Power of the Sword

Rating:
Summary: Power of The Sword is Powerful
Review: 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.

Rating:
Summary: Wilbur Smith delivers yet again!
Review: 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.

Rating:
Summary: Wilbur Smith delivers yet again!
Review: 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.

Rating:
Summary: It is a good book but something is missing
Review: In this book you can see how a woman can hate a man and the man can still love that woman, but the hate of these persons is because he kills her adoptive mother, but in book never say why he killed her, all the book is rolling in that hating all the time, and you don't know why he did that, you hate him and maybe he killed her in self defense. The rest of the story is full of action and courage of all the protagonists.

Rating:
Summary: The Aftermath of the Anglo-Boer Wars: W. Smith at his best
Review: 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.

Rating:
Summary: Part 2 of a 5 part set - Good Book!
Review: 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.

Rating:
Summary: Literary masterpiece.
Review: 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!