Father’s Day reads

WILBUR Smith has been writing novels for more than 50 years and has sold about 130 million worldwide.

His latest book tells his personal story. He admits to being an adventurer and risk-taker, and his experiences have provided the real-life backdrop for his storytelling.

The book begins with Smith’s childhood on a sprawling cattle ranch owned by his father, who was Smith’s hero. Their relationship is central to the book as the writer recounts his steely determination to prove to his dad that he is a successful writer.

Smith reflects on his actionpacked life and recounts the lessons that shaped what he writes – from near-death experiences with wild game in the deepest African bush to gritty, harrowing experiences in then Rhodesia and in this country.

The book is recommended for fans and curious readers who wonder what Smith is about. This is lion expert Gareth Patterson’s tribute to three lion cubs. His passion for them shines through. Born to be Free is an inspirational true tale of three orphaned young lions, Rafiki, Furaha and Batian.

When the grand old “lion man of Africa”, George Adamson, passed away, the last of his lion cub orphans faced an uncertain future. Would the cubs spend their lives behind bars in a zoo, or would they have a free life in the wild, as George had intended for them. Patterson rescued George’s cubs and, by living as a human member of the small pride, he introduced them back into the wild.

Well illustrated with photos, the book will instil love and wonder while drawing attention to the plight of the endangered lions. Many years ago, about 250 000 lions existed across Africa. Today, about 20 000 remain. I loved reading and paging through this magnificent book that celebrates men who dared to become what they are today – often against extremely difficult odds. There are 206 men featured – each for the contributions they made and each couldn’t be more different from the other.

The text is as visually descriptive as the fabulous illustrations. It’s difficult to