The Angels Weep [Mass Market Paperback]

Wilbur Smith (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 28, 2006

On a continent of breathtaking beauty and bitter suffering, two vastly different cultures clashed, mingled, and recoiled. Here, amidst mist-shrouded mountains and gold-studded plateaus, ancient tribesmen lived close to the earth, as white men dug fortunes out from beneath them and laid plans for a new civilization.
                                                                               
Out of Southern Africa the enigmatic Cecil Rhodes built an empire in the late 1800s and attracted the brightest and bravest of a generation--including a remarkable far-flung family named Ballantyne. But for the natives, another day was dawning: a day of retribution...

From a courageous woman doctor to a fierce, one-eyed slave trader turned soldier, the whites of Africa were buffeted by two horrific waves of war. And just when a bloody peace seemed possible, the seeds of future turmoil were sown …

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Wild Justice, nicely read by Steven Pacey, involves Col. Peter Stride, who leads an elite force in an assault on a hijacked airliner in an attempt to free endangered hostages. Though the raid succeeds, Stride is fired for not fully following orders. Free from his military connection, he is then in a position to fight terrorism and conspiracy independently. A good story with lots of twists and treacheries. Together or separately, these three books are fine short adventures; each tale is about one-sixth the length of its original novel and loses an awful lot in the abridging. A recommendation: get these audios if you must for patrons in a hurry, but point them to an unabridged version if you can. - Cliff Glaviano, Bowling Green State Univ. Libs., OH
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

“An epic...Smith joins the ranks of one of the grand masters of twentieth-century novels.”
—Tulsa World

 

" 'A thundering good' read is virtually the only way of describing Wilbur Smith's books."--The Irish Times

 

Praise for Wilbur Smith

“Smith is a master.” —Publishers Weekly

“One of the world’s most popular adventure writers.” —The Washington Post Book World

“A rare author who wields a razor-sharp sword of craftsmanship.” —Tulsa World

“Wilbur Smith is one of those benchmarks against whom others are compared.” —The Times (UK)      
"Best Historical Novelist--I say Wilbur Smith, with his swashbuckling novels of Africa.  The bodices of rip and the blood flows.  You can get lost in Wilbur Smith and misplace all of August."--Stephen King

"Action is Wilur Smith's game, and he is a master."--The Washington Post Book World

“The world’s leading adventure writer.” —Daily Express (UK)

"Wilbur Smith rarely misses a trick."--Sunday Times

“Smith is a captivating storyteller.” —The Orlando Sentinel

“No one does adventure quite like Smith.” —Daily Mirror (UK)

"A thundering good’ read is virtually the only way of describing Wilbur Smith’s books.” —The Irish Times

 

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 672 pages
• Publisher: St. Martin's Paperbacks (November 28, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312940734
• ISBN-13: 978-0312940737
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.3 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #314,352 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Wilbur Smith was born in Central Africa in 1933. He was educated at Michaelhouse and Rhodes University. After the successful publication of WHEN THE LION FEEDS in 1964 he became a full-time writer, and has since written 30 novels, all meticulously researched on his numerous expeditions worldwide. His books have been translated into twenty-six different languages

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

26 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Angels Weep is an outstanding piece of workmanship, November 1, 1997

By 

[e-mail] (Charlotte, N.C.) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Angels Weep (Mass Market Paperback)

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.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars This Effectively Ties Up The Ballantyne Saga, February 24, 2006

By 

Chris Ward (Costa Rica) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Angels Weep (Paperback)

"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.

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Not for the faint of heart, August 16, 2001

By 

JeffreyG (Yuma, AZ) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Angels Weep (Mass Market Paperback)

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.