Wilbur Smith
Wilbur Smith
Wilbur Addison Smithis a South African novelist specialising in historical fiction about the international involvement in Southern Africa across three centuries, seen from the viewpoints of both black and white families...
ProfessionNon-Fiction Author
Date of Birth9 January 1933
CityKabwe, Zambia
loneliness unrequited-love thinking
I think one of the most poignant things is unrequited love and loneliness.
enemy
beware of your most implacable enemy-yourself.
hate ignorant involved last people politics time waste
I hate politics. I like to write about it, but to get involved in it, to try and make a lot of ignorant people do what you want them to do, waste of time. Go and write a book. It's more important and it'll last longer.
books bottom characters cute love powerful recent walking woman women
I'm a feminist. The women in my books in recent years have been powerful characters and I love to see a woman with a cute bottom walking past.
great invariably life throws
Literature throws us many great heroes. Real life invariably outdoes them.
admire bit enormous pleasure sit work
I still get enormous pleasure and a sense of fulfillment out of writing a book that I'm proud of. I see myself as a bit like a jewel-maker who can sit back and admire his work.
birds days enjoy exception frowned sorts
I'm not perfect and I know it. I've done all sorts of things that are frowned upon these days - big-game hunting, fishing. I still enjoy fishing but I don't kill warm-blooded animals any more - I make an exception with birds sometimes.
became fascinated held mama stories wonderful
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.
african based change chiefs committed easily far government guy modern ran rulers structure terrible tradition
The whole structure of African government, as far back as we know, was based on tyranny. One guy ran the show. Chiefs like Chaka and Mzilikazi committed terrible atrocities. That is the tradition from which modern African rulers spring. It won't change easily overnight.
adage coming good latest mile money offer people quick races sounds tips
There is no quick way of making money. People come to you with tips for the races or offer the latest Ponzi scheme, but I can see them coming a mile off. I just go with the adage that if it sounds too good to be true it probably is.
life violent work
I never set out to write literature; I set out to tell stories. And some of my work may be very raunchy and very bloodthirsty - but life, for me, is a violent thing.
people
There are people out there with an eye on my hard-earned cash who think that I am a pushover. I am not!
absolute pieces
My absolute favorite pieces are 'Rhapsody in Blue' and 'Begin the Beguine.' I play these when I am working.
drink slave
They say if you drink Zambezi water with your mother's milk, you are always a slave of Africa, and I am.