Men of Men (The Ballantyne Series Book 2)

Men of Men is the second volume in the Zouga Ballantyne series following the A Falcon Flies set in South Africa. Following his first expedition north into the hinterland Zouga is penniless and dreaming of another trek north to recover the caches of elephant tusks he left behind as well as seeking other treasures for the offering. He decides to take his family to the diamond mines near Kimberley in hopes of striking it rich so that he can follow his dream and once again make another trek into the wild hinterland. Then after a brutal fight with his son Ralph they part ways and the son goes his own way also wishing to seek the riches found in the the north. His other son Jordan also goes his own way taking a position with Cecil Rhodes, the driven adventurer who wants to make what will one day be Rhodesia for his own.The author has written a terrific historical adventure novel based on life in Southern Africa in the late 1800's and the beginning of a new nation that will eventually become South Africa. The story is not a pretty one as the greed and brutality of the English is told in all it horror as they seek to colonize the lands of the Matabele indigenous tribes who have lived in the uncharted lands for centuries. I came away with great empathy for the destruction of this ancient culture, but will they eventually rise up to seize what was once theirs?. We will have to wait until volume three to see what happens.Against this backdrop there are the wonderful stories of the relationships between father and son, Zouga's sister and Mungo St. John, the former slave trader, and as well as key characters of the Matabele tribe among themselves and the white men who seek to destroy them. i look forward the third volume entitled The Angels Weep with great anticipation. In my opinion Wilbur Smith is the greatest historical mystery writer there is.

This is the best novel of African adventure I’ve read that has been written since H. Rider Haggard’s magnificent outpouring. Like Haggard’s volumes of the Rise and Fall of the Zulu Nation, this series weaves the tapestry of the death and rise of the Matabele people. The novel starts in the diamond fields of Zambesia and leads to the gold rush into the Matabele lands to the north. There are also side trips to the lost kingdom of Zimbabwe and the Umlimo, the Matabele seeress with her witches and sorcerers. The death and destruction wrought is finely written and leaves you with strong personal impression of the British empire building.

I have read most of Wilbur Smith's books. I travel often for work so in fact, I've read a ton of author's writings. There is not much else to do on an airplane 6 hours a week. Wilbur Smith is by far the best author I have ever read. His works are leagues and leagues above anything I have seen in movies or read. This book teaches about the Kimberly/Debeers history and the characters, like the best John Wayne movies. Not his greatest work, but certainly will be finished with relish. (Not his greatest work doesn't mean it's not better then the best book I've read not by Wilbur Smith, there are just better written by him)

Very well researched and factual, I was a student at Allan Wilson Technical High School in Salisbury Rhodesia which was named after the battle on the Shangani river and I have more clarity on the events and the names adopted by the the school for their boarding houses, their badges and emblems on them.Excellent book and that another one will be bought is a certainty.

A great Wilbur Smith book about the Ballantynes, the second in the series. Smith is at his best here in terms of character development, revealing the integrity - and flaws - of the characters in the story, particularly Zouga, Ralph, Jordan, Mungo, and others. I have read all but 2 of Wilbur's books and this one ranks in the second tier - extremely good, not quite reaching the level of Blue Horizon, When the Lion Feeds, Eye of the Tiger, The Seventh Scroll, Monsoon, or Assegai...those which I rate as the best.

I have been reading (and loving) Wilbur Smith's books for years, but must have missed this one somehow. The book weaves an interesting story in the historical setting of the diamond mining history of southern Africa.

Wilbur Smith is the kind of writer that makes every other writer want to break their own fingers and take up goat herding. He's that good and Men of Men clearly demonstrates that talent with its unique storyline, remarkable history, and great adventure. Does he measure up to every reader? Probably not because he tells epic adventures with hardships, battles, love, sex and violence that's not for everyone's palate. But with millions of books sold and a fan base that spans the world a few times around, he apparently reaches a lot of readers who keep coming back for yet one more adventure...readers like me.

Wilbur Smith is simply the best historic writer of our time. His books are amazing and this one is not different. A beautiful plot mixing love, hate, peace, war and history. I fully recommend this book.

Wilbur Smith is great at evoking life in the diamond mines of Cecil Rhodes' Africa, but promotes a view of life that I cannot, in this day and age, condone. I don't believe that violence and character traits that he so admires have much place in today's world. So long as one can realise that they are the views of a bygone age that is OK.

A great read which described the transition between tribal population to the rich and greedy. No wonder the African people have never accepted the situation.

I have never read a book by Wilbur that disappointed me, he has the ability to make you want to live the life of the characters in his books, great reading yet again. Thank you Wilbur Smith.

This is the second book in the Baallantyne series and contains African history via the medium of an adventure story.The Ballantyne family continue to expand and develop leaving the reader to want to know what comes next.

I'm gradually replacing the hard copies of my Wilbur Smith collection, so jump at the chance to get them when they're on offer for 99p! Love the books in this and the Courtney's series