable aspects of the book were the vivid anecdotes about Smith's life. His recollections of growing up, his love of reading, and his relationships provided a rich, personal backdrop to his adventurous narrative. These personal stories, including his romantic entanglements, friendships, interactions with his literary agent, and family dynamics, offered deep insights into his character and priorities. These sections were the heart of the memoir, painting a comprehensive picture of Wilbur Smith as a person beyond his identity as an author.
Conversely, the segments where Smith detailed the plots of his books were less engaging for me. As someone unfamiliar with his novels, these plot descriptions did not resonate, detracting from my overall enjoyment of the memoir. However, his discussions on politics, particularly regarding apartheid in Africa and the Bush War, were fascinating. These insights, coupled with his writing methods, added a layer of depth that I appreciated.
Smith's reflections on hunting and conservation were particularly thought-provoking. His perspective on hunting as beneficial for local tribes was new to me and prompted me to consider the complexities of this issue. Nevertheless, I couldn't help but question whether this viewpoint bordered on "white saviourism." This aspect of the memoir highlighted the nuanced and often controversial nature of conservation efforts in Africa.
The memoir's charm was further enhanced by Smith's thrilling stories of hunting lions, encountering black mambas, and hearing hyenas. These tales were captivating due to their exotic and adventurous nature, a stark contrast to my own experiences. They provided a glimpse into a world that felt both dangerous and exhilarating.
Additionally, I was particularly drawn to Smith's passion for books and writing. His love for literature was evident and infectious, illuminating the journey that led him to become a prolific writer. This passion underscored the memoir and added a relatable dimension to his larger-than-life adventures.
In conclusion, "On Leopard Rock: A Life of Adventure" is a memoir that offers a fascinating glimpse into Wilbur Smith's life, filled with personal anecdotes, political insights, and thrilling adventures. While some parts may not resonate with those unfamiliar with his novels, the book remains a compelling read for those interested in African history, the complexities of conservation, and the personal journey of a renowned author.
Rating: 3.5/5
As someone who has never delved into Wilbur Smith's novels, I approached his memoir, "On Leopard Rock: A Life of Adventure," with a specific interest in the history of Zimbabwe/Rhodesia and the broader context of Africa's colonization. My intrigue was piqued by Smith's upbringing in Rhodesia and his extensive life experiences in South Africa. While I am not typically drawn to adventure novels, this memoir offered a different perspective that I found compelling, leading me to consider exploring some of his historical fiction works.
The most enjoyable aspects of the book were the vivid anecdotes about Smith's life. His recollections of growing up, his love of reading, and his relationships provided a rich, personal backdrop to his adventurous narrative. These personal stories, including his romantic entanglements, friendships, interactions with his literary agent, and family dynamics, offered deep insights into his character and priorities. These sections were the heart of the memoir, painting a comprehensive picture of Wilbur Smith as a person beyond his identity as an author.
Conversely, the segments where Smith detailed the plots of his books were less engaging for me. As someone unfamiliar with his novels, these plot descriptions did not resonate, detracting from my overall enjoyment of the memoir. However, his discussions on politics, particularly regarding apartheid in Africa and the Bush War, were fascinating. These insights, coupled with his writing methods, added a layer of depth that I appreciated.
Smith's reflections on hunting and conservation were particularly thought-provoking. His perspective on hunting as beneficial for local tribes was new to me and prompted me to consider the complexities of this issue. Nevertheless, I couldn't help but question whether this viewpoint bordered on "white saviourism." This aspect of the memoir highlighted the nuanced and often controversial nature of conservation efforts in Africa.
The memoir's charm was further enhanced by Smith's thrilling stories of hunting lions, encountering black mambas, and hearing hyenas. These tales were captivating due to their exotic and adventurous nature, a stark contrast to my own experiences. They provided a glimpse into a world that felt both dangerous and exhilarating.
Additionally, I was particularly drawn to Smith's passion for books and writing. His love for literature was evident and infectious, illuminating the journey that led him to become a prolific writer. This passion underscored the memoir and added a relatable dimension to his larger-than-life adventures.
In conclusion, "On Leopard Rock: A Life of Adventure" is a memoir that offers a fascinating glimpse into Wilbur Smith's life, filled with personal anecdotes, political insights, and thrilling adventures. While some parts may not resonate with those unfamiliar with his novels, the book remains a compelling read for those interested in African history, the complexities of conservation, and the personal journey of a renowned author.
May 17, 2018
“There is only one way to avoid criticism: do nothing, say nothing, and be nothing.”
Aristotle
This quote from Aristotle cannot be applied to Wilbur Smith. The bestselling author has been producing works of fiction for over five decades, shows no signs of stopping, and has ruffled a fair few feathers along the way.
This book is a memoir, so do not expect any explosive tabloid style disclosures over his many marriages or his estrangement to his children. However, his love of current wife Nisho is lovingly detailed, as is when they first met.
This is a tome filled with numerous incidents that have helped shape Mr Smith over the years and provided source material for his work. To say that Wilbur Smith has lived a full life would be an understatement and there are many real life recitals of escaping death; rock climbing, flying an aeroplane, showdowns with lions and a close shave with sharks whilst diving to name just four.
Wilbur Smith has captivated millions of readers with his creations over the years and states “I have started wars, I’ve burned down cities, and I’ve killed hundreds of thousands of people – but only in my imagination!” What an imagination it has been!
Wilbur Smith lifts the veil on his writing process in the Chapter – ‘This Writing Life’ and indicates that he wishes to carry on until he is one hundred, I hope he reaches this goal.
The memoir is different from anything I have read from Wilbur Smith as it is based on his own personal experiences. However, mentions are made on real life characters and events that have been transformed into his many novels. Fans of his work who read this will feel like members of a ‘Wilbur Smith Appreciation Society’ as they come across real life individuals and events that became components of Smith’s work.
As a Wilbur Smith fan I loved this book. However, this will appeal to everyone Smith’s life from 1933, living with and on the wild lands of Africa, and the monumental changes that have occurred there, and in the world in general, are reality check to the world we live in today in 2018. A most worthwhile read.
Aristotle
This quote from Aristotle cannot be applied to Wilbur Smith. The bestselling author has been producing works of fiction for over five decades, shows no signs of stopping, and has ruffled a fair few feathers along the way.
This book is a memoir, so do not expect any explosive tabloid style disclosures over his many marriages or his estrangement to his children. However, his love of current wife Nisho is lovingly detailed, as is when they first met.
This is a tome filled with numerous incidents that have helped shape Mr Smith over the years and provided source material for his work. To say that Wilbur Smith has lived a full life would be an understatement and there are many real life recitals of escaping death; rock climbing, flying an aeroplane, showdowns with lions and a close shave with sharks whilst diving to name just four.
Wilbur Smith has captivated millions of readers with his creations over the years and states “I have started wars, I’ve burned down cities, and I’ve killed hundreds of thousands of people – but only in my imagination!” What an imagination it has been!
Wilbur Smith lifts the veil on his writing process in the Chapter – ‘This Writing Life’ and indicates that he wishes to carry on until he is one hundred, I hope he reaches this goal.
The memoir is different from anything I have read from Wilbur Smith as it is based on his own personal experiences. However, mentions are made on real life characters and events that have been transformed into his many novels. Fans of his work who read this will feel like members of a ‘Wilbur Smith Appreciation Society’ as they come across real life individuals and events that became components of Smith’s work.
As a Wilbur Smith fan I loved this book. However, this will appeal to everyone Smith’s life from 1933, living with and on the wild lands of Africa, and the monumental changes that have occurred there, and in the world in general, are reality check to the world we live in today in 2018. A most worthwhile read.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 127 reviews