King Solomon's Mines

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'Don't you see that we are buried alive?'When Allan Quatermain is approached by Sir Henry Curtis and his friend Captain Good to search for Sir Henry's missing brother, deep in the African interior, he agrees to lead their expedition. Quatermain has a map to the fabled King Solomon's Mines, whose treasure the missing man sought to attain. Their journey takes them to Kukuanaland, where they find a warrior tribe in thrall to King Twala. Soon the white men are embroiled in a desperate tribal battle, and Quatermain's expedition can only reach its goal with the aid of Gagool, the ancient 'mother' no one trusts. Haggard's exciting adventure story captivated readers when it was first published in 1885. It helped inaugurate a wave of 'lost world' romances inspired by the exploits of British explorers in colonial Africa. This new edition looks at Haggard's own African experiences and unlikely literary success, and his ambivalent attitude to the native tribes and the ravages of the British Empire. ABOUT THE SERIES: For over 100 years Oxford World's Classics has made available the widest range of literature from around the globe. Each affordable volume reflects Oxford's commitment to scholarship, providing the most accurate text plus a wealth of other valuable features, including expert introductions by leading authorities, helpful notes to clarify the text, up-to-date bibliographies for further study, and much more.

My grandfather used to tell me about King Solomon's Mines; how he repeatedly gave up on the book before he was
eventually won over by this tale of Allan Quatermain, a hunter who leads an expedition in search of a vanished English explorer in the African jungle ... And my grandfather was right: the narrative has all the unstoppable momentum of a charging rhinoceros.

Sir Henry Rider Haggard (1856-1925) was a prolific British writer of adventure novels set in exotic locations, predominantly Africa. Born in Norfolk, England, Haggard was the eighth of ten children. He attended Ipswich Grammar School before leaving for London, where he worked as an unpaid secretary for a while. In 1875, Haggard travelled to South Africa to serve as the secretary to Sir Henry Bulwer, the governor of Natal. He spent six years in South Africa, during which he gained a deep appreciation for the African landscape, culture and people. These experiences would later provide a rich backdrop for his novels. Haggard returned to England in 1881 and began to focus on his writing career. He wrote his first novel, Dawn, in 1884, but it was his next work, King Solomon's Mines, published in 1885, that brought him widespread acclaim and commercial success. The novel introduced the character Allan Quatermain, a skilled hunter and adventurer who would become the protagonist of many of Haggard's subsequent novels. Haggard continued to write throughout his life, producing over 40 novels, numerous short stories, and non-fiction works. His other notable works include She (1887), Allan Quatermain (1887) and Cleopatra (1889). Haggard's writing was characterized by vivid descriptions of the African landscape and culture, thrilling adventures and a deep sense of spirituality and mysticism.

Contains extra material for young readers, including a glossary and a test-yourself quiz