A Sparrow Falls

This is my favourite Wilbur Smith novel, the 3rd in the Courtney Series. Sean is an old man now...he is General Sean Courtney now in France during WWI. I loved the side story of the young South African sharpshooter turned sniper...very sad.

This is the third of Wilbur Smith's Courtneys series, set in South Africa. Sean Courtney, the hero is the first two books, is an old man: a millionaire, war hero and respected member of parliament. He takes a back seat in the narrative, which focuses on his prodigy Mark Anders, and his battle with Sean's son Dirk.

A Sparrow Falls ticks all the boxes of a Wilbur Smith book: adventure, fighting, women and an interesting historical setting. A little bit lightweight maybe, but fun.

Hmmm, something about this one didn't appeal as much. It followed in the footsteps of the previous two books but I felt like it was almost predictable. It hasn't deterred me from tackling another Wilbur Smith book, however, if I find the same type of storyline repeated, I may very well put it down and move on.

I had forgotten what great tales this guy could spin, he is one of the best!

I (Sean Courtney) feel like an old Zulu chief. I just want to sit in the sun, drink beer, grow fat and count my cattle.
(574)

Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing?
And one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father?
(459)
Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will. (Matthew 10:29)

He (Mark Anders) thought perhaps that the nearest human being was forty miles distant, the nearest white man almost a hundred -and the thought was strangely comforting.
(177)
Da qui il titolo nell'edizione italiana: Gli eredi dell'Eden...

Sean Courtney, el héroe de Cuando comen los leones y Retumba el trueno, reaparece en esta ocasión como general, estadista y terrateniente. Los combates en las trincheras del norte de Francia durante la primera guerra mundial, la violencia de las huelgas de Johannesburgo en los años veinte, el esplendor de la sabana africana, con todo su caudal de vida y aventura, sirven de marco a la culminación de esta cautivante historia.

Uno dei migliori tra quelli letti