H. Rider Haggard: She, King Solomon's Mine & Allan Quartermain (Gramercy Adventure Library) [Hardcover]

H. Rider Haggard (Author)

Product Details

• Hardcover: 640 pages
• Publisher: Gramercy (September 18, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0517150565
• ISBN-13: 978-0517150566
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.1 x 2.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.9 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,203,990 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Jungle Adventure - Powerful Women, November 15, 2004

By 

Gagewyn (United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: H. Rider Haggard: She, King Solomon's Mine & Allan Quartermain (Gramercy Adventure Library) (Hardcover)

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.