Wilbur A. Smith Biography

Wilbur A. Smith was born on January 9, 1933, in Kabwe, Zambia. While still an infant, he suffered from cerebral malaria and was diagnosed by doctors as doomed to live a life of brain damage if he survived at all. However, he survived the illness and went on to live an extraordinary life.

His father owned a cattle ranch and his mother was an avid book lover. She encouraged his love for literature, while his father did not approve of his pursuit of writing. He attended ‘Cordwalles Preparatory School’ in Natal, South Africa.

He next attended ‘St. Michael’s Academy for Young Gentlemen’. During his time there, the school showed little interest in literary pursuits. He started writing a column in the school newspaper and his column became popular and was circulated all the way to St. Annes and Wykham Collegiate.

After graduating from ‘Rhodes University’ in Grahamstown, South Africa, he wanted to become a journalist. However, his father advised him to get a real job. Smith followed his father’s advice and became a chartered accountant.

In 1964, he published ‘When the Lion Feeds’, his first successful novel.

During the 1960s, he published ‘The Dark of the Sun,’‘The Sound of Thunder,’ and ‘Shout at the Devil’. His novel ‘The Dark of the Sun’ was adapted into a film titled ‘The Mercenaries’.

His novels ‘Gold Mine’ and ‘The Diamond Hunters’ were adapted into the movies ‘Gold’ and ‘The Kingfisher Caper’ respectively. His adventure novel 'Wild Justice' became the first best seller in the USA.

In the 1980s, Wilbur A. Smith published eight more successful novels, inlcuding ‘Men of Men’,‘Power of the Sword’ and ‘Rage’.

From 2000 to 2015, he continued to impress his fans with works like ‘Warlock', 'Blue Horizon', 'The Triumph of the Sun', 'The Quest', 'Assegai', 'Those in Peril', 'Vicious Circle' and 'Desert God'.

In 1964, he published his first novel, ‘When the Lion Feeds’, which earned him his first film contract. His other major works include 'Shout at the Devil,' 'Eagle in the Sky,' 'The Dark of the Sun,' and 'The Sunbird.'

Wilbur A. Smith earned the 'Inaugural Sport Shooting Ambassador Award' in 2022.

Wilbur A. Smith married Anne Rennie on 5 July 1957. They had two children together. They divorced in 1962.
 

He married Jewell Slabbart in 1964. They had a son. However, they later parted ways.

In 1971, he married Danielle Thomas. She died in 1999, from brain cancer.

Wilbur A. Smith married Mokhiniso Rakhimova in May 2000. 

He married Mokhiniso Rakhimova in May 2000. 

This prolific author sold more than 140 million copies across the globe by the time of his death in 2021. His books have inspired a number of films, mini TV series, and screenplays.

Wilbur A. Smith died on November 13, 2021, at the age of 88, at his Cape Town home. 

Smith had a passion for scuba diving and explored various underwater locations around the world, which often inspired the settings in his novels.

He was known for his love of wildlife and conservation efforts, having supported numerous animal welfare organizations throughout his career.

Smith was a skilled pilot and has flown his own planes to remote locations for research purposes, adding an adventurous touch to his writing process.

In addition to being a successful author, Smith was also a talented artist and created stunning paintings that reflected his deep connection to the landscapes he wrote about.