One of the most beloved and defining novels written by the master of adventure and global sensation, Wilbur Smith.
'Left me with a sense of corrosive envy. It is an absolute masterwork, as good a yarn as you'll ever read anywhere' - Conn Iggulden
'A master storyteller' - Sunday Times
'Wilbur Smith is one of those benchmarks against whom others are compared' - The Times
'No one does adventure quite like Smith' - Daily Mirror
The discovery of a lifetime comes with a high price . . .
For millennia an ancient civilisation has been hidden, deep in the Botswana cliffs. Dr Ben Kazin has only a blurred photograph to prove it, but with the backing of his old friend, Louren Sturvesant, he is determined to uncover the archaeological find of a lifetime.
But a whispered curse and a chance encounter with a local tribe lead him to discover much more than city foundations. The curse, it seems, is real, and will link Ben, his oldest friend, and the woman they both love with a forgotten leader from two thousand years ago, in a city of glory and honour that subsequently disappeared without a trace.
What happened to that ancient civilisation? And what is it that connects that lost empire to Ben, and the violent dangers he must face in the present day? Wilbur Smith was born in Central Africa in 1933. He became a full-time writer in 1964 following the success of When the Lion Feeds, and has since published over fifty global bestsellers, including the Courtney Series, the Ballantyne Series, the Egyptian Series, the Hector Cross Series and many successful standalone novels, all meticulously researched on his numerous expeditions worldwide. An international phenomenon, his readership built up over fifty-five years of writing, establishing him as one of the most successful and impressive brand authors in the world.
The establishment of the Wilbur & Niso Smith Foundation in 2015 cemented Wilbur's passion for empowering writers, promoting literacy and advancing adventure writing as a genre. The foundation's flagship programme is the Wilbur Smith Adventure Writing Prize.
Wilbur Smith passed away peacefully at home in 2021 with his wife, Niso, by his side, leaving behind him a rich treasure trove of novels and stories that will delight readers for years to come. For all the latest information on Wilbur Smith's writing visit www.wilbursmithbooks.com or facebook.com/WilburSmith An action-packed archaeological adventure from global bestseller Wilbur Smith Wilbur Smith is a global phenomenon, author of 41 global bestsellers - one of the most successful authors of our time He has sold over 130 million novels worldwide and been translated into 26 languages 2018 will see a reinvention of the Wilbur Smith backlist, driving sales and reach to unparalleled heights A confident, bold and contemporary cover redesign will revitalise the brand, drawing new readers into the adventurous world of Wilbur Smith An always-on consumer marketing approach will drive increased sales through securing the core fanbase, re-connecting with lapsed readers and targeting a new, younger audience Unmissable PR activity will raise Wilbur's brand awareness to superstar status
