Wilbur Smith’s Desert God – the Long-awaited Sequel to River God – to be Published in South Africa First

Best-selling author Wilbur Smith’s latest novel, Desert God, will be published in South Africa ahead of the rest of the world.

2014 marks 50 years of publishing for this renowned author and to celebrate he will be coming to his native country in September to promote this long-awaited sequel in the Egyptian series.

More on Desert God:

Wilbur Smith’s monumental Egyptian series began with River God in 1994. His fans have waited ten long years for the sequel. And now, the master of historical fiction is back at the helm of one of the greatest stories of all time.

Across the lush plains of Egypt, Taita, a freed eunuch slave, wears his authority lightly. Not only is he the close advisor to the Pharaoh, but he is guardian to Pharaoh Tamose’s two teenage sisters, the young beauties Tehuti and Bekatha.

But the kingdom is not at peace. They have been fighting Southern Egypt’s constant and historic enemy, the Hyksos people in the north, since time began. To finally crush them, Pharaoh must turn to his most trusted friend.

Taita, philosopher, poet and expert strategist, has a plan that will see Egypt destroy the Hyksos army and form a coveted alliance with Crete in one move. This plan will take him, his expedition commander Zaras, and their mighty warriors on a perilous journey up the Nile, through Arabia to the magical city of Babylon, then across the open seas to Crete.

The many dangers will cost lives and time, and they will meet battle and betrayal head on. But Taita must not forget his two charges, the spirited young princesses, whose attraction to the very warriors who lead the fight threatens Taita’s meticulous plan and the future of Egypt itself.

About the author

Wilbur Smith was born in Zambia in 1933. He schooled at Michaelhouse in KZN where he started the school newspaper. He was further educated at Rhodes University, and upon graduating worked as a chartered accountant on his father’s insistence that he ‘get a real job’ rather than follow his early dream of becoming a journalist. After failed attempts at getting his first book published he became a full?time writer in 1964 after the successful publication of When the Lion Feeds ? banned in South Africa on the grounds of ‘obscenity’ for mixed?race relationships, and blasphemy.

The most treasured advice he received from his publisher was ‘write only about those things that you know well’ and he has been writing about Africa ever since. He has to date written over thirty bestselling novels, sold 120 million copies and his books have inspired several movies. His novels are now translated into twenty?six languages

By Jean

Source: Books Live website