When the Lion Feeds: A Courtney Family Novel

by Wilbur Smith

Book Overview

A Courtney Series adventure - Book 1 in the When the Lion Feeds trilogy BROTHERS BY BIRTH. ENEMIES UNTIL DEATH. Heirs to their father's fortune, destiny divides the Courtney twins from the start. Sean... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0312940661
• ISBN13: 9780312940669
• Release Date: October 2006
• Publisher: St. Martin's Press
• Length: 544 Pages
• Weight: 0.09 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.2" x 4.3" x 6.8"

Customer Reviews

My beginning of a 30 year love affair with Africa through the eyes of Wilbur Smith

I was given this book in October 1975 by a friend who said, "Join me in a love of adventure, history and characters that become part of your very existence." I couldn't resist the challenge. I was drawn into the book and was immediately transported into another life. This book has everything. If you never read another author, you will be captivated with all Wilbur Smith books once you have read this one. I was. I have now read every one of his works, at least ten times each. I get through the whole collection and a year later, find myself returning to them again. Now I buy them as presents for the un-initiated.

Adventure, fun, and drama in Africa

When the young Courteney brothers sneak off into the fields surrounding their house to experiment with the forbidden gun, Sean accidentally shoots his brother Garrick's leg, which results in its amputation. This is the foundation for their shaky relationship and which affects their children in succeeding Courteney family books. Sean forever after feels guilty and tries to take protective responsibility for his brother, but Garrick, always feeling like the loser, develops bitterness towards Sean. When Sean rejects the advances of Garrick's wife, in retaliation she tells Garrick that Sean forced himself upon her, and Garrick's hatred is cemented.Sean abandons his brother and his home to seek other adventures. He develops friends and jealous enemies during his business ventures in gold mining. He becomes wealthy, but after losing it all, takes to the bush with his best friend, where they encounter danger with nature. Sean experiences it all: savage battle, wealth, poverty, danger, victory, injustice, sickness, romance, profound love and profound sadness. He pushes himself through all his adventures with fortitude, wit and charm. He's as sly as a fox and as gentle as a lamb. After reading this book, I was hooked on Wilbur Smith, and went on to read the next two books: The Sound of Thunder, and A Sparrow Falls, which continue the Courteney saga. There are others in the series which I plan to get soon. I feel confident I won't be disappointed!

The dark mysterious continent

When the Lion Feeds was truely a thrilling and realistic book. I grew up in South Africa and when I want to remember I read the wonderful stories Wilbur Smith has written. I have grown very fond of the Courtney Saga. Each character draws me into all the excitement that Africa has to offer. Sean Courtney who is the hero in this novel starts an historical journey through the African Bush. Almost all of Wilbur Smith's books show the beauty and mysteries that the the dark continent has to offer. When reading this novel I remember what it is like to appreciate such a marvelous landscape with all its treasures. Great reading filled with history and excitement.

Smiths first and still one of his best.....

This is was the first novel Wilbur Smith published and it begins the Courtney saga with a bang....almost literally. Disimiliar twins Sean and Garrick are hunting when an accidental shot from Sean cost Garrick one of his legs and then builds from there....The Zulu War, the opening of the gold fields of South Africa, building (and losing...) financial empires all sprawled across the vast canvas of Africa and Smith's love of the "Dark Continent" shows on nearly every page...Any book by Wilbur Smith is worth reading, it would truly be a crime to miss this one....

Wild Africa.................

Find it absolutely incredible that so few people have reviewed this excellent work ! Smith's first novel is a magnificent saga of 1880's South Africa. The Courtenays brothers, Sean and Gary, are two farm boys whose close relationship is shattered by a hunting accident that wedges between them an animosity and life-long rivalry. The story line is strong and absorbing : love, adventure and history, a man's book that women would find well worth a read. The book is the first of a brilliant trilogy. Do yourself a favour and read them.