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A Falcon Flies
- The Ballantyne Series, Book 1
- Narrated by: Elliot Chapman
- Length: 21 hrs and 35 mins
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Publisher's Summary
A Falcon Flies is the first best-selling novel in Wilbur Smith's epic tale of Africa, The Ballantyne Novels.
In search of a father they barely remember, Zouga and Dr Robyn Ballantyne board Mungo St John's magnificent clipper to speed them to Africa. But long before they sight that mighty continent, Robyn knows that she and Mungo will battle with all the fury of natural enemies - and love with all the desperation of those unable to evade the commands of fate. For if she can bring hope and healing to Africa's fever-ridden shores, he, a lawless trader in human cargo, will possess any man - or woman - he chooses....
Set in 1860, this gripping tale is followed by Men of Men, The Angels Weep and The Leopard Hunts in Darkness.
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What listeners say about A Falcon Flies
Average Customer RatingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- Michele Haines
- 12-12-19
What A Writer
If you haven’t read Wilbur Smith YOU NEED TO! I am so sad because I have now finished all of his series along with all but one of his novels. I’m saving that for an up coming road trip with my husband.
Mr. Smiths writing style is so very extraordinary, vivid, alive, I feel like I am a character in one of his stories his novels are so easy to melt into. I feel as though I can, smell the air, taste the salt of the sea, feel the stinging heat of the desert, touch the minerals and rocks, hike through the jungles, go on Safari, feel the splashing rain, smell the mineral iron smell of blood, ride a horse....I JUST DO NOT KNOW HOW TO EXPRESS HOW FABULOUS THESE NOVELS & SERIES ARE!
***THANK YOU Wilber Smith for sharing your stories with the world, I for one am richer for it.
3 people found this helpful
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- Tom Wood
- 12-15-20
Cant stand narrator
I could not listen to this book. The narrator is too negative and whinny. The author seems as usual to be fascinated with sex. But I only was able to listen to an hour or so.
1 person found this helpful
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- JDD
- 04-06-19
very good start to the series
As with the Courtney series, the era is of tall master ship, real men and adventure. I can not wait for the next book.
1 person found this helpful
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- Peet Steyn
- 01-14-19
Storytelling that makes you want to read more
Get ready for a good old African Safari in high gear. "A Falcon flies" is a gripping story with a number of interesting sub-stories that keeps the tale interesting and entices the reader to keep on listening chapter after chapter. The novel gives one wonderful insight into the challenges and daily life of African explorers in the 19th century with great detail and delightful adventure. The Narrator also makes for an easy and enjoyable listen.
Great Book!
1 person found this helpful
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- Richard C. Dewey
- 05-09-22
Another Wilbur Smith masterpiece.
Always interesting. Always educating. Hard to put down. Smith draws the listener into the story.
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- James c wolf
- 03-24-22
outstanding
my favorite author
never disappointed. reread this many times
the series is great 👍
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- mya campbell
- 10-20-21
Twists and turns
Wilbur Smith has again created one of his African adventures. Filled with excitement,variety and well you just never know what’s going to be around the next corner. One of his best.
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- James R. Peters
- 02-07-21
The beginnings of Rhodesia
An excellent story covering the slave trade and the exploration of the country that was Rhodesia and now Zimbabwe. Learn about the Matabele people and King Mzilikazi and his Nguni warriors.
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- Wali lowe
- 10-21-20
Again!
An amazing story that just pulls you in, the details and the way things are explained is like you've been there before....on to the next book !
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- Rancher
- 08-06-20
Interesting, educational and exciting.
It's a "meaty" yarn. It has plenty of adventure with strong characters who possess the courage and strength to explore the little known and very different country of Africa. It felt real. It was as if the writer had included me along as a member of the expedition.
Unlike some others who have commented, I found the narration to be quite good.
Some books cause you to "spend" your time listening or reading. This one felt more as if I were "investing" my time. I'm happy with my ROI i.e. return on investment. Likely you will be too. Enjoy your journey.
I've added Book 2 in this series to my library as well as Book 1 of another series written by Wilbur.
Cheers, Ken
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- stuart
- 06-06-19
fantastic book well worth the money
fantastic book with a awesome story line. the only thing that let it down for me as was the narrator not been able to pronounce the South African words.
7 people found this helpful
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- Anonymous User
- 01-21-19
Taste of time since past
Interesting and engaging with hints of excitement.,the passage of time has done little dilute the story
5 people found this helpful
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- Amazon Customer
- 06-19-20
Not for me
The sexual tension between civil rights activist and slaver was a bit much for me.
4 people found this helpful
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- Khonsu
- 08-02-19
Simply the classic Wilbur Smith everyone loves
There are only positives about this book. It's the first of the Ballantyne novels and Wilbur gives it the ready with both barrels.
As he became famous for, his scene settings and ability to bring the reader into the period is unsurpassed.
Just listen to the audio book or read the paperback - classic.
Elliot Chapman is a master narrator.
4 people found this helpful
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- CATHIRENE M PERKIN
- 05-26-21
Riveting
The story is excellent and take me back to bygone days. It is such a Hugh pity that the narrator didn’t do his research and kept miss pronouncing African place names on the book. It’s a shame that effort is made for French words but not African words
3 people found this helpful
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- Willy J
- 10-30-19
a touch disappointing
not of the same calibre as the Courtney series. won't be listening to the next installment
3 people found this helpful
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- Street
- 01-27-20
Another winner!
Wilbur Smith does it again, wonderfully descriptive story, full of varied characters and well performed by Elliot Chapman. The first in a series and the second is on my pod as I write.
2 people found this helpful
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- Iona Owen
- 06-27-22
Falcon flies
Well written, , good story line , could not stop listening to this book , enjoyed so much I have decided to listen to the next book in the series.
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- Amazon Customer
- 05-12-22
Excellent
Another brilliant saga from Wilbur Smith. The characters are well drawn, and the story gripping against the backdrop of slavery, missionaries and white expansion into the heart of Africa. Sometimes the story was too reliant on coincidence and occasionally the improbable twists left me thinking "whatever next?" and the old-fashioned misogynistic character portrayals grated but overall it was enormous fun.
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- S. C. Reston
- 04-13-22
A Story of its Time
This is a wonderfully written and performed story. Of its time it tells a tell of yesteryear. Unexplored Africa with the beauty and it's horrors. Just listen and enjoy it for what it is.
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- Dave T
- 07-29-20
A fantastic beginning to the Ballantyne saga!!
A full-blooded book that tracks the story in Africa of the Ballantynes ending with Craig Mellow in The Leopard Hunts in Darkness. A thrilling tale completely out of odds with 21st century 'woke' culture. Not for the faint-hearted.
1 person found this helpful
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- HR
- 07-07-19
Such a disappointment after reading the Courtney Series ☹️
What went wrong Wilbur? I had to return this book after a couple of chapters because it was unbearable! It read like some B Grade romance novel with the female protagonist depicted as a scatterbrain who doesn’t know her own mind when it comes to a handsome man YET was apparently smart enough to sneak her way through medical school while posing as a boy for years. Pleeease! And don’t get me started on the Narration. Elliot Chapman sounds like some sort of English dandy! His voice is totally unsuitable for this type of story... what happened to Sean who read the Courtney series? This is one series I definitely won’t be reading. 🤨
1 person found this helpful
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- Amazon Customer
- 09-23-19
It made me sad
The slaughter of the elephants was too much for me. It made me feel sick and I had to skip over it. Other than that it was a good story.
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- Anonymous User
- 08-30-19
A Good Read!
Enjoyed the book very much though not as much as the previous Wilbur Smith books I have read.