Wilbur Smith is a renowned British novelist who has written over 30 books, many of which have been adapted into films and television series. He is best known for his historical adventure novels set in Africa, such as The Sunbird, The Triumph of the Sun, and River God. Smith was born in Northern Rhodesia (now Zambia) in 1933 and grew up in a family of avid readers. He began writing at the age of 14 and published his first novel, When the Lion Feeds, in 1964. Since then, he has become one of the world's most successful authors, selling over 120 million copies of his books in over 20 languages. His works have been praised for their vivid descriptions of African landscapes and cultures, as well as their thrilling action sequences. Smith continues to write and publish new books, and his latest novel, Those in Peril, was released in 2011.