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A Sparrow Falls
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Wikipedia article
'A Sparrow Falls' is a 1977 novel by Wilbur Smith. It is one of the Courtney Novels and is set during and after World War I.[http://www.wilbursmithbooks.com/books/courtney/a-sparrow-falls 'A Sparrow Falls'] at Wilbur Smith's website
It was the most popular of Smith's novels in the US to date although it still did not sell as well as in Europe and Africa.
Plot
While in France a young sniper Mark Anders is meets Sean Courtney who has risen to the rank of general. Following the end of the war the pair return to South Africa. After finding that his grandfather has died in mysterious circumstances, and his property has been taken over by an unknown company Anders eventually becomes Sean's assistant. This brings him onto contact with Sean's beautiful spoiled daughter Storm, who he falls for. Sean Courtney becomes involved in suppressing the Rand Revolt of 1922 before he becomes into violent conflict with his corrupt son Dirk.
Background
The novel was banned in South Africa by the Directorate of Publications (whose predecessor the Publications Control Board, which had banned a number of Smiths earlier novels). They had found three of its 650 pages to be objectable. However the Directorate joined with Smiths publisher in appealing their own decision. The appeal was successful but the Directorate of Publications then reimposed the ban it again claiming that 11 passages were too sexually explicit. The Publication Appeal Board lifted the ban in 1981.
During the time that it was banned at least one person who had bought it overseas to read on the flight bringing him to South Africa had had it confiscated by a customs official upon arrival.
Smith was awarded the Golden Pan Award in 1982 from his publisher Pan Books in recognition of the novel having achieved sales of a million copies.
References
Category:20th-century South African novels
Category:1977 novels
Category:Heinemann (publisher) books
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