Customer Reviews

The Angels Weep

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

The Angels Weep does what few books can. Smith, as Africa's Michener, skillfully blends the history of Africa with fictional characters, to give the reader both historical insight and a very enjoyable read. This book is two pronged, as it covers the two most important eras of Rhodesian-Zimbabwean history. The late 1800's and 1977 are respectively the eras when the country of Rhodesia was founded, and 1977 the year a black-led revolution took place. In each of these eras, Smith blends a fabric of interwoven and interdependent characters, both black and white, who typify the strength, courage, and keen failures of a land that is both beautiful and dangerous. A warning to the faint of heart, the book is full of violence, a necessary feature of any story about this troubled land. This may be the best book written by a man I think is the world's best author, or at least a peer of the immortal Michener.

"The Angels Weep" functions as the closer to the Ballantyne Family series begun with "A Falcon Flies" and "Men of Men." Don't read this before having read these first two. There's another book starring a Ballantyne relation that follows this (and the recent "Triumph of the Sun" an afterthought), but it's dispensible and adds nothing to the arc of these three books.

This is a satisfying closer to the saga-- it tells the story of the birth of Rhodesia, and its death. It's a very bloody tale of black against white-- for those who want a good notion of the historical roots of Zimbabwe, these three books can't be beat. Smith is sometimes accused of racism and sexism, but he's telling a story where these issues can't be ignored, and he does a reasonable job of representing both viewpoints, invader and invaded, black and white, winners and losers. He's clumsy with the romance, but excellent with the battles and the reasons behind them. Worth tracking down.

I think this book is one of Wilbur Smith's best books. It tells the history of the struggle between the blacks and whites in present-day Zimbabwe. This book probably has more violence and bloodshed than any book I've ever read. However, it tells an important story and has some powerful messages.

I started reading this book and finished it in around 12 days. Intrestingly this book takes you on a journey across the fate of a people and a nation. It has lots of violence but then Zimbabwe has has been a violent place. Ralph's homophobia was distressing and his brothers suicide in the book was unnerving. What i like the most is the manipulation of characters by the authour. They seem so real but at the same time so unreal. He tries to end the book in "all well that ends well" spirit. However i should say that its one of his best works that i ever read. When it comes to Africa, Smith sure knows how to write.

I never thought about Africa being a fun place to visit until I traveled there on a merchant ship in 2008. We went completely around Africa twice stopping in Egypt, Kenya, Mozambique, South Africa and Cameroon. I had so much fun there I went back to Kenya on a holiday when my time on the ship was over. A friend told me about Wilbur Smith and in 2009 I read all 32 books he has written on Africa and surrounding areas. I highly recommend all his books especially the ones on the Courtney family!

This is the third book in Wilbur Smith's Ballantyne series about a family in Southern Africa. The Ballantyne series, unlike the Courtney Series, is set primarily in the lands north of the Limpopo River which, during the late nineteenth and early twentieth century came under the administration of the British South Africa Company in what is now Zimbabwe and Zambia. The first book, a "Falcon Flies" is the story of Dr. Robin Ballantyne and her brother Zouga Ballantyne. The first book includes their efforts to reach the lands north of the Limpopo that their father had explored, their efforts to end the slave trade and to bring Christianity to the natives. In the second book, "Men of Men" the focus is on Zouga Ballantyne and his sons. Zouga, who dreams of returning to the land north of the Limpopo finds himself mixed up in the events following the discovery of diamonds at Colesberg Kopje which eventually becomes "the big hole" of Kimberly. It introduced us to Cecil John Rhodes and the ruthless manipulation that led to his great wealth while men like Zouga experience the danger and drudgery of the diamond pits. This third book, "The Angels Weep" begins where Men of Men left off, in the rich grass lands of Matabeleland below the Zambezi River (Zimbabwe) after the death of Lobengula Khumalo (1894) - the second and last king of the Matabele people whom Rhodes and Zouga and others had tricked into war. "The Angels Weep" focuses on Zouga's eldest son Ralph, married to his cousin, the daughter of Dr. Robyn Ballantyne and her first husband as well as on Bazo, 'the Hammer' the nephew of Lobengula and his family . This novel sweeps through to the present day when the confrontation of two families, mirroring the conflict of two nations, comes full circle. If you love history, adventure, wildlife, geography, and political and economic intrigue this book is a "must read."

Once I started reading "A Falcon Flies", I could not even take time to write a review or any notes on the story. I went right on to read "Men Of Men" and then "The Angels Weep" which in chapter Two, I realized that the story leads into a book that I had read awhile back was the last of his wonderful series: "The Leopard Hunts In Darkness". Havingread that one first did not affect the flow of the story.

This is a series of four paperbacks of over 600 pages each and centers on the history of the African Country of Zimbabwe, formerly Rhodesia, formerly land of the Matabele. It follows the Ballantynes, St. Johns, Codringtons, Mellows, and King Lobengula of the Matabeles and their ancesters from the 1860's through the 1980's. It also follows the history of Cecil Rhodes who financed the theft and forming Rhodesia from the Matabeles. The riches from this country financed the "Rhodes Scholarship".

This a must read for those of you who enjoy history mixed wonderfully with the romantic, exciting, and many times,very sad lives of the people who lived through those times. I found myself many times thinking of the similarities between the United States's history and that of the Country of Zimbabwe.

whatever smith writes will become an incredible ride to live. So do not hesitate to buy a book from him. I readed almost all his books and always looking for more.What a joy!!!!!

I have 2 to go in the series and this is shaping up to be another great family saga. I didn't love the prior novel, but this one was great.....You still have to read them all and in order....

I read all three of Mr. Smith's books in this series (in order) and I heartily recommend them all. The author is a master of the art of descriptive prose and leaves you feeling as if you've been there. As I've said before, Mr. Smith could write a story about paint drying and make it a fascinating read.