Book Description

Customer Reviews (14)

a dreadful experience, simply dreadful
I don't know which to complain about more bitterly: the typesetting and font, which forced me to crack the spine with considerable effort in order to make out the text, or the dull, bland, pseudo-Edwardian British style that bores one to tears before the first iota of action occurs. Finding that the linear read-through didn't work, I tried hopscotching around to detect bits of action or, indeed, any sort of episodes that might hold my interest. I failed in my quest. Take my advice: leave these dusty old works on the back shelf of a decaying library where some witless 130-year-old British gent can take them down and chortle over them.

She was even better than I remember
I remember reading about "her" when I was in my teens and I never forgot the impression that Mr. Haggard left in my mind.She was just as beautiful and yet vulnerable in the end to risk everything to go for her ideal.I love the footnotes which add believability to the story and there was so much that I had forgotten from the first read that it was even more enjoyable the second time.The mystery remains, in our time, would someone try to get back to that fountain of youth, or is it better left to keep our normal mortal coil.Enjoy!

The Granddaddy of Occult Flavored Action Adventure
If you have never read these novels--the cream of Rider Haggard's work--prepare yourself for sleepless nights, meals untasted, and a blessed relief from the stultifying dullness of modern life. Profound pulp doesn't get any better than this. All Hail H. Rider Haggard!

Indiana Jones before America was a power
I read these three novels when I was much younger (I'm now 58) and I remembered them with some fondness - this book is part of my library for that reason. When we, as a family, watched one of the Indiana Jones movies and my two boys (aged 12 and 9) were enthralled, I thought back to Rider Haggard. Perhaps one of these novels would be a good bed time reading!

I chose to reread 'King Solomon's Mines' and I did enjoy it, despite the war that fills most of the middle of the novel - it adds colour, valour and courage but doesn't really contribute to the narrative of the story. For that reason I won't read the stories to my boys, but I suspect that when they are a little older they may well explore these yarns themselves. 'King Solomon's Mines' reads very well despite the passage of years and the changes that have occurred - different views of native peoples, different views of nationalism, different views of women, different views of class......

The 'devices' used to add excitement to the story line are at least as inventive as any of the ones you find in the Indiana Jones movies. And, in fact, I think I like Alan Quartermain better than Indiana Jones - but that might just be a hangover from my British background.

Other recommendations:
'Heart of Darkness'Joseph Conrad

fun stuff
good bang for the buck, fun, lightweight, escapist reading: just right a warm day, a shady tree and a crisp apple ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Jungle Adventure - Powerful Women
All three novels follow exploits of explorer Allan Quartermain.All three novels, although most centrally She, include the powerful idea of the Woman a primal force seen through the eyes of a man not a feminist.Also all three are currently analyzed for racism, since they are written by a British person and set in Africa.But regardless of analysis all are action packed well written stories that are easy to read.

Plot summaries:
She - The title refers to She Who Must be Obeyed.In this novel Allan Quartermain is charged with looking after a deceased friend's nephew, Leo.They travel to Africa in search of a discovery that was also left to Leo - an advanced and hidden civilization in the heart of Africa.

King Solomon's Mines - The sequel to She also stars Leo and Allan on another quest for a hidden and advanced civilization.This time the civilization is not ruled over by a powerful queen, but features warrior women.

Allan Quartermain - Three explorers journey into the heart of Africa in search of the usual.This time they find a civilization ruled over by twin queens.Things get complicated when one of the explorers falls for a queen.

Basically these are good fun adventure stories.I recommend reading She first, since it has been analyzed by Sigmund Freud, and generally is treated as serious.Like all of the stories She was written as entertainment.If you like that one it is worth it to read the other two novels.Even though the plots all deal with tough women rulers/warriors in the heart of Afica, they are different in the details and not at all repetitive. ... Read more

Book Description
Before there was Indiana Jones there was Allan Quartermain: the original explorer, treasure hunter, and adventurer. The Quartermain books have captivated readers for more than a century, spawning more than a dozen movies and a host of imitators. These three novels-Marie, Child of Storm, and Finished-form the Zulu Trilogy in which the Zulu wizard, Zikali, gains his revenge on the Zulu nation and its king, Cetawayo. Here are tales of magic, revenge, and something darker and far more sinister. ... Read more

Amazon.com
Ayesha is She-Who-Must-Be-Obeyed, a 2,000-year-old queen who rules a fabled lost city deep in a maze of African caverns. She has the occult wisdom of Isis, the eternal youth and beauty of Aphrodite, and the violent appetite of a lamia. Like A. Conan Doyle's Lost World, She is one of those magnificent Victorian yarns about an expedition to a far-off locale shadowed by magic, mystery, and death.

Tim Stout writes, in Horror: 100 Best Books, "As the plottakes hold one has the fancy that [Ayesha] had always existed, insome dark dimension of the imagination, and that [H. Rider] Haggardwas the fortunate author to whom she chose to reveal herself." Haggard did, in fact, write this book in a six-week burst of feverishinspiration: "It came faster than my poor aching hand could set itdown," he later said.

This edition of the 1887 classic features an introductory essay byliterary critic Regina Barreca, who likens Ayesha to Flaubert'sMadame Bovary or Tolstoy's Anna Karenina--"literally fantastic femalefigures who must be stopped before they love again." Book Description
This book was converted from its physical edition to the digital format by a community of volunteers. You may find it for free on the web. Purchase of the Kindle edition includes wireless delivery.Download Description
In what may be the greatest pulp fantasy adventure ever written, She is Ayesha --She-Who-Must-Be-Obyed, ruler of a lost city deep in Africa caverns: beautiful, wise and voracious.A wonderful page-turner of death and desire, magic and mystery. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (39)

Quite a story!
This is quite an adventure story, well worth reading.I first read this one when I was in the sixth grade, and after re-reading it at age 53 I still liked it.That is not always true when one visits the books one liked as a lad.

This is the story of three Englishmen who, following the dictates of the family legend of one of them, set out to Central Africa to find the lost land of Imperial Kor.What they find is an isolated tribe ruled by an immortal, supernaturally beautiful woman.More would be telling, but this is a good yarn that most readers will enjoy.

Haggard's writing style is a product of his time, and is somewhat dense and archaic by modern standards, but is not bad for all that.He has some of the dialog in the novel use Old English phraseology which was archaic even in his day, and it made some of the novel somewhat hard to read, at least for me.But these are minor quibbles; this is a fine novel that will hold the interest of most readers.

Beautiful and Terrifying - an Ending to Remember!
H. Rider Haggard is probably best-known for his "King Solomon's Mines" and his great hero, Allan Quatermain. "She" follows a similar tack to that of "Mines" - a Victorian tale of "darkest Africa" involving an ancient civilization. But "She" is not merely a great adventure story - it is also a darkly intriguing romance and a firghtening horror tale as well.

In "She," a brutish-looking individual - a scholar by trade - is mysteriously given charge of the only son of his good friend, who soon dies, leaving detailed instructions for the boy's schooling and strange artifacts to eb revealed to the boy when he comes of age. When the boy reaches maturity, the two pour over his inheritance, and discover that they must travel deep into Africa to discover his destiny. Upon arriving, and taking a harrowing journey down a jungle river, they arrive in the last vestiges of a great and ancient civilization that existed long before the Egyptians - a civilization morbidly fascinated with death and immortality. Ruling this crumbling world is Ayesha (pronounced As-sha), "She Who Must Be Obeyed," a betwitching, otherworldly, imperious beauty thousands of years old. She at once appreciates the scholar's great intellect, but finds herself drawn to his ward, who she believes is her long-lost lover, dead these long millennia. However, Ayesha's plans to make the young heir her king set in motion a chain of events leading to one of the most terrifying climaxes in the history of English literature.

"She" is a fascinating read and, truly, the final chapters literally kept my hair on end and sent a shiver down my spine. Haggard is adept at scintilating description and creates an atmosphere of anxious, doomed darkness over the entire thing - from the first, we know that thi story cannot end well, and Haggard never fails to ratchet up the stark gloom of the work. Ayesha is a perfectly drawn character - a woman who rules cruelly, a goddess without care for the mortals who serve her. Her power is absolute, and yet there is a theatrical vulnerability about her that makes her one of the most captivatign characters you'll read of. Certainly, this book is not without its faults - the first chapter or two are actually quite difficult to get through, dealing, as they do with some very abstruse exposition. However, once you're over that hurdle, you'll have a great adventure story you simply won't be able to put down. Enjoy!

One of the best book ever written!!
Once you start reading this book, you will realize that you are all lost and craving for woman like SHE. Story is amazing. I think Rider Haggard will always be remembered for this book than his Alan Quatermain novels. When I completed reading this book, my heart was heavy. Then I made a mistake of reading the next part which was such a let down!!

Super Reader
She is an immortal super powered ruler with a touch of the Doctor Doom complex about her. Old enough to predate the calendar, she presides over an underground civilisation and lost city.

A conflict develops between her and the on of a man she has encountered in the past. When She-Who-Must-Be-Obeyed is not, she gets a tad on the grumpy side.

good book that seems 'familiar' at every turn
She is the story of an ancient woman who spends over 2 milenia waiting for her love, whom she killed because he turned her down, return to her in the heart of an African Jungle.the story is well written and the reader will find many aspects 'familiar' because so many modern movies and stories draw from this one.Ayesha is an ancient and powerful creature who rules a secluded group of 'savages' through power and fear.Ancient civilization, religion, 'savage' tribes and academia are all weaved together in this tale that spans thousands of years into the past, and possible the future.The seemingly controvesial topics are all discussed in a way that makes the reader think, but does not offend.
Any fan of adventures will like this book. ... Read more

Book Description
Sir Henry Rider Haggard KBE (1856-1925) was a Victorian writer of adventure novels set in exotic locations. After failing his army entrance exam he was sent to a private 'crammer' in London to prepare for the entrance exam for the British Foreign Office, for which he never sat. Haggard's father sent him to Africa in an unpaid position as assistant to the secretary to Lieutenant-Governor of Natal Sir Henry Bulwer. Heavily influenced by the larger-than-life adventurers he met in Colonial Africa, the great mineral wealth discovered in Africa, and the ruins of ancient lost civilizations in Africa such as Great Zimbabwe, Haggard created his Allan Quatermain adventures. Haggard also wrote about agricultural and social issues reform, in part inspired by his experiences in Africa, but also based on what he saw in Europe. Haggard is most famous as the author of the best-selling novel King Solomon's Mines (1885). Amongst his other works are She (1887), Allan Quatermain (1888), Eric Brighteyes (1891) and Ayesha (1895).Download Description
I do not suppose that anyone who knows the name of Allan Quatermain would be likely to associate it with flowers, and especially with orchids. Yet as it happens it was once my lot to take part in an orchid hunt of so remarkable a character that I think its details should not be lost. At least I will set them down, and if in the after days anyone cares to publish them, well - he is at liberty to do so. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Good later yarn by Haggard
Probably many people who have read widely in Haggard's works would agree with C. S. Lewis, who said that Haggard's later books are better written than the earlier ones, but have less mythopoeic power.My reading of 16 of the novels (so far) bears out the truth of Lewis's comment.Haggard himself claimed that his best work was done early one (say, King Solomon's Mines, She, Nada the Lily, Allan Quatermain, Eric Brighteyes, etc.) - - although it's been reported that he thought the relatively late Child of Storm was his best single book.(I don't know of any Haggard readers who would agree with that.)

Anyway, Allan and the Holy Flower proved to be a fine entertainment.I rate it 3 stars because it isn't on the level of other books by Haggard; but as a "good yarn" it's well worth reading.

A wonderful story full of excitement and suspense!
Haggard proved to me again that he is one of the greatest adventure novelists ever.His use of character development and scenery and culture is absolutely captivating.There is nothing predictable in the book, which is very refreshing.There is nothing I dislike more than a novel that is easy to predict what happens next.
By the time you've read an hour's worth, you're hooked, and loving and feeling for nearly every character in the book.Because of this and King Solomon's Mines, I intend to find and read every Haggard book I can get my hands on.

A TREMENDOUSLY ENTERTAINING YARN
This is one of the 14 books that H. Rider Haggard wrote (starting with "King Solomon's Mines") depicting the adventures of Allan Quatermain, great English hunter in the wilds of mysterious Africa. I was a little worried when I started this book, as it took around 1 1/2 whole pages to get going, but then the next 394 pages proved just as action-packed, fast-moving and entertaining as can be. The story concerns an expedition for a very rare orchid, and the search for the kidnapped wife of one of Quatermain's friends. There are any number of tremendous battle scenes, and before all is said and done, we have run up against a giant gorilla god, cannibals, slave traders, a very suspenseful lake chase, evil wizards, a hidden volcanic sanctuary...and on and on. And for fans of Quatermain's Hottentot sidekick, Hans, let me add that this great character has rarely been shown in a more humorous or heroic light. Haggard's imagination seemed to be working overtime on this book, and despite an occasional inconsistency here and there (e.g., in one spot he writes that the Mother of the Flower is always eaten by her followers, and later on he writes that they are buried), the result is one tremendously entertaining yarn. What an incredible movie this would make, if done faithfully! It is a real shame that this book has been out of print for so long and is so hard to find now. It is well worth searching out. ... Read more

Book Description
Sir Henry Rider Haggard KBE (1856-1925) was a Victorian writer of adventure novels set in exotic locations. After failing his army entrance exam he was sent to a private 'crammer' in London to prepare for the entrance exam for the British Foreign Office, for which he never sat. Haggard's father sent him to Africa in an unpaid position as assistant to the secretary to Lieutenant-Governor of Natal Sir Henry Bulwer. Heavily influenced by the larger-than-life adventurers he met in Colonial Africa, the great mineral wealth discovered in Africa, and the ruins of ancient lost civilizations in Africa such as Great Zimbabwe, Haggard created his Allan Quatermain adventures. Haggard also wrote about agricultural and social issues reform, in part inspired by his experiences in Africa, but also based on what he saw in Europe. Haggard is most famous as the author of the best-selling novel King Solomon's Mines (1885). Amongst his other works are She (1887), Allan Quatermain (1888), Eric Brighteyes (1891) and Ayesha (1895).Download Description
It was but a little while afterwards that once more we heard the baying of the death-hounds. Yes, they were heading straight for us, this time across country. Again the white horse and its rider appeared, utterly exhausted, both of them, for the poor beast could scarcely struggle on to the towing-path. As it gained it a great red hound with a black ear gripped its flank, and at the touch of the fangs it screamed aloud in terror as only a horse can. The rider sprang from its back, and, to our horror, ran to the river's edge, thinking evidently to take refuge in our boat. But before ever he reached the water the devilish brutes were upon him. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

Super Reader
Leo has left, and Ayesha, he thinks, is dead. Do immortal antiheros with superpowers stay dead? Only sometimes, would be the answer to that question. This is most definitely not one of those times.

Leo is a pretty hot guy, it seems, as the Queen of Kaloon falls for him, and he is in danger of yet another woman scorned. He now, of course, only wants Ayesha. Mortal types, in the end, can't handle the heat.

very poor edition
This review is not for the story, but the printing of this edition is terrible.There are an incredible amount of spelling an punctuation errors that really detract from the book.

Great Book - Poor Print Quality
H. Rider Haggard wrote amazing books that are still as deeply compelling today as they were when they were written in the 1900's."She" and "The Return of She" are two of my favorites.Unfortunately, this publisher does not do justice to this great book. The print quality is extremely poor, particularly ruining the wonderful illustrations by Maurice Greiggenhagen.Anyone interested in this book should order a version by another publisher.

Terrific!
Second in the trilogy of "She-Who-Must-Be-Obeyed".Still terrific, still imaginative and thrilling.How does Haggard do it?The scenes and images he conjures up.The cliff-hanging(literally), Perils of Pauline adventures just fascinate.And yet again, the battle between the spirit and flesh, the mortality and divinity, of man.In this one, however, it began to slow about two-thirds of the way thru, as if Haggard were stretching at times.But then he roused himself magnificently to a thrilling finish!The scene of Ayesha and her army riding across the plain to save Leo is the stuff of movies. It is no less a book than the first, which is unusual for sequels.This one takes place in Tibet, rather than Libya, and Haggard foresees the importance of radium.

Haggard: a real avant-garde story teller
Ayesha is a beautiful and imaginative masterpiece. The radical beauty of this book is not merely that it is a "good" or "bad" sequel of She, but that it is the work of an open-minded writer. The plot is full of super natural and pre "new age" exoticism as well that 19th century romanticism adventures. Its naiveté and simplicity make this book a very enjoyable one. The best moment of the book is a incredible obscure scene in which Ayesha has a meeting with her "servants", shadows and ghosts from beyond and the past. I recommend this book only to real admirers of this kind of pulp-literature and to eclictic readers. ... Read more

Book Description
Touted by its 1885 publisher as “the most amazing story ever written,” King Solomon’s Mines was one of the bestselling novels of the nineteenth century. H. Rider Haggard’s thrilling saga of elephant hunter Allan Quatermain and his search for fabled treasure is more than just an adventure story, though: As Alexandra Fuller explains in her Introduction, in its vivid portrayal of the alliances and battles of white colonials and African tribesmen, King Solomon’s Mines “brings us the world of extremes, of the absurdly tall tales and of the illogical loyalty between disparate people that still informs this part of the world.” ... Read more

Customer Reviews (50)

Super Reader
King Solomon's Mines is a story of a man's search for his brother, and told from the point of view the famous hero and hunter, Allan Quatermain.

He is the man they turn to for help, and become is solid and steadfast companions. The search for the Mines, the battles, the evil witch woman and the African setting are all excellent.

Cat Club Review: www.freewebs.com/hlgstrider
King Solomon's Mines is a straight forward adventure story. Two friends enlist the services of a crusty guide and a strong minded native to tramp across Africa in search for a missing brother, a brother who in turn was lost while searching for one of the greatest treasures known to legend (see title). To do so they must cross the desert, climb the mountains, confront an evil witch, and fight an epic battle.
It's a quick read and a pleasant one. Only one bit goes down sour, a bit of racism residual from the time period. While one of the lead characters, Umbopa, is a strong, intelligent African man, an interracial love story is cut short by death, followed by the observation that white and black cannot marry anymore than day and night. Not exactly the most enlightened point of view.
I love the writing and the story. If you could cut out that paragraph all would be well and this at least a four star book . . . but I suppose that would be revising history and literature, and so the book stands, or falls, as it is.

An All-Time Adventure
Note: I made some Mormon reader angry over my negative reviews of books written by Mormons out to prove the Book of Mormon, and that person has been slamming my reviews.

Your "helpful" votes are appreciated. Thanks, and note that a very shortreview is not necessarily a bad review if it leads you to read a great novel. I like a hook, and then I'll read a longer review after I read the novel.

I got lost in this wonderful African adventure as I followed Allan Quatermain on a quest to find the lost mines of King Solomon.

At age twenty-nine, Haggard made a whimsical bet with his brother that he could write a story as good as Robert Louis Stevenson's "Treasure Island" (1883). Six weeks later, Haggard completed King Solomon's Mines (1885).

This is proof that given the right time, circumstances, and motivation a novel can come forth quickly. See my review of "Singer in the Shadows," by Irving Litvag and my comments on Joseph Smith composing the Book of Mormon. Click here, then scroll down to my review of Litvag's book.SINGER IN THE SHADOWSthe Strange Story of Patience Worth

Also highly recommended as an African adventure is "Cry Wolf," by Wilbur Smith. Cry Wolf

Good adventure yarn
Although fiction is not my normal fodder, I found this book to be refreshing. It narrates the harrowing quest of a few men for diamonds, for a missing brother, and for home. The villians were truly vile, the heroes were larger than life, and it was fun to be with them on their journey. No major theses were given, no important life questions were answered, but it made a few of my evenings a little more enjoyable.

Great story, but skip this edition
This review covers only the Gateway Movie Classics edition, softcover, 1999.

What a thrill to revisit this gripping story that I enjoyed in childhood so much. Good writing, excellent story-telling, if you're not too squeamish to tolerate late 19th century colonialist literature.

But skip this edition. Mainly because of the numerous typos scattered inanely through the book...periods dropped into the middle of sentences, rogue exclamation points, and words inaccurately transcribed as though an original text had been OCR scanned without any professional quality checking. Inexusable in a professional publication. And, frankly, I don't think the movie is all that great, so the cover photo of a film version Quatermain doesn't do much for me.

Get another edition! ... Read more

Product Description
Collected works of H. Rider Haggard. ... Read more

Book Description
Yes, they had begun in my day and we will discuss them later. Still, I say--nearer to the ape than you or I, and therefore of interest, as the germ of things is always. Yet he has qualities, I think; cunning, and fidelity and love which in its round is all in all. Do you understand, Allan, that love is all in all?Download Description
Yes, they had begun in my day and we will discuss them later. Still, I say--nearer to the ape than you or I, and therefore of interest, as the germ of things is always. Yet he has qualities, I think; cunning, and fidelity and love which in its round is all in all. Do you understand, Allan, that love is all in all? ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

The early adventures of Allan Quatermain and Umslopogaas
In She and Allan, we see the coming together of three of the most exciting characters in all of H. Rider Haggard's novels.The ever intrepid Allan meets the great and grim Umslopogaas of the Axe, son of Chaka, and there is born an interesting and in some ways touching friendship between them, as they have both dealt with many of the same troubles and loss over the years.And of course they meet with the immortal SHE, Ayesha, whom they seek in order to see their loved ones that have passed the realm of death.Many of the same elements from much of the Allan Quatermain body of work is here. But it serves to tie the many things from the different novels together.Such as the friendship between Umslopogaas and Allan that we see in the novel Allan Quatermain.It also offers further insight into the origin's of Umslopogaas's great axe, Inkosikaas, which is in a way a Zulu version of Excalibur.A fantastic novel for anyone who enjoys Haggard's body of work.Great to read especially after reading Haggard's novel of the early life of Umslopogaas, Nada the Lily.

The Material World versus The Spirit
Allan quatermain is the iconic white hunter. He can and has tracked his way across Africa into lands unknown to most white men.
She (also known as "She Who Must be Obeyed) is the eternal seductress, the half goddess/half woman who cannot die. SHE is the ultimate in the spirit world.
Allan, perhaps, can be seen as the ultimate in the world we call reality.
She and Allan plays out this conflict between the material and spirit against the backdrop of the adventure of pushing into unknown darkest Africa.
Not as well known, or as well done as "King Solomon's Mines" or "She" -
then of course few books are-this is a worthwhile sequel to both.

My Favorite of All the Quatermain Books
Rider Haggard did an astonishingly good job of bringing together his two most venerable characters. I completely disagree with Mr. Greene and his review.We read Quatermain stories to feel comfortable in the company of an old friend. By the time this novel was published, we were aware of nearly all that hunter's foibles, and there was not a whole lot that needed to be elaborated here.We already know his thoughts and reactions before he himself does.We already know his views on spirituality and destiny and love and friendship and loyalty.Ayehsa also behaves just as we would expect--evasive, vague, saying one thing one minute then something quite different the next.It's impossible to pin her down.But she is another we know well and can anticipate and feel comfortable just being close to.It's Umslopogaas the Zulu and the provenance of his Axe that are the real attention grabbers here.And there are some marvelous battles to be relished vicariously as we learn about that Axe.

And just as some say that Sam is the real hero of the Lord of the Rings, for it is no more and no less than his steadfastness that gets Frodo to the end of the quest, so Hans' s role also needs to be raised up, for it is his pithy but invariably wise remarks and his own version of steadfastness that are the "heart" of the Quatermain stories in which he appears. Would that Haggard had written more of Quatermain and Hans!!

Ought to be more fun than it is...
Haggard combines his two most bankable stars-- Ayesha and Quartermain-- and it ought to be twice as much fun. The problem ultimately is that we know from page one that nothing is going to happen that might conflict withany of the history established for these characters in their other books.Particularly in Ayesha's case that's mighty limiting-- we know that Allanis going to pass through her life without making any particular mark,because all the significant people in her life are already accounted for.Consequently, the work doesn't really show anything new about eithercharacter, and instead of two great prizefighters duking it out, we get acouple of characters dancing around trying not to make a mark on eachother. Still the basic two-fisted Anglo-Saxon hambone adventure thatHaggard does so well, but there's a little less zip in this outing. ... Read more

Product Description
In this thrilling tale of danger and adventure, young Harry joins his father, the famous Alan Quatermain, on a hunt for lions deep in Africa. This publication from Boomer Books is specially designed and typeset for comfortable reading.Download Description
Most of you will have heard that Allan Quatermain, who was one of the party that discovered King Solomon's mines some little time ago, and who afterwards came to live in England near his friend Sir Henry Curtis. He went back to the wilderness again, as these old hunters almost invariably do, on one pretext or another.[*] They cannot endure civilization for very long, its noise and racket and the omnipresence of broad-clothed humanity proving more trying to their nerves than the dangers of the desert. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Super Reader
Wandering around looking for stuff is all well and good, but being a bit careful is something you should do.

When a lioness takes Jim for later snacks, tracking her down gives them a lot more than they bargained for.

It is lucky for them that Hunter Quatermain turned up when he did. Well, a bit late for Jim, but lucky for others. ... Read more

Book Description
Some consider this the best of his "small party goes off into jungle and finds" novels. A guilty pleasure.Download Description
Some consider this the best of his "small party goes off into jungle and finds" novels. A guilty pleasure. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (15)

The nature of woman revealed
When it comes to women H. Rider Haggard has the inside track as revealed in this "Show and tell" novel. We see the workings and wonders of the nineteenth century mind. You may also find some interesting attitudes towards the other people in Holly's crew.
I have read some different versions of the book and found the Barns & Noble books New York (ISBN 0760752400) to have the best introduction (by Clifton Ganyard) that falls just short of Cliff's Notes in explaining Haggard's background and writings. The illustrations are the same as in the Modern Library version but are clearer and larger. You get to see the writing on a potshard that I have not taken the time to see if it is a real language. Of all the versions I prefer most the recording with narrator Fred Williams; at first he seems to be monotone and out of breath. Then as he approaches the adventure he picks up a bit. By the time he comes to the cliff hanger he is huffing and puffing. He actually has the sound and feel of some old person recalling a long past adventure.

Holly is visited by his dying friend in the middle of the night. He is sworn to secrecy and given a mysterious chest to hold onto and asked to take charge of the friend's son (Leo). When the time came to open the chest and find the contents, the adventure began. I will not relate the story as it is the unfolding that is a good part of the mystery. However if you are expecting an adventure story It is there but there is much more with philosophical discussions of science and society.

The story is over way too soon so be sure to get the next book "
Ayesha: The return of She."

She [Region 2]

Stepping into another world, very exciting.
It is a wonderful adventure, written in a very clear and straightforward manner with all the beautiful description the passages entails. It keeps your interest throughtout the book and it lead me to its sequel. It has opened, once more for me, the interest to read books written about this time (1890's) as I find them lighthearted, and exciting in addittion to how beautiful and well written they are.

Nineteenth Century fantasy at its best
While studying at Cambridge, Ludwig Horace Holly receives a very strange visit from a long-time friend. In failing health, this friend gives Holly charge of his 5 year-old son Leo, and a mysterious chest, which he is charged not to open until the boy's twenty-fifth birthday. Twenty years later, the boy has grown to handsome manhood, and the chest is opened to reveal a family history stretching back some 23 centuries to ancient Egypt. Interestingly, included is the family's attempts to get revenge on an immortal white women who rules a tribe in Africa.

The young man, Leo, becomes fascinated with the tale, and draws Holly onto an adventure to Africa. Passing through danger upon danger, the companions finally find themselves in the hands of "She-who-must-be-obeyed".

While the story is dated and somewhat laughable by modern standards, it is very well written and more riveting than the above introduction may suggest. If nothing else, this book is an excellent example of Nineteenth Century fantasy literature.

Life and Death and the Eternal Feminine.
_She:A History of Adventure_ by Victorian novelist H. Rider Haggard is a tale of adventure and suspense set in the dark continent of Africa which reveals the archetypal nature of the female.H. Rider Haggard was obviously influenced by spiritualism in his younger days, and his belief in reincarnation is revealed in this novel.The novel shows an obsession with death as well as with the feminine principle revealed in the queen, Ayesha (referred to as "She-who-must-be-obeyed" or simply "She" or "Hiya" by the natives).The novel has been called imperialist because it shows the travels of several British adventurers in the dark continent of Africa.

This novel begins when L. Horace Holly receives a visitor in his home in Cambridge.Mr. Holly is told that his visitor Mr. Vincey is to die and that he must take care of his son Leo Vincey and protect the family secrets.Mr. Vincey provides Mr. Holly with a manuscript and a chest containing a sherd with words written on it from the long dead Amenartas.Once Leo has reached twenty-five years of age, the box is opened and it reveals the sherd.This contains writing that leads Mr. Holly, Leo, and his caretaker Job to travel to the dark continent.

While sailing towards Africa the group encounters a squall which wrecks their ship and they are forced to sail onwards on a smaller boat with only one Arab, Mahomed, to guide them.Once they have landed they encounter a rock in the shape of a human head.There they meet the Amahaggar, the dark cannibalistic tribe, who live in the city of Kor.The Amahaggar inform the group that She-who-must-be-obeyed awaits them.They also meet Billali, who becomes a second "father" to Mr. Holly, and Ustane, the African girl who falls in love with Leo.

This begins their adventure as they travel to meet She-who-must-be-obeyed.It turns out that She is a queen who has lived for thousands of years.She sees in Leo the reincarnation of her lost lover Kallikrates.She sees in Ustane the reincarnation of the Egyptian who she believes stole her love, Amenartas.Along the way, they encounter many dark secrets and discover the many corpses which litter the caverns in which She resides.As part of a special festival these mummies are set afire.The story plays out the long forgotten tale of Ayesha and her lover along with Amenartas who is to capture her lover's heart.

H. Rider Haggard was obviously influenced by spiritualism and the dead play an important role in this novel.His belief in reincarnation is seen in many places throughout.This story was popular with many including Freud and Jung, who saw in it the archetype of the feminine, as well as Tolkien and C. S. Lewis who incorporated elements of it into their own stories.

Five Stars for the Modern Library edition, but
as to the Barnes & Noble edition, one might question the unjustifiable decision to eliminate the footnotes, which are a crucial part of Haggard's text and his illusion that the book is "real life." ... Read more

Book Description
Although in my old age I, Allan Quatermain, have taken to writing-after a fashion-never yet have I set down a single word of the tale of my first love and of the adventures that are grouped around her beautiful and tragic history. I suppose this is because it has always seemed to me too holy and far-off a matter-as holy and far-off as is that heaven which holds the splendid spirit of Marie Marais. But now, in my age, that which was far-off draws near again; and at night, in the depths between the stars, sometimes I seem to see the opening doors through which I must pass, and leaning earthwards across their threshold, with outstretched arms and dark and dewy eyes, a shadow long forgotten by all save me-the shadow of Marie Marais. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

The Beginning of the Quatermain books
Marie is the first book in the series of the Allan Quatermain books. It tells the story of Allan as a youth, his talent as a shot, his experiences with the mighty tribe of the african Zulus and his reckoning with their even mightier king, Dingaan. And of course, as at any novel, a love story is added to the mix. A thrilling book. Suggested background books: Nada the Lily. You only have to get past the first couple of pages and you can't stop. The story goes with Allan saving the life of dutch born Marie, they fall in love and ask permission to get married whereas the Marie's father says Marie is promised to her cousin. After many adventures, after Allan saving Marie's life for many times, after Marie's cousin has attempted to assinate Allan twice, and has planned and plotted with the Zulu king, Dingaan, Allan and Marie get married for two reasons: A, Marie is of age and can give herself away without the permission of a parent. B, Marie's cousin has plotted to assasinate the commandant, and was therefore exiled from society. However, a week after Allan and Marie get married an event happens which ruins the marriage and in which Marie does something for Allan that nothing but true love could have done. A suggested base for the rest of the 13 Allan Quatermain books. ... Read more

Book Description
"Oh, Cleopatra! Cleopatra! thou Destroyer! if I might but tear thy vision from my heart!"

Harmachis, born of old, long-denied royal blood in ancient Egypt, is blessed at birth with the promise of greatness and power . . . and once raised to the Pharaoh's throne, becomes the hope of Egypt against the mailed heel of the Greek and the thrusting spear of the Roman.

Then to him appears Queen Cleopatra, with her eyes of Cyprian violet, her dark waves of hair . . . and her soul-consuming fiery spirit! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

She gets what she wants... but what does she want?
Rider Haggard's Cleopatra tells the story of the legendary queen as shown through the eyes of Harmachis, an Egyptian physician and priest of Isis.It is written from the point of view of Harmacis at the end of his life.He is old and recounts his life story.Like so many others he was obsessed with the beautiful Cleopatra, and so he tells her story as much as his.

Unlike most admirers, Harmachis actually gets involved with Cleopatra.She pushes him to reveal secrets of Isis (including the location of hidden treasures of the pyramids) to further her political ends.Throughout the story, the reader is left wondering whether Cleopatra really does love Harmachis.Sometimes she seems only to use him and she does betray him every time.But one has to consider that Harmachis comes from low class parents, so actually ending up with him might not be an option for her.She seems to really love him and maybe she really is trying to arrange things for them.Her power over him is complete, possibly because she doesn't know what she wants.

The setting and story are lavish.After all, this is ancient Egypt, complete with hidden treasures of Isis. At the same time the story is about more timeless issues - love and betrayal and love vs religion.It has the right blend of action, emotion and awesome settings to keep me interested all the way through.And the ancient setting keeps Cleopatra from feeling dated, as do some of Haggard's other novels.

I highly recommend Cleopatra to anyone into 1890's stuff, Egyptian stuff or adventure novels.I have no idea why indypublish is charging almost 100 dollars for this book.It is in public domain now, so what's the deal?Anyway this seems to be where they used copies are and its definitely worth 10 dollars.I read it about 8 years ago and I still remember it clearly and go wow. ... Read more