May 27, 2001 08:41 PM
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As a long time devotee of Wilbur Smith novels I was a little wary when he switched periods from the 19th - 20th century to the 17th century. However I need not have worried as he has obviously developed a marvellous feel for the upheaval of those times.
Anyway on to the book…..
Monsoon continues on from its predecessor (Birds of Prey) and yet again the Courtney family make up the main cast of central characters. They are presented as one of the great seafaring families of English society making their fortune by raiding the shipping routes of their country’s enemies under letters of marque (basically a licence for piracy) and by trade.
The book concentrates on the adventures of two of the four sons, Tom and Dorian. The other sons William and Guy play supporting roles in the weaving of a story that races along at a blistering pace.
The relations between William and the other three brothers are stressed at the best of times and a further split in the family occurs when Tom and Guy argue about a female passenger and to whom her affectations should go to.
During a battle with Al-Auf (translates as the Bad One) an Arabic pirate who had been raiding the commerce routes between India and Europe Dorian is lost to the Arabs and sold to an Arabic lord. Tom however had already sworn an oath that should they be seperated he would always search for him.
The second half of the book revolves around this promise and as always Smith delivers the story with real punch and attention to detail. Wilbur Smith’s love for his native continent shines through in every one of his stories and yet again Monsoon is no exception. As a result I would highly recommend this book to anybody likes a good adventure story.
Read it - you will not be disappointed.
Price at time of purchase: 3.99 (sterling)
