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Originally published in 1887.This volume from the Cornell University Library's print collections was scanned on an APT BookScan and converted to JPG 2000 format by Kirtas Technologies.All titles scanned cover to cover and pages may include marks notations and other marginalia present in the original volume. ... Read more

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Zululand and the Zulu settlement still continue to receive some attention from the home public, partly because those responsible for the conduct of affairs are not quite at ease about it, and partly because of the agitation in this country for the restoration of Cetywayo. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Informative and accurate.
Haggard was there (Natal/Transvaal) in Pretoria the day the British annexation took place.Some claim he personally read part of the actual decree to the Boers. The book has a British bias but is an eye witness account of the events in and about Zululand in the 1860's and 1870's.Well written (since Haggard later became a noted fiction novelist).A must read for anyone seriously interested in the history of Transvaal or Zululand. ... Read more

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Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free.This is an OCR edition with typos.Excerpt from book:This is a digital copy of a book that was preserved for generations on libraryshelves before it was carefully scanned by Google as part of a project to makethe world's books discoverable online. It has survived long enough for thecopyright to expire and the book to enter the public domain. A public domainbook is one that was never subject to copyright or whose legal copyright termhas expired. Whether a book is in the public domain may vary country tocountry. Public domain books are our gateways to the past, representing awealth of history, culture and knowledge that's often difficult to discover.Marks, notations and other marginalia present in the original volume may appearin this file - a reminder of this book's long journey from the publisher to alibrary and finally to you.Google Book Search has digitized millions of physical books and made themavailable online at http://books.google.com. The digitization at the most basic level is based on page images of thephysical books. To make this book available as an ePub formated file we havetaken those page images and extracted the text using Optical CharacterRecognition (or OCR for short) technology. The extraction of text from pageimages is a difficult engineering task. Smudges on the physical books' pages,fancy fonts, old fonts, torn pages, etc. can all lead to errors in theextracted text. Imperfect OCR is only the first challenge in the ultimate goalof moving from collections of page images to extracted-text based books. Ourcomputer algorithms also have to automatically determine the structure of thebook (what are the headers and footers, where images are placed, whether textis verse or prose, and so forth). Getting this right allows us to render thebook in a way that follows the format of the original book.Despite our best ... ... Read more

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In King Solomon's Mines, Haggard introduces the reader to Allan Quatermain, now one of the most famous literary adventure characters.Second in the series, this book, Allan Quatermain, continues the story of this daring man and chronicles in first person (and through correspondence from some of his fictitious companions) his adventures in Africa. Thought to be one of the fictional characters upon which another such person, Indiana Jones, is based, Quatermain is nevertheless a humble man.By his own definition, he is an ". . . 'Adventurer' -- he that goes out to meet whatever may come. Well, that is what we all do in the world one way or another . . ." ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Mid-range Haggard
I've read this three times or so and will probably read it again someday.It's quite a bit of fun; yet it's a little disappointing, too.It's (chronologically) the final book of a dozen or so that feature Hunter Quatermain, and you need be in no hurry to get to it. ... Read more

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The book has no illustrations or index. It may have numerous typos or missing text. However, purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original rare book from the publisher's website (GeneralBooksClub.com). You can also preview excerpts of the book there. Purchasers are also entitled to a free trial membership in the General Books Club where they can select from more than a million books without charge. Original Publisher: London : Hutchinson; Publication date: 1906; Subjects: Fiction / General; ... Read more

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All four classic novels of She-who must be obeyed-in two special volumes

Rider Haggard's fantastic tales out of Africa have few peers. His first novel of She is possibly one of the best known and has become one of the most popular novels ever. Yet She is just the first of four exciting adventures of mysticism, intrigue, love, war and power that feature the beautiful and immortal Ayesha. The first two novels collected in this special Leonaur volume, the first of a two book set of all four novels, are She and Ayesha, the Return of She. Both feature Cambridge professor Horace Holly and his ward Leo Vincey. The third novel, in the second volume, unites two of Haggard's most beloved characters-Allan Quatermain-the little, indestructible consummate 'white man in Africa'-trader, explorer and big game hunter and of course Ayesha herself in what is essentially a prequel to She. The final novel in volume two is Wisdom's Daughter. Of course all four novels are, true to the Haggard tradition, roller-coaster rides of action and thrills a-plenty to please his many aficionados. Available in soft cover and hard cover with dust jacket for collectors. ... Read more

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1923. What was the greatest fault of Ayesha, She-Who-Must-be-Obeyed? Surely a vanity so colossal that, to take one out of many examples, it persuaded her that her mother died after looking upon her, fearing lest, should she live, she might give birth to another child who was less fair. At least, as her story shows, it was vanity, rather than love of the beauteous Greek, Kallikrates, that stained the hands of She with his innocent blood and, amongst other ills, brought upon her the fearful curse of deathlessness while still inhabiting a sphere where Death is lord of all. Thus it seemed that by denial she would have escaped the net of many woes in which she is still entangled and of Ayesha, Daughter of Wisdom yet Folly's Salve, there would have been no tale to tell and there would have been no lesson to be learned. But Vanity - or was it Fate? - led her down another road. ... Read more

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For a moment I literally staggered beneath the terror of the shock. Then I roused myself from my despair. I bade the native run and alarm the people at the kraals, telling them to come armed, and bring me guns and ammunition. He went like the wind, and I turned to follow the spoor. For a few yards it was plain enough--Stella had been dragged along. ... Read more

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THIS 22 PAGE ARTICLE WAS EXTRACTED FROM THE BOOK: The Omnibus of Adventure Volume Two, by H. Rider Haggard. To purchase the entire book, please order ISBN 1419181335. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Super Reader
If you are stuck in a wagon, surrounded by a pride of lions, with a cub licking at the exposed skin of your leg, that is about when you realise that taking on a lion pride by yourself was really, really, really stupid.

As the man in question says in the story, you chances are then really pretty 'long odds'. Not an activity that is to be advised for any sensible individual. Overconfidence can mean you are dinner.
... Read more

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Two more adventures from the pages of history and pen of a great writer

There are few who have heard of H. Rider Haggard's novels who do not know his principal character-Allan Quatermain-the archetypal white man in Africa. Here was a hero who would take on a Zulu Impi, a charging rhinoceros, a giant gorilla God, a lost tribe, slavers, a magical eternal queen, malign spirits and still come back for more-bringing a host of readers with him. In short, Haggard knew what it took to write a good adventure which is why some of his books have been among the most popular in modern times. Haggard was a prolific author: aside from the Quatermain stories, he produced a sequence of novels concerning the ancient world, four featuring his other great character, Ayesha-'She who must be obeyed'-and a collection of adventure novels taking Africa as their stage but without the presence of Quatermain. All are excellent. In Haggard's lifetime his public eagerly awaited his next book, but today, while many are aware of his reputation, that knowledge often applies to but a small proportion of the reading enjoyment his books have to offer. Fortunately Leonaur now publish most of these works in matching sets at great value by combining two or more novels in each volume. Now Leonaur is pleased to offer Haggard's historical adventure series. Predictably Haggard's inventive pen was able to create several more lead characters of the stamp of Quatermain and they populate many of the ages of history with gripping adventures set against momentous events in many lands.
In this, the second volume of Leonaur's collection of Haggard's historical adventures-the third novel is The Virgin and the Sun. To the pleasure of his many aficionados Haggard rarely drew back from combining fact with fantastical and this classic tale concerns an imagined time long before the Conquistadors despoiled the mighty empire of the Incas of Peru. But was this the first time a European had walked among them? Apparently not! The second novel, and fourth in the series, is Fair Margaret. The action of this high adventure takes place in the England of Henry VII and the Spain of Ferdinand and Isabella between 1491 and 1501. Available in soft cover and hard cover with dust jacket for collectors. ... Read more

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The third volume in this stunning series of adventures in the distant past

Rider Haggard is one of the most famous authors of adventure fiction in the English language. Almost everyone has heard of Allan Quatermain-the hero of King Solomon's Mines-and the beautiful, ruthless, magically immortal Ayesha-She 'who must be obeyed.' All of Haggard's novels and stories featuring both characters are available in handsome Leonaur editions. Haggard was a prolific writer so it is not surprising that only a few of his titles are widely known-and read-by an audience which would enjoy them all. The essential elements of his most famous creations-the great African continent and ancient civilisations, mysterious and exotic, mythical, imagined or real, are combined in a number of his novels and stories and these too have now been collected by Leonaur into a special four volume set-African Adventures. Readers will therefore be unsurprised to learn that Haggard could not resist writing a number of tales about ancient civilisations, or that in these he naturally gravitated towards the most evocative of them all-the world of the Ancient Egyptians and the other peoples of the Mediterranean and the Middle East. This is a stunning body of fiction which Leonaur has gathered together into a four volume set-each successive volume following a chronological time-line along the sweeping march of history.
Volume three of this four volume collection is very substantial-containing three stories of Haggard's vision of the ancient world. The World's Desire, the first novel in this volume and fifth in the series takes place in of Ancient Greece. This is a mythical and magical adventure with elements of the fantastical which Haggard aficionados will recognise and relish. The second story, 'Elissa,' is a shorter work which features a Phoenician colony in Africa, while the final novel in this volume focuses around the turbulent period when Jerusalem fell to the invading Roman Empire. Available in soft cover and hard cover with dust jacket for collectors. ... Read more

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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). ... Read more

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H. Rider Haggard clearly displays his wonderfully dramatic imagination, combined with his deep knowledge of Africa, in King Solomon's Mines, which recounts the adventures of Allan Quartermain, Sir Henry Curtis, and Captain John Good. Written in 1885, the book was hailed by his publishers as "THE MOST AMAZING BOOK EVER WRITTEN." ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

A Ripping Yarn, Indeed
Another hit from the 1001 Books to Read list- I had low to no expectations for this book, expecting a kind of florid victorian adventure, instead I got a tightly written, enthralling proto-Indiana Jones.While it's true that the protagonists penchant for taking down entire herds of elephant is a bit off-putting to 21st century ears, his prose is right in line with contemporary style.

I enjoyed King Solomon's Mines, and I recomend it.Also- I specifically recommend this version (Oxford World's Classics).I found both the introduction and the end notes to be useful in understanding the whys and hows of thd this book becoming a "world classic."Whenever I'm looking to buy a classic novel, I look first to Oxfords World Classics.

If you are thinking Debra Kerr you will be shocked.
I grew up on the movie so it was quit a shocker to read the book. As stated in the beginning there are no petticoated women in this book. It is a men's adventure written by a man for men. You can not miss the hand of H. Rider Haggard as he has a unique sense of humor that pops up at the strangest times. He may be a little verbose but every word has a use. And as with written stories this one is much more intricate than the movie adaptations. You will find many assumptions of the time such as any complex construction must have been built by white people and natives on their own may turn savage.

The story is told first person by Allan Quartermain. Nevil is off to make his fortune by finding King Solomon's lost diamond mines. Allan sends him a 300 year old map to help. This is the last anyone heard from Nevil. Turns out that Nevil is really the estranged brother of Henry Curtis. Sir Henry Curtis now wants to make amends and he with his friend Captain John Good, bribe Allan Quartermain to take them across an endless desert and trough impassible mountains to an adventure that will hold you to the very end. Along with them is their self imposed helper Umbopa who carries a secret of his own.

If you get a chance to also hear the recording, an added plus is narration by John Richmond; He brings the characters to life and adds to the mystique that this story has been passed down.
... Read more

Product Description
The final volume in this stunning series of adventures in the distant past

Rider Haggard is one of the most famous authors of adventure fiction in the English language. Almost everyone has heard of Allan Quatermain-the hero of King Solomon's Mines-and the beautiful, ruthless, magically immortal Ayesha-She 'who must be obeyed.' All of Haggard's novels and stories featuring both characters are available in handsome Leonaur editions. Haggard was a prolific writer so it is not surprising that only a few of his titles are widely known-and read-by an audience which would enjoy them all. The essential elements of his most famous creations-the great African continent and ancient civilisations, mysterious and exotic, mythical, imagined or real, are combined in a number of his novels and stories and these too have now been collected by Leonaur into a special four volume set-African Adventures. Readers will therefore be unsurprised to learn that Haggard could not resist writing a number of tales about ancient civilisations, or that in these he naturally gravitated towards the most evocative of them all-the world of the Ancient Egyptians and the other peoples of the Mediterranean and the Middle East. This is a stunning body of fiction which Leonaur has gathered together into a four volume set-each successive volume following a chronological time-line along the sweeping march of history.
Lovers of Rider Haggard's tales of high adventure will find much to satisfy them in the first novel of this, the final volume in this special Leonaur four volume collection of nine of the author's forays into the ancient world. It is now 800 AD and the setting of this great Haggard adventure moves between Jutland in the chilly North to the 'New Rome', the dazzling Byzantine Empire and on to Egypt itself. The second novel here echoes the great Northern sagas in style and tells of the heroic Viking 'Eric Brighteyes' in around 999 AD. Available in soft cover and hard cover with dust jacket. ... Read more

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It may be remembered that in the last pages of his diary, written just before his death, Allan Quatermain makes allusion to his long dead wife, stating that he has written of her fully elsewhere. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Super Reader
Romance boring until Baboon Witch Woman sticks the knife into marriage.

or, longer version

Allan does what Allan does best for the first part, which is run around Africa, and deal with animals and miscreants with aplomb. Also with rifles. A chunk of this you could be forgiven for thinking you had fallen into a dull Victorian romance.

He actually comes across a woman he decides he really likes and can put up with, and pops the question. Unfortunately for him, the baboon lady decides to manifest some supernatural superpowers and abscond with the affianced female to have her wicked violent way.

Excellent Book
Henry Rider Haggard never fails to impress.This book looks more into the personal side of Allan Quatermain and does so with typical Victorian elegance.The only problem with the story is that it is so short!Jolly good read! ... Read more

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During his years in Africa, it's said Haggard came to know and appreciate Zulu culture -- intimately, as it were. It's said he had an affair with an African woman, and not just any sort of an affair, but the sort of affair that makes men mutter in retrospect about profound relationships. That's the tale they tell on Haggard: that affair changed his portrayal of women. Even the psychologists got in on the act -- really, psychologists! Just ask Carl Jung, who used Haggard's She to exemplify anima.

Or not. Read these stories, we say, and see for yourself. Included here are "Allan's Wife," "Hunter Quatermain's Story," "A Tale of Three Lions," and "Long Odds." ... Read more

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When first published, in 1885, King Solomon’s Mines was an enormous popular success. The narrative follows the explorations of Allan Quatermain, a fortune hunter who travels to Africa in search of ancient treasures and a lost fellow explorer. Written as an adventure story, the novel is also a late-Victorian imperial romance that illuminates the politics of British imperialist capitalism in 1870s and 1880s South Africa.

This edition includes a provocative critical introduction that discusses the novel’s relations to Victorian anthropological thought. The appendices include contemporary reviews, other writings by Haggard on Africa and romance, and documents focusing on imperialism and diamond mining in South Africa in the 1870s and 1880s. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

King Solomon's Minesfrom a kid`s perspective
As a kid I loved this book.The story was an amazing story with wonderful characters.In a way the story was suspenful because of the standoffs between different characters.

African Adventure!
This is a Victorian era novel of adventure in unexplored Africa.The plot centers on the search for a lost diamond mine, but contains daring treks through the wilderness, a civil war among African natives, and colorful descriptions of the landscape and people of Africa.This book represents the definition of the romantic image of the Age of Exploration during the Victorian era: intrepid explorers heading off into the wilds in search of fame and fortune.Several movies have been based on this book (and subsequent Haggard stories about Alain Quatermain), and the character Indiana Jones was based largely on Haggard's Quatermain.None of these films have manged to the capture flavor of Haggard's book on the big screen.If you liked the movie King Solomon's Mines with Stewart Granger and Deborah Kerr (undoubtedly the best of all the films), you will probably like this book even more.The main drawback of this book (at least for 21st century readers) is Haggard's subtle and not-so-subtle racism.The native Africans are at best noble savages, and often Haggard considers them to be much less.I've read elsewhere that Haggard wrote this after having read Treasure Island.He supposedly felt that he could write a better adventure story.This is the first of his twenty or so novels written at the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th century.If true, he succeeded.This is a highly entertaining escapist read and I strongly recommend it.

Awesome Adventure
This is a great story! It's like Indiana Jones in 1895. I suspect that George Lucas based Indy on Allan Quatermain to an extent. Quatermain is a hunter in Africa, and has obtained an old map - drawn in blood no less - that gives directions to the fabled diamond mines of the biblical King Solomon. Accompanied by two other English men in search of treasure and a long lost brother, and a Zulu warrior who is not what he seems, they begin their arduous trek. Blazing deserts with no water, freezing mountains, an insane leader of a lost tribe and an evil witch all present challenges to the companions.
Both humour and adventure are commonplace in this tale, and anyone who dreams of treasure should pick up this gem.

Relic113

If you are thinking Debra Kerr you will be shocked.
I grew up on the movie so it was quit a shocker to read the book. As stated in the beginning there are no petticoated women in this book. It is a men's adventure written by a man for men. You can not miss the hand of H. Rider Haggard as he has a unique sense of humor that pops up at the strangest times. He may be a little verbose but every word has a use. And as with written stories this one is much more intricate than the movie adaptations. You will find many assumptions of the time such as any complex construction must have been built by white people and natives on their own may turn savage.

The story is told first person by Allan Quartermain. Nevil is off to make his fortune by finding King Solomon's lost diamond mines. Allan sends him a 300 year old map to help. This is the last anyone heard from Nevil. Turns out that Nevil is really the estranged brother of Henry Curtis. Sir Henry Curtis now wants to make amends and he with his friend Captain John Good, bribe Allan Quartermain to take them across an endless desert and trough impassible mountains to an adventure that will hold you to the very end. Along with them is their self imposed helper Umbopa who carries a secret of his own.

If you get a chance to also hear the recording, an added plus is narration by John Richmond; He brings the characters to life and adds to the mystique that this story has been passed down.

King Solomon's Mines Starring: Deborah Kerr, Stewart Granger ... Read more

Product Description
Alan Quartermain, Sir Henry Curtis and Captain John Good have travelled a long way over difficult country to the hidden land of the Kukuanas in search of King Solomon's treasure. They find enough diamonds to make them the richest men in Europe but has the treasure caught them in a trap? ... Read more