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  • A Time to Die

  • By: Wilbur Smith
  • Narrated by: Sean Barrett
  • Length: 21 hrs and 2 mins
  • 4.7 out of 5 stars (299 ratings)
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A Time to Die cover art

A Time to Die

By: Wilbur Smith
Narrated by: Sean Barrett
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Summary

The lion charged. He came straight at them out of the thicket as his mate had done, but even more swiftly, driven by the agony in his belly and the black rage that filled him. He came grunting like a locomotive at full throttle, and they were unprepared.

Hunters. Hunted.

Sean Courtney, ex-guerilla fighter in the Bush War, is now a man of peace, leading hunting safaris in Zimbabwe for wealthy men. His current client is Riccardo Monterro, a strong-headed man whose beautiful, strong-minded daughter Claudia has reluctantly accompanied him on the search for the greatest of all trophies: the old bull elephant Tukutela.

But the elephant, and Riccardo's obsession, will lead them over the border into a Mozambique still devastated by civil war. What began as a rich man's holiday will become a desperate battle for survival - and Sean must help them escape the most dangerous predator of all: Man.

©2018 Wilbur Smith (P)2019 Audible, Ltd

What listeners say about A Time to Die

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

If I hear the name Sean, or Siân, one more time...

I've never read a Wilbur Smith book before, so bought this audiobook on the strength of the author's reputation. Forgetting that it was a book lasting 21 hours, I kept thinking it had come to an end, only to find it hadn't.

It's basically a love story between Claudia and Sean. They hate each other to start with, and end up besotted with each other.

Sean Barrett has an interesting voice. He is English, yet has a South African twang to his voice when speaking naturally.
His voice is excellent for descriptive passages.

However, his attempts to be Claudia, using a not-very-good American accent in falsetto tones, whereby Sean is pronounced as Siân, are rather embarrassing.

Even more embarrassing are the sex scenes, be they between lions, other animals, or between 'Siân' and Claudia. His voice is like your dad. Listening to these scenes is toe-curling. It's like your dad sitting there in front of you reading them. Just unbearable. Horribly descriptive scenes of body parts and sex, and longing for them to be over!

The author uses the name of Sean much too much. Sean this, Sean that, Sean the other. People speaking to Sean say Sean every couple of sentences. There were plenty of occasions when a pronoun would have been easier on the ear.

The second half of the book is much better than the first half, and the last third is really rather exciting.

A bit too mushy in places, but I might listen to it again one day, but miss out the first half, and fast-forward through the toe-curling bits!

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars

Disappointing

I’ve read and now listened to all of Wilbers long list of books. The only thing to say of this one is Sean Courtney should have shot the heroine in the first chapter and we could have all gone home. Waste of 20 hours of listening.

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

I’m busyI have not seen any review guidelines

Audible have managed to spoil my enjoyment of not only my last book a time to die but also the entire audible experience! For me please show me the customer review guide lines. Or let me know where to find them.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Nailbiting

The tension is maintained throughout and I could smell and hear the bush that I love so much.
A very dark time in Southern Africa's history. My cousin was a Selous Scout and my son was conscripted into South Africa's notorious 32 battalion during the bush war. Neither will speak of their experiences.
Excellent narration.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

African adventure!

Exciting story but the parts which really captivated me were Smith's beautiful descriptions of Africa, its wilderness and landscapes. Felt rather melancholy at parts, but worth a read for sure.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

great story

Easy listening action and adventure story. Maybe a bit long. Enjoyed it though. Well written.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Ripping read

Classic story. Wilbur at his best. A must read. I will be back for more.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Narrator

Didn’t follow up previous Courtney stories very technical with too much information about guns and helicopters

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Riveting listening, gives a new perspective from reading the book😊

Having read most of Wilbur Smith books in my youth, I am now enjoying listening to them in chronological order.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Great story and narration

Really enjoyed this book while relaxing on a sun bed on the costa del sol

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