Wilbur Smith - one of the best known writers in the world - died at his home in Cape Town, South Africa.
The author of several bestsellers was 88 years old.
The news was given by his website: `` He left unexpectedly, after a morning of reading and writing, with his wife Niso at his side ''.
Born on January 9, 1933 in Northern Rhodesia (now Zambia), he was the son of Herbert Smith, a worker in the sheet metal industry, and Elfreda.
The woman introduced the young Wilbur to reading and in particular to Cecil Scott Forester, Rider Haggard and John Buchan.
After earning a bachelor's degree in business science, Smith began working as an accountant until, in the early 1960s, he discovered his true passion, that of writing.
In his long and prolific career he has published 49 novels, many of which are set in Africa, but also between the Americas and the Antarctic. His books have been translated into 30 languages.
After his debut in 1964, with the novel "The fate of the lion", he achieved global success: he sold 120 million copies worldwide, of which 25 million in Italy alone.
His most beloved series follows the adventures of the Courtney family, spanning generations and three centuries, through historical periods of great importance, from colonial Africa to the American Civil War and the apartheid era in South Africa.
(Unioneonline / F)
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