Robert Michael Leslie
Author & Storyteller
Latest Release
Song of the Butterflies
1973. Rhodesia is at war.
​
The Rhodesian Bush War burns across deserts and jungles, as factions fight to wrest control from European colonialists. One man, who calls himself iLunga, will stop at nothing to drive the whites from his country. Ruthless, calculating, and feared, he has the people’s support and the power to cross borders at will.
Standing against him is Sion Michael, a South African soldier in the elite Selous Scouts. Leading a team of Zulu trackers, Sion and his men—known as Uvemvane, or Butterflies—move through the bush like shadows, leaving no trace. Their mission: stop iLunga before he arms thousands of insurgents waiting in neighbouring camps.
But for Sion, what began as another man’s war soon becomes personal. His destiny and iLunga’s are intertwined in ways neither could have foreseen—changing not just the course of the conflict, but their lives forever.
Why you'll love it
If you enjoy fast-paced historical thrillers filled with danger, loyalty, and moral complexity, Song of the Butterflies will grip you from the first page. It’s not just a story of war—it’s a story of people, choices, and the price of survival.
Get Your Copy
“This book has a particular significance for me. As a young student in Cape Town during the late 1960s and early 1970s, I shared accommodation with several Rhodesians, including a Captain in the Rhodesian Army Reserves, who had seen hectic action in the Kariba Valley and suffered from PTSD."
Leonard Smuts
5 Star review
Reader Reviews
“Song of the Butterflies by Robert M. Leslie offers a gripping fictional account of the Rhodesian Bush War. Blending historical fact with vivid dramatisation, it plunges readers into the brutal realities of combat while capturing the larger struggle for Zimbabwe’s independence.”
Carol Thompson
5 Star Review
“Song of the Butterflies thrusts readers into the raw, real, and barbaric Rhodesian Bush War. Follow Sion Michael and the Selous Scouts as they infiltrate enemy camps, track rebels through jungles and salt pans, and face insurmountable dangers in a saga of grit, courage, and survival.”
Lucinda E Clarke
5 Star review
About Robert Michael Leslie
Delve into the world of Robert Michael Leslie, an accomplished author dedicated to crafting captivating narratives that resonate with readers worldwide. Through his unique storytelling prowess, Leslie invites you to explore the intricate tapestry of 'Song of the Butterflies' and embark on a literary journey unlike any other.