Golden Lion A Novel of Heroes in a Time of War

In this sweeping adventure full of danger, action, and intrigue, the master who has been the model for bestselling authors such as Clive Cussler and Bernard Cornwell returns to his longest-running series, taking fans back to the very beginnings of the Courtney family saga.

The son of pirate and merchant Sir Frances Courtney, Henry “Hal” Courtney was raised at sea. When war broke out between the English and the Dutch empires, his father, fighting for the English crown, attacked a fleet of Dutch East India Company ships off the coast of Africa. That bravery was met with betrayal, and Sir Francis was executed. His heartbroken son witnessed his death and dedicated his young adulthood to avenging his fathers name.

Now, twenty years of war have passed. It is 1784, and a truce has been made between the English and the Dutch, ending the long years of battle on the seas. Hal, too has changed. He has become the captain of his own ship, and is soon to become a father himself. Navigating his crew across the waves of danger, Hal sails his ship, the Golden Bough, from the slave markets of Zanzibar to the pirate-riddled waters of the Indian Ocean in search of fortune and treasure.

But though the war is over, the final battle has not been won. Soon, Hal will learn that the more a man achieves, the more he has to lose. . . .

Bursting with swashbuckling action and thrilling adventure, this magnificent novel breathes new life into one of Wilbur Smiths most beloved family sagas and confirms his status as our “best historical novelist” (Stephen King).

“Best Historical Novelist--I say Wilbur Smith...You can get lost in Wilbur Smith and misplace all of August.” Stephen King

“Swashbuckling adventures at sea and on land highlight Smiths latest...He knows what his readers want, and once again he delivers the good.” Publishers Weekly, on Birds of Prey

“Ive been a fan of Wilbur Smith for the past three decades. Every new book is an event, a cherished time to get lost in ancient worlds.” James Rollins, < i=""> New York Times <> bestselling author of < i=""> The 6th Extinction <>

“One of the worlds most popular adventure writers.” Washington Post Book World

“Smith manages to serve up adventure, history and melodrama in one thrilling package that will be eagerly devoured by series fans.” Publishers Weekly on Assegai

“There is a reason Smith is a hugely popular writer of historical novels: his remarkable talent for re-creating historical periods and crafting characters we care about is virtually unmatched in the genre. Smiths novels of the Courtney and Ballantyne families have been entertaining readers for nearly five decades.” Booklist on Assegai

For readers of Game of Thrones, Ken Follett, and Clive Cussler:

an epic adventure spanning land and sea...

time and distance...

courage, revenge, and everything in between.

GOLDEN LION

He saw his father executed in battle. He spent his youth avenging that death. And now Henry 'Hal' Courtney is a man with a ship - and a family - of his own.

But fate has not finished with Hal. On a voyage along the eastern shore of Africa, a powerful enemy abducts his wife, the fearless warrior Judith… and with her, Hal's unborn child. For Hal, a man all too familiar with loss, there is only one way forward: He must track his nemesis across desert and ocean, through the slave markets of Zanzibar and the dangerous waters of the coast, in pursuit of the woman he loves, the child he sired, and the glorious destiny that awaits him.

Bursting with action and suspense, heroism and heartache, this unforgettable novel proves once more that Wilbur Smith is the world's greatest adventure writer.

Described by Stephen King as "the best historical novelist," Wilbur Smith is one of the world's biggest-selling and most-loved authors. His thirty-six novels have sold more than 125 million copies across the globe and have been translated into more than two dozen languages. Born in Central Africa, Wilbur Smith now divides his time between London and Cape Town.