“My mama loved books; I became fascinated by the wonderful stories that came out of these things she held in her hand - and started to make them up myself.”

Rhodesian-born British-South African novelist

Wilbur Smith was a Rhodesian-born British-South African novelist. He wrote historical fiction and became widely known for stories set around international involvement in Southern Africa across four centuries. His work is associated with sweeping historical narratives that connect Southern Africa to wider world affairs. He focused on long spans of history and on the forces that shaped the region over time.