''Birds of Prey'' is a 1997 novel by
Wilbur Smith set in the late 17th century. The novel was the first in the third sequence of the
Courtney series of novels, and as of 2013 was chronologically the first in the entire series.
Smith says the book established the characteristics of the family: "Right from ''Birds of Prey''... the Courtneys were pirates, merchants, looking to seize the main chance. They were very much driven by monetary considerations. But with
the Ballantynes it was much more empire, patriotism, glory – the soldierly virtues."
Plot
In 1667 Holland is
at war with England. Sir Francis Courteney and his son Hal attack ships of the
Dutch East India Company
The United East India Company ( nl, Verenigde Oostindische Compagnie, the VOC) was a chartered company established on the 20th March 1602 by the States General of the Netherlands amalgamating existing companies into the first joint-stock ...
off the coast of Africa. They are betrayed and Sir Francis is executed. Hal winds up working for
Prester John.
Adaptation
Film and television rights to the book were bought by Corona Pictures, but no adaptation has been filmed.
"Birds of Prey – TV", ''Tibor & Jones Associates''
accessed 18 May 2013
References
External links
Review at ''Publishers Weekly''
Novels by Wilbur Smith
1997 British novels
Novels set in the 1660s
Macmillan Publishers books
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