Customer Reviews

Power of the Sword

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Mr. Wilbur Smith is one of my favourite novelists. His style, plot, rich knowledge and portrayal of political and ethnic conflict in Africa are some of many qualities that make me admire him. He tries to write objectively about the different peoples he portrays, though his identification with the "White Anglo" i.e. Whites of English descent is apparent sometimes beneath his facade of impartiality and tolerance. This shows least in this book however. The continuing struggle between the English and the Boers is portrayed in the conflict between Sean Courtney and Manfred de la Rey and their respective families. The Blacks slowly but surely enter into the struggle for power. The mentality and motivtion of each of the three groups is explored and beautifully conveyed. The surprising and complicated long lasting results of the endeavours of each group in the struggle for power is portrayed. The insensitivity and cruelty of the English in their treatment of the conquered Boers and their concentration camps (a British not Nazi invention) directly leads to the bitterness, fanaticism and pseudo-religious nationalism of the Boers, which indirectly culminates in Apartheid; The ANC leaders prefer the more oppressive Boers to the English, because tyranny and oppression can only lead to national unification and revolution, while the cunning British policy of giving them nominal rights with one hand and exploiting them with the other can only enchant more gullibles. The book was no less beautiful to me because I read just before going to South Africa in 1999. It helped explain many historical, political, even modern aspects in inter-cultural relationships that wouldn't have been apparent to me.

Wilbur Smith has captivated me with his fantastic prose and his ability to convey the magnificence of the African continent. His depictions of grandeur are only surpassed by his excellent story lines and the strong historical undertones. "Power of the Sword" is especially dear to me because I was only able to locate it after two years of browsing and searching. Additionally, to a boxing afficionado like myself, this book furnishes priceless information on boxing theory. Keep them coming Mr. Smith!

As I have always said Wilbur Smith brings me the taste of Africa all the time. I am in Zimbabwe and some these things happened so close to home such that when you read his books it is like you have rewinded history. Mr. Smith's knowledge on mining, banking, firearms, politics, love, hate, the African wildlife and research is too good and accurate to be fiction. I have enjoyed the Power of The Sword such that I almost forgot about my exams. His twist and turns, plots and sub-plots are excellent and I am looking forward to the next book in the set. The Poer of The Sword is very powerful.

This book was great - I plan to read all five in the series. I'm fascinated with Africa as described by Wilbur Smith.

I wish to draw attention to the inadequate binding on several of these books. Every time I turn a page, it just falls out of the book. If it were any other author, I would not buy a Fawcett Crest paperback book - 600+ detached pages, it's outrageous. I'll bet the whole series is like that.

Wilbur Smith, whom I'm sure in his later years has fond memories of his Homeland, relevant to his writings.
His series of books inflect the hard times of personal tragedy of his characters, and invokes an expression of reality;
in spite of a fictional writing, there is a hidden truth that prevails, a sense of real history.

Quite emotive, with a sense of reality. It's easily imaginable to place the integrity of forethought into the readings he offers.
It will be a very sad day when Wilbur Smith writes, no more. He has an excellent fortitude of reality in past times.
Related to the Africikana's personified, life. A Country that roiled under oppression and few hero's prevailed.

Wilbur has the gift of moving people, into a realm of conjecture and gives credence to the humanity of the underdog.
Riches and poverty abound in all his excellent writings. Moving from riches to poverty in a blink of an eye.

The small fact that Wilbur personified, a reality, few could appreciate in todays World, his works dates back some time
[was it 1976]! And his 'Thick' and elegant works have entraped me into a World, I have known; on a different continent.
Few may be able to relate to the hardships, then there are those that can.

Because not all, of this fictional work, is in fact fictional. One can or could, read between the lines.

My most favoured author. Life should not be so easy, as it these days. Life for many, is a sweet path of ignorance.

Life for those that have battled in life, will most definitely appreciate Wilburs works.

Cheers

If you are looking for lots of action, Smith is one of the best. I have read quite a few of his books now, and haven't been disappointed.

This novel was one of the first ones that I ever read and it inspired me to continue reading everything that Wilbur Smith wrote. The impact when reading it is almost the same today. I find myself imersed in the African continent and politics of the times. While I am not sure that all the actual events incorporated into the story are true you feel like this actually happened. I cannot recommend this book highly enough.

This has become my favorite family saga of all time and I still have 4 left in the series.....Awesome....

This book was great - I plan to read all five in the series. I'm fascinated with Africa as described by Wilbur Smith.

I wish to draw attention to the inadequate binding on several of these books. Every time I turn a page, it just falls out of the book. If it were any other author, I would not buy a Fawcett Crest paperback book - 600+ detached pages, it's outrageous. I'll bet the whole series is like that.

With "The Power Of The Pen", Wilbur Smith captured me for 661 pages and never let me go. This is turly an historical novel, an epic of such proportions that I may never forget the characters.

Smith took the powerful history of South Africa through the 30's and 40's and mixed in several powerful story lines with memorable characters. I came to feel that I was living with the central woman character, Centaine De Thiry Courtney, as the author created the fine stories of her life and the lives of her two bastard sons.

I learned of their romances and politics and followed their lives, which took me through the workings of the diamond mining industry, the exciting times of the 1936 Olympics, the violent years of WWII, and the forming of Apartheid. All this and let me not forget the wonderful journey through the beautiful and dangerous South Africa.