Reading order · 13 books · 1964 to 2009 · Set in Southern Africa
Courtney Books in Order
The Courtney novels follow one family across more than three centuries of African history, from seventeenth-century privateers to the gold fields, two world wars and modern South Africa. Big, bold adventure sagas.
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Series facts
- Books
- 13
- Published
- 1964 to 2009
- First book
- When the Lion Feeds
- Latest
- Assegai (2009)
- Setting
- Set in Southern Africa
- Order
- Story order differs from publication order
The reading order
Every Courtney book in publication order, with the story order a switch away. Choose a title for its cast and summary.
13 books · Set in Southern Africa
- 1When the Lion Feeds1964With Sean CourtneySean Courtney grows up on a farm in Natal, fights in the Zulu War and makes and loses a fortune in the gold fields of the Witwatersrand.Buy on Amazon
- 2The Sound of Thunder1966With Sean CourtneySean Courtney is caught up in the Boer War.Buy on Amazon
- 3A Sparrow Falls1977Sean Courtney and his young protégé, Mark Anders, are caught up in the First World War and the troubled years in South Africa that follow.Buy on Amazon
- 4The Burning Shore1985With Michael Courtney and Centaine de ThiryIn the First World War, Michael Courtney, a pilot in France, falls in love with Centaine de Thiry, a young Frenchwoman whose journey will take her to the deserts of southern Africa.Buy on Amazon
- 5Power of the Sword1986With Centaine de Thiry and Shasa CourtneyCentaine’s son Shasa Courtney and his half-brother grow up as rivals in South Africa in the 1930s and 1940s.Buy on Amazon
- 6Rage1987With Shasa CourtneyShasa Courtney rises in South African politics during the apartheid years.Buy on Amazon
- 7A Time to Die1989A professional hunter takes an American client on safari, and they are drawn into the civil war in Mozambique.Buy on Amazon
- 8Golden Fox1990With Isabella CourtneyIsabella Courtney, Shasa’s daughter, is seduced by a charming man who is not what he seems.Buy on Amazon
- 9Birds of Prey1997With Sir Hal CourtneyIn 1667, Sir Francis Courtney and his son Hal sail as privateers off the Cape of Good Hope, attacking Dutch ships.Buy on Amazon
- 10Monsoon1999With Tom CourtneyHal Courtney’s sons sail to East Africa to fight pirates.Buy on Amazon
- 11Blue Horizon2003Jim Courtney sets off on an adventure into the interior of southern Africa.Buy on Amazon
- 12The Triumph of the Sun2005In 1884, during the siege of Khartoum, a Courtney and a Ballantyne are caught up in the war in the Sudan.Buy on Amazon
- 13Assegai2009With Leon CourtneyIn 1906, Leon Courtney, a young soldier in British East Africa, is recruited to spy on the Germans.Buy on Amazon
Do you need to read them in order?
The books can be read in publication order, starting with When the Lion Feeds, or in story order, starting with Birds of Prey.
Who appears in which book
The series’ main characters, book by book. Lead means the book is told around them; minor covers cameos.
| Book | Sean Courtney | Centaine de Thiry | Shasa Courtney | Sir Hal Courtney | Tom Courtney | Michael Courtney | Isabella Courtney | Leon Courtney |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 When the Lion Feeds | LLead | |||||||
| 2 The Sound of Thunder | LLead | |||||||
| 3 A Sparrow Falls | MMajor | |||||||
| 4 The Burning Shore | ·Minor | LLead | LLead | |||||
| 5 Power of the Sword | LLead | LLead | ||||||
| 6 Rage | MMajor | LLead | ||||||
| 7 A Time to Die | ||||||||
| 8 Golden Fox | ·Minor | MMajor | LLead | |||||
| 9 Birds of Prey | LLead | |||||||
| 10 Monsoon | MMajor | LLead | ||||||
| 11 Blue Horizon | MMajor | |||||||
| 12 The Triumph of the Sun | ||||||||
| 13 Assegai | LLead |
Characters in the Courtney books
9 characters from Wilbur Smith’s chart, with the number of Courtney books each appears in.
| Character | Books | First in this series |
|---|---|---|
| Sean CourtneyHunter, soldier and gold prospector | 4 | When the Lion Feeds 1964 |
| Centaine de ThiryFrenchwoman who founds the family fortune | 4 | The Burning Shore 1985 |
| Shasa CourtneyCentaine's son, a politician and tycoon | 3 | Power of the Sword 1986 |
| Sir Hal Courtney17th-century privateer | 2 | Birds of Prey 1997 |
| Tom CourtneyHal's son | 2 | Monsoon 1999 |
| Michael CourtneyGarrick's son, a pilot in France | 1 | The Burning Shore 1985 |
| Isabella CourtneyShasa's daughter | 1 | Golden Fox 1990 |
| Leon CourtneySoldier and hunter in British East Africa | 1 | Assegai 2009 |
| Garrick CourtneySean's twin brother | 3 | When the Lion Feeds 1964 |