Where Should You Start?
Because the Courtney series covers generations of the family and was written over several decades, readers generally choose between two primary entry points:
- Publication Order: Start with When the Lion Feeds (1964). This was Wilbur Smith's debut novel and introduces the core family themes. Reading in this order lets you experience the saga exactly as the author wrote and developed it.
- Chronological Order: Start with Birds of Prey (1997). This takes you to the very beginning of the Courtney family tree in the 1660s, allowing you to follow the lineage linearly through history.
Publication Order vs. Chronological Order
While publication order provides a sense of the author's evolving writing style, chronological order gathers the books into cohesive historical eras. However, because Wilbur Smith wrote many prequels later in his career, reading chronologically means jumping between books written fifty years apart, which can occasionally cause minor shifts in tone.
The Five Sequences of the Courtney Saga
To help navigate the vast timeline, the novels are broadly grouped into five major sequences based on their historical eras and generations:
1. The Early Generations (1660s–1820s)
This sequence explores the family's seafaring origins and early African settlements. It includes: Birds of Prey (1997), Golden Lion (2015), Monsoon (1999), The Tiger's Prey (2017), Blue Horizon (2003), Ghost Fire (2019), Storm Tide (2022), and Nemesis (2023).
2. The 19th Century and the Original Trilogy (1860s–1925)
Focusing on the twins Sean and Garrick Courtney, this is the sequence that started it all: When the Lion Feeds (1964), The Sound of Thunder (1966), and A Sparrow Falls (1977).
3. The Crossovers with the Ballantyne Series (1880–1899)
These books merge the Courtney saga with Wilbur Smith's other famous family, the Ballantynes: The Triumph of the Sun (2005), King of Kings (2019), and Fire on the Horizon (2024).
4. The 20th Century & WWII (1906–Post-WWII)
This sequence follows Leon Courtney and his daughter Saffron through global conflicts: Assegai (2009), War Cry (2017), Courtney's War (2018), Legacy of War (2021), and Warrior King (2024).
5. Centaine de Thiry and Descendants (1917–1987)
This sequence follows Centaine de Thiry Courtney and the modern legacy of the family: The Burning Shore (1985), Power of the Sword (1986), Rage (1987), Golden Fox (1990), and A Time to Die (1989).
Co-Authored and Posthumous Novels
In his later years and following his passing in 2021, Wilbur Smith's legacy has been continued by co-authors like Tom Harper, Imogen Robertson, David Churchill, and Giles Kristian. These collaborations have filled in gaps in the family tree, leading up to books like Warrior King (2024) and Crossfire (2025).