The Quest
The Quest is a New York Times bestseller, and #1 in Australia, the Czech Republic, Italy, New Zealand, South Africa and the UK.
Published in South Africa on 14 March 2007 by Pan Macmillan, in Argentina on 3 April by Émece, in the UK, Australia and New Zealand on 6 April by Macmillan, in Hungary on 10 April by Delej Kft, in Turkey on 18 April by Altin Kitaplar, in the Czech Republic on 3 May by Alpress, in Italy on 10 May by Longanesi, in the United States on 15 May by Thomas Dunne Books, in Denmark on 23 May by Aschehoug Dansk Forlag,in the Netherlands on 15 June by De Boekerij, in Norway on 26 June by J. W. Cappelens, in France on 20 September by Presses de la Cite, in Sweden on 25 September by B. Wahlstroms, in Finland on 1 October by Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava, in Greece by Harlenic Hellas on 4 January 2008, in Poland by Albatros on 7 March and in Germany by Fischer Verlage on 15 May 2008.
Part of the 'Egyptian' series
The eagerly awaited sequel to the thrilling Egyptian series. Following on from River God, The Seventh Scroll and Warlock, The Quest continues the story of the Warlock, Taita, wise in the lore of the ancient gods and a master of magic and the supernatural.
Egypt is struck by a series of terrible plagues that cripple the kingdom, and then the ultimate disaster follows. The Nile fails. The waters that nourish and sustain the land dry up.
Something catastrophic is taking place in the distant and totally unexplored depths of Africa, from where the mighty river springs. In desperation the Pharoah sends for Taita, the only man who might be able to win through to the source of the Nile and discover the cause of all their woes.
None of them can have any idea of what a terrible enemy lies in ambush for the Warlock in those mysterious lands at the end of their world...
Praise for 'The Quest'
- 'Fans of blockbuster thriller writer Wilbur Smith will not be disappointed with The Quest'– Financial Times
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'Smith writes with a fresh, crisp style... full of zest... The Quest is a hefty but gratifying read, long-awaited by his legion of admirers'
– Daily Express - 'No one does adventure quite like Smith and, true to form, his latest is a swirling torrent of unexplored depths and manliness in ancient Egypt'
– Daily Mirror - 'This eagerly awaited sequel to Smith's gripping Egyptian series continues in a truly magical tale' – Woman magazine
- 'The Quest is not a book for the easily queasy. After reading the scene about Bronze Age brain surgery, you'll never look at bamboo shish kebab skewers the same way again. It is a novel that is violent, fast moving and utterly engrossing' – Edmonton Journal
›› read the full review - 'It's the sort of book readers live for, the sort that sates, however fleetingly, the primal need for story that so often these days doesn't get fed' – Vancouver Sun ›› read the full review
- For a light-hearted take by Monday Magazine, read the views of some famous mummies.
›› read the full review
This is what my editor at Macmillan, Hazel Orme, had to say:
"Firstly, many congratulations! What a spell-binding, magical (in more ways than one!) story this is! I was swept into Taita's quest from the first page and onwards through your vividly evoked African landscapes – the papyrus swamps, the tsetse fly belt, the barren landscapes of the Red Stones and, perhaps best of all, the glorious Cloud Gardens that are rotten at the core – to the thrilling confrontation with Eos.
"There are many splendid battle scenes that kept me on the edge of my seat, and I was gripped by all that went on in the sanatorium, which seemed, also, to carry a neat comment about the price of today's medical research. Taita himself is a mesmerizing character and Eos, the witch, his perfect foil – her beauty contrasting sharply with the horrors for which she is responsible. Incomparable storytelling from the master – as ever, your host of readers will be absorbed in and delighted by this novel, as I was."
Text excerpt and audio interviews
›› Read an excerpt from The Quest.
›› Hear Wilbur Smith interviewed by John Brunning on Classic FM (UK).
›› Listen to Wilbur Smith discuss The Quest.
To buy
Please visit Macmillan or your favourite bookstore or online bookseller. If you are having difficulty finding a copy, you'll find information on publishers in many countries and many languages on the 'Links to Publishers' page.
