Pearl-Maiden [Paperback]

H. Rider Haggard (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1, 2001

This is a pre-1923 historical reproduction that was curated for quality. Quality assurance was conducted on each of these books in an attempt to remove books with imperfections introduced by the digitization process. Though we have made best efforts - the books may have occasional errors that do not impede the reading experience. We believe this work is culturally important and have elected to bring the book back into print as part of our continuing commitment to the preservation of printed works worldwide.

--This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 524 pages
• Publisher: Borgo Press (March 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1587151723
• ISBN-13: 978-1587151729
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.1 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #7,528,743 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Adventure and Romance Galore - Make a Movie of This, Someone, March 24, 2005

By 

Good Brother Cadfael (Virginia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Pearl Maiden (Paperback)

I have set myself to reading all of the H. Rider Haggard novels, and my library had a 1903 (!) edition of this book. Geez, it is AWESOME! I love early Christianity books like _Ben Hur_ and _Quo Vadis_; this book is up in their league.

That having been said, _Pearl Maiden_ spends very little time trying to assure the reader that Christianity is the best way, the only way, and that every other culture and faith that has come before it is misguided at best and infernal at worst. That's one of the things I really admire about Haggard, the more so as I read more of his books: for a man of his time, he is remarkably open-minded.

So, what's the book about? The twisting, turning plot follows the adventures of Miriam (the "Pearl Maiden" of the book's title), an orphan whose Christian mother puts the baby into the care of a loyal servant woman. Miriam grows up in an adoring colony of Essenes, who educate her and teach her a trade (sculpting) but who, because of the dictates of their order, must send her forth into the world. She goes to live with her grandfather, a powerful Jewish merchant who hates the Roman rule and takes part in the defense of Jerusalem from Titus' forces.

Miriam, whose grandfather has allowed her to retain her Christian faith, finds herself in a conflict, for she has fallen in love with Marcus, a Roman officer. To further complicate the plot, she has been raised with Caleb, a young Jewish boy, who loves her and no other.

Well, I won't divulge any more of the the plot; you will want to savour it for yourself. It's a nice, fat book (my edition is over 500 pages), that will satisfy anyone who enjoys an action-packed historical yarn. I was up until one this morning finishing it off.

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars One Star for Criminal Editing, March 2, 2008

By 

Brent Rohde (United States of America) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Pearl Maiden (Paperback)

An author's work has a certain integrity in terms of content and style. An editor can sustain that integrity with respect or presumptuously overrule and violate it. Judge which course editor Christopher D. Kou took on behalf of Christian Liberty Press, publisher of this centennial edition of H. Rider Haggard's "Pearl Maiden." In fact his Editor's Note testimony is self-incriminating: "I have thoroughly revised and edited the original text to make the story clearer and more enjoyable for modern readers. Grammar and word usage have been changed and updated, and much of the dialog has been rephrased. Some Latin terms have been restored in lieu of the contemporary Victorian English equivalents found in the original text....readers familiar with the 1903 edition will also note two new scenes near the final pages of this version." Kou's approach--which he regarded as benign--actually constitutes first-degree editorial text-slaughter and ought to be condemned. Avoid this ravaged edition of "Pearl Maiden" and seek another preserving Haggard's original story.

12 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars This version is botched., February 27, 2010

By 

Spin360 (Colorado) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Pearl Maiden (Paperback)

How can some one edit, revise, change dialogue, names and scenes and claim it is still the original? Kou readily admits to this atrocities in regards to Haggard's work. Haggard wrote brilliantly and Kou has completely mutilated Haggard's story.

What Kou has done is equivalent to rewriting Shakespeare's Othello as a Dick & Jane Bible Primer and claiming it is as Shakespeare's original work.

Find an unedited original and avoid this edition.