Allan Quatermain [Hardcover]

Rider H. Haggard (Author)

Product Details

• Hardcover: 248 pages
• Publisher: IndyPublish.com (December 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1588275000
• ISBN-13: 978-1588275004
• Product Dimensions: 6 x 0.7 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.5 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #10,422,081 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Old Friends, New Adventures, May 21, 2002

By 

B.P. "tilley_traveler" (Wisconsin, United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Allan Quatermain (Paperback)

After reading King Solomon's Mines, I was eager to read this sequel, and I found it to be simular, yet different from the previous. The story is just as exciting, sharing the same reflective outlook on life and search for truth. Written in the same style with a bit of humor and a little more emotion than the first novel.

The main characters from King Solomon's Mines reunite for a second journey into Africa, Meeting new dangers and some unpredictable natives. Also encountering adventure, discovery and battle much like before. Two of the old, well traveled companions meet their end in this book, which resonates a deep sobering impression throughout. Once again my favorite part was the last few chapters, a gripping sequence of events that conclude with a great over all ending.

I enjoyed both books equally, although I think I still like King Solomon's Mines a little more.
But hey, one good aventure deserves another, and if you've read King Solomon's Mines, I recommend this one too. The story is just as excellent and won't disapoint you.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best African Adventure Ever Written, September 12, 2007

By 

Tom Line (Hamilton, Ohio United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Allan Quatermain (Paperback)

This is the best African Victorian Period adventure ever written. If you liked Raiders of the Lost Ark, you'll find it weak compared to Allen Quatermain's adventures.

1 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Period Adventure Not suited for Most Modern Readers, October 9, 2002

By 

fidficus (Chicago, IL USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Allan Quatermain (Paperback)

Allan's son has just died. Having grown tired of the easy life he leads in England, he gathers up his two friends, Sir Henry Curtis and Captain John Good, and the three of them head to Africa in search of a legendary white civilization. Along the way they add to their party a fierce Zulu warrior and a cowardly French cook.

At the time of the writing, "lost civilization" books were popular. For the Victorian reading public, the possibility still existed, however unlikely, that such a civilization existed. Unfortunately for this sub-genre, the idea has not aged well. I found it very difficult as a 21st century reader to suspend my disbelief enough to wholeheartedly embrace Quatermain's adventure. Its easier to accept the idea of Bigfoot, than the idea that at the end of the 19th century, an entire race of white people lived in a completely self-contained kingdom in the middle Africa.

Haggard's writing style, while typical of the time for which he wrote, is weighty. Quatermain as the narrator, often gives descriptions of conversations instead of relating the actual spoken word. When he does write dialogue, it's often made up of long, flowery speeches. He has an especially irritating habit of using an older form of English (e.g. "thee", "thou", "wilt", "nay", "alas") for all speech that is supposed to be spoken in a language other than English. He also likes to give to give long descriptions of places and objects. Sometimes they're interesting, but more often they slow down the pacing and seem to serve little purpose (The description of the "Flower" temple is particularly cumbersome). Haggard can write exciting, interesting action, but those portions are few and far between.

A final objection to this adventure novel is that Haggard, through no fault of his own, is thoroughly steeped in the Victorian mind set. The British empire can do no wrong. Native Africa is divided into two camps. First there are the ordinary "savages" who need European influence, and second there are the "noble savages" who should be left untouched by the Europeans. Haggard's racism, nationalism, and sexism heavily influence his story.

ALLAN QUATERMAIN should be read as a period adventure novel. It will probably appeal to readers who have enjoyed Haggard's other books or the writings of similar authors (Edgar Rice Burroughs comes to mind). However, I do not recommend it to the general reader looking for an adventure novel set in the late 19th century.