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magnalia's review against another edition
5.0
Just recalled I’ve read this book many times in my teens. It’s a great adventure story, with a bonus map! Kind of prepared me for the Lord of the Rings famous Middle-Earth map :)
hibsta's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
what a colonial fantasy. had to suspend such modern criticisms to enjoy it tho.
jvanfleet's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Content Warnings
Progressive politics for the 1800s is retrograde now.
sams84's review against another edition
4.0
Despite this book having some seriously old fashioned stereotypes, particularly about the native South African tribes and women in general (none of whome were particularly flattering I must be honest) I actually really enjoyed this book. It is a good old fashioned adventure tale that finds our heroes heading into the unexplored heart of the South African desert in search of treasure (and Sir Henry's lost brother) and in the process Quartermain and his friends get embroilled in a tribal war and find themselves at odds with a powerful (yet withered hag of a) witch. Ultimately this is a story of discovery and friendship and finding what is truely valuable to a man (and woman). The writing is superb and wonderfully detailed, bringing the story to life in all its dusty glory, you can even feel the parched sensation of thirst as they trail through the baking desert heat. The ending is slightly anti-climatic but fits with the style of the book with Quatermain writing to his son in his own modest way. Overall a darn good read!
tonyf111's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
informative
lighthearted
sad
tense
fast-paced
3.75
memethereader's review against another edition
1.0
DNF - I know this was written way back in the Victorian era, but like...The Narrator is so elitist, classist, Racist..... he looks down on other races. It's a shame that this book was labelled as a children's book. The author is very, unnecessarily descriptive, especially of events that could've been summed up in 3 lines...This book would've been 50 pages shorter if the author just "Got to the point", instead of describing every mundane thing in detail....
ginaparrish's review against another edition
3.0
This was a surprisingly good action-adventure story written in the late 19th century. As someone reading it with modern eyes, I expected to be offended more often while reading it than I was. It did have a number of cringe-worthy lines and it was hard to read some parts knowing the later effects of colonialism (countries in war over blood diamonds, endangered species from over-hunting, the negative effects on African culture, etc.) but, recognizing it as a product of its time, I enjoyed it and can see how it influenced the genre. It was also clear that the author had some affection and respect for Africa and its people.
I only rated it a three because I felt that the narrator and main character, Allan, was pretty flat. As I read, I would lose interest and then gain interest again, repeat, repeat. It was very plot-driven and not very character-driven, and while the plot was fascinating, it needed to be both. The native characters were more interesting and dynamic than the trio of super-English white men. Also, it would have benefited from some less-stereotyped female characters, as there were only two: the beautiful young love interest and the evil old hag.
That said, it was enjoyable but I don’t anticipate moving on with the series.
I only rated it a three because I felt that the narrator and main character, Allan, was pretty flat. As I read, I would lose interest and then gain interest again, repeat, repeat. It was very plot-driven and not very character-driven, and while the plot was fascinating, it needed to be both. The native characters were more interesting and dynamic than the trio of super-English white men. Also, it would have benefited from some less-stereotyped female characters, as there were only two: the beautiful young love interest and the evil old hag.
That said, it was enjoyable but I don’t anticipate moving on with the series.
thaurisil's review against another edition
4.0
My mother gave this to me for my ninth birthday, but I never finished it. I tried to, but I guess then, as now, I was not an adventure novel type of person. I found this again recently while spring cleaning and I was determined to finish it, and I am glad I did as I actually like the book.
The plot goes that Allan Quatermain (“Macumazahn” to the natives), an elephant hunter, accompanies Sir Henry Curtis (“Incubu”) and Captain John Good (“Bougwan”) on a trip to King Solomon’s mines in search of Sir Henry’s lost brother, George alias Neville. After an argument with his brother, George travelled to find diamonds in the mines, and the three Englishmen go in search of both George and the diamonds. They pick up three African servants, including Umbopa, a tall well-built native that Quatermain finds mysterious on account of his dignity and refusal to treat the white men with reverence. Following a map by an ancient Portuguese, they cross a sweltering desert and an icy mountain, barely surviving dehydration and cold respectively. Two of their servants die on the way. They reach Kukuanaland, where they narrowly escape murder by the natives by pretending to be “white men from the stars”, aided by Good’s movable false teeth, eye-glass and “beautiful white legs”, as well as their guns. With the help of Infadoos, the king Twala’s half-brother, they discover that Umbopa is really Ignosi, the rightful king of Kukuanaland. Ignosi’s father was originally king but was killed by Twala, his brother, and Ignosi and his mother entered exile. After witnessing a witch-hunt led by Gagool, an extremely old woman and the king’s aide, where men that the king dislikes are killed, Ignosi gains the following of half the army, helped by the Englishmen who pretend to put out the moon (actually a lunar eclipse). Thus follows a war. Ignosi’s followers are outnumbered but win the war on account of their having the Greys, the best regiment, and Sir Henry, who turns out to be the mightiest warrior. Twala’s troops flee and Sir Henry kills Twala in a one-on-one battle. Ignosi is king and orders Gagool to bring the white men to the mines, where they discover the place of Death, where all previous kings are preserved as stalactites, and find the diamonds. They are then trapped with the diamonds as Gagool lowers the huge rock that acts as a gate, but not before Foulata, a native girl whom the men saved from death and consequently started a romantic relationship with Good, is killed by Gagool and Gagool is killed by the rock. The men eventually find an escape route and leave Kukuanaland. They are led on a shortcut to an oasis, where they find George, who is now lame and has been unable to leave the oasis for two years. All four eventually return to England.
Contrary to other reviewers, I was actually quite impressed with the final message of racial tolerance. It is true that the author illustrates the racism that was prevalent in the minds of white men in Africa at that time. Quatermain treats the natives as slaves and expects them to behave as slaves. Foulata’s dying speech is that she is “glad to die because [she] know[s] that [Good] cannot cumber his life with such as [she is], for the sun may not mate with the darkness”. The white men save the Africans from an oppressive ruler. But for a writer of that era, the author shows impressive sensitivity to the strengths of the natives, such as bravery and dignity, and Ignosi’s farewell message is a total rejection of colonialism. Though Africans are still slaves in Quatermain’s mind, as they were to most white men at that time, there are signs that Quatermain partially respects them, and this perhaps reflects the author’s own experience in Africa.
The author’s experiences were further reflected in his use of many native terms, which was refreshing. It was pretty realistic in that the author did not pretend to know the true cultural state of Africa, but instead made it clear that what was portrayed was the perspective of a white man living in Africa.
What I felt was lacking, which is perhaps the reason why I dislike plot-based adventure stories, was characterization. The characters were largely two-dimensional: Sir Henry is brave, Captain Good is neat and Quatermain is timid. Yet I really liked the book. Perhaps it was the straightforward retelling of events, which nevertheless suited Quatermain’s character, or perhaps it was that the plot was simply exciting.
The plot goes that Allan Quatermain (“Macumazahn” to the natives), an elephant hunter, accompanies Sir Henry Curtis (“Incubu”) and Captain John Good (“Bougwan”) on a trip to King Solomon’s mines in search of Sir Henry’s lost brother, George alias Neville. After an argument with his brother, George travelled to find diamonds in the mines, and the three Englishmen go in search of both George and the diamonds. They pick up three African servants, including Umbopa, a tall well-built native that Quatermain finds mysterious on account of his dignity and refusal to treat the white men with reverence. Following a map by an ancient Portuguese, they cross a sweltering desert and an icy mountain, barely surviving dehydration and cold respectively. Two of their servants die on the way. They reach Kukuanaland, where they narrowly escape murder by the natives by pretending to be “white men from the stars”, aided by Good’s movable false teeth, eye-glass and “beautiful white legs”, as well as their guns. With the help of Infadoos, the king Twala’s half-brother, they discover that Umbopa is really Ignosi, the rightful king of Kukuanaland. Ignosi’s father was originally king but was killed by Twala, his brother, and Ignosi and his mother entered exile. After witnessing a witch-hunt led by Gagool, an extremely old woman and the king’s aide, where men that the king dislikes are killed, Ignosi gains the following of half the army, helped by the Englishmen who pretend to put out the moon (actually a lunar eclipse). Thus follows a war. Ignosi’s followers are outnumbered but win the war on account of their having the Greys, the best regiment, and Sir Henry, who turns out to be the mightiest warrior. Twala’s troops flee and Sir Henry kills Twala in a one-on-one battle. Ignosi is king and orders Gagool to bring the white men to the mines, where they discover the place of Death, where all previous kings are preserved as stalactites, and find the diamonds. They are then trapped with the diamonds as Gagool lowers the huge rock that acts as a gate, but not before Foulata, a native girl whom the men saved from death and consequently started a romantic relationship with Good, is killed by Gagool and Gagool is killed by the rock. The men eventually find an escape route and leave Kukuanaland. They are led on a shortcut to an oasis, where they find George, who is now lame and has been unable to leave the oasis for two years. All four eventually return to England.
Contrary to other reviewers, I was actually quite impressed with the final message of racial tolerance. It is true that the author illustrates the racism that was prevalent in the minds of white men in Africa at that time. Quatermain treats the natives as slaves and expects them to behave as slaves. Foulata’s dying speech is that she is “glad to die because [she] know[s] that [Good] cannot cumber his life with such as [she is], for the sun may not mate with the darkness”. The white men save the Africans from an oppressive ruler. But for a writer of that era, the author shows impressive sensitivity to the strengths of the natives, such as bravery and dignity, and Ignosi’s farewell message is a total rejection of colonialism. Though Africans are still slaves in Quatermain’s mind, as they were to most white men at that time, there are signs that Quatermain partially respects them, and this perhaps reflects the author’s own experience in Africa.
The author’s experiences were further reflected in his use of many native terms, which was refreshing. It was pretty realistic in that the author did not pretend to know the true cultural state of Africa, but instead made it clear that what was portrayed was the perspective of a white man living in Africa.
What I felt was lacking, which is perhaps the reason why I dislike plot-based adventure stories, was characterization. The characters were largely two-dimensional: Sir Henry is brave, Captain Good is neat and Quatermain is timid. Yet I really liked the book. Perhaps it was the straightforward retelling of events, which nevertheless suited Quatermain’s character, or perhaps it was that the plot was simply exciting.