South African Thriller Author Wilbur Smith Passes Away

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Chun-han] Wilbur Smith, a thriller writer born in Zambia and based in South Africa, who wrote 49 novels translated into 30 languages and sold over 140 million copies, passed away at the age of 88 on the 13th (local time).

Major foreign media outlets reported on the day, citing the South African Writers' Association's Twitter, "It is with a heavy heart that we announce that Smith, a world-renowned bestselling author, passed away this evening at his home in Cape Town, South Africa, watched over by his wife Niso."

Kevin Conroy, his agent for 11 years, said, "He was an idol and one of the greatest writers of his time. His fans cherish his hardcover works, and his works are passed down through generations from father to son, mother to daughter."

Conroy added, "His knowledge of Africa and his imagination were boundless. His authorship and intense yet elegant writing style captivated millions of readers." He also said, "I vividly remember working with Mrs. Niso and the Wilburniso Smith Foundation to ensure that the flame he ignited in the world of novels never goes out."

Smith was famous for illuminating the history of South Africa over four centuries through dozens of books from the perspective of black and white conflicts. He was born on January 9, 1933, in Northern Rhodesia (now Zambia) and spent his childhood on his father's cattle ranch. He contracted malaria at 18 months old but survived. In his autobiography, he wrote, "When I was 18 months old, I had cerebral malaria and was in a coma for ten days. Doctors told my parents that even if I recovered, my brain would not function properly, so it would be better if I died."

Originally wanting to become a journalist, he worked as an accountant until writing his debut novel, "When the Lion Feeds." His experience as an accountant helped him secure a contract to make the novel into a film. This first work, depicting the life of a young man growing up on a South African ranch during the turbulent times of the Zulu War's aftermath and the gold rush, sold 1.4 million copies in its first year, instantly making him a bestselling author. In a 2013 interview with the BBC in the UK, he said the novel was based on his experience at age 13 when he shot and killed a lion that attacked his father's ranch.

He married his first wife, Ann Rennie, in 1957 and had a son, Sean, and a daughter, Christine, but they separated in 1962. After publishing his debut novel in 1964, he married his second wife, Jewel Slabbert, and had a third child, Lawrence. He continued his prolific writing career and married his third wife, Danielle Thomas, in 1971, living together for 20 years. After she passed away in 1999 following six years of illness, he dedicated all his works to her. He also adopted her son from her previous marriage to Dieter and maintained a close relationship with him. In January 2000, he met his fourth wife, Mohiniiso Rahimova, now called 'Niso,' at a bookstore in London, England, quickly fell in love, married within months, and lived together for 21 years.

Earlier this year, Smith published "The Legend of War," depicting the exciting adventures of the Courtney family continuing after World War II, concluding the Courtney series. Smith was a descendant of the indigenous South African Bushmen, an explorer, a big game hunter, a pilot, and a professional scuba diver.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.