|
Interesting
Information |
 |
First
published
in 1995 by Macmillan. |
|
UK first edition
recommended retail price: £15.99 |
|
Book
dedication: Once more this book is for my wife Danielle.
Despite all the happy loving years we have spent together I feel
that we are only just beginning. There is so much more to come. |
|
The jacket illustration
for the UK hardcover edition was done by Syd Brak.
|
|
 The
falcon icon on the left begins each chapter using the first letter of the first
word as its 'companion'.
|
|
The seeds of THE
SEVENTH SCROLL and its predecessor, RIVER
GOD, were
on Wilbur's mind as early as 1990, when he mentioned in an interview that he was returning
to Africa to take a cruise down the Nile because he had a few ideas about trying to do
another Sunbird sometime in the future. |
|
Africa and its history
have nearly always featured in Wilbur Smith's writing and they are right at the
heart of THE SEVENTH SCROLL, in which he
weaves a twentieth-century adventure around an ancient Egyptian mystery. The
novel is set, for the most part, in Ethiopia, which Wilbur first visited when he
was in his teens. Shortly after the Second World War, his father, who was an
enthusiastic traveller, used to fly to that country from the family home in
Northern Rhodesia (now Zambia), and the young Wilbur, imbued with the spirit of
adventure, would go with him. The author has since made numerous journeys to
Ethiopia, Egypt and most of the Nile. That part
of Africa is very much a part of my life's experience, he
says.
|
|
Another of Wilbur's
lifelong interests has been archaeology, and in particular studying the
fascinating history of the Pharaohs. As a result, while writing THE
SEVENTH SCROLL and RIVER
GOD, he was able to draw on knowledge accumulated from years of
specialist reading rather than having to do specific research. After
that, he laughs, the ideas
came from the imaginations of Wilbur Smith.
|
|
 The
photo of Wilbur Smith on the dust jacket was taken by Julian Brak.
To view the photograph, click on the left thumbnail. |
|
In 1999, rumours
of straight-to-video
production of THE SEVENTH SCROLL surfaced on the
internet with Jeff Fahey (as Nicholas Quentin-Harper) and Roy
Scheider (who starred in the dreadful TV mini-series adaptation of
WILD JUSTICE six years previously). As of yet, there are
(thankfully) no further details regarding this film. |
|
|
 |
|
|
|
Reader
Reviews |
|
|
From Andre' Mes
-  |
|
I started reading THE
SEVENTH SCROLL the day it was released. The vivid imagery of RIVER
GOD was still in my head as I had just finished the epic novel. At first, I was
disappointed with the modern setting of the story and using the mystery of Taita
the slave's legend as a base, I almost felted cheated. How was Smith supposed to
continue in the same vein as his Egyptian classic? Nevertheless, I plodded on
and began to identify the usual Smith trademarks which made his earlier novels
so enjoyable: the rough, tough adventurer; the beautiful and highly intelligent,
but emotionally suffering heroine; the evil, dastardly arrogant and wealthy
villain; the exotic locations, blood-drenched violence, titillating sex and
twisted storyline. Before I knew it, I found myself riveted to this fabulous modern-day adventure and finished the book
in few days flat! It made me want to read RIVER
GOD again! I sometimes imagine Wilbur Smith to have certain
vanities of his Egyptian slave hero as he masterminds his readers to enjoy every
part of the story and makes them want to come back for more. I certainly hope
that there will be more in this wonderful series. |
|
|
A
desert sandstorm couldn't get the pages turning faster than Smith. -
Independent On Sunday |
|
|
Full-blooded,
muscle-on-bone-crunching treasure hunt... it is non-stop action. -
Daily Express |
|
|
Cunningly
plotted, excitingly written. - Daily Mail |
|
|
A
rousing good sequel to RIVER GOD that takes the immensely entertaining
form of a high-tech treasure hunt... A master storyteller at the top of
his considerable form. - Kirkus Reviews |
Vote
for this book! Click 