romymc's review against another edition
3.0
I enjoyed the movie starring Stewart Granger and Deborah Kerr, but the book lacked the romance of the film. Three Victorian gentlemen
search for diamonds with the help of local tribesmen whom they treat shabbily for the most part.
search for diamonds with the help of local tribesmen whom they treat shabbily for the most part.
jakie12's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
lady_elsa's review against another edition
4.0
Questo libro è la perfetta immagine della società di fine 800, misogino, razzista e coloniale; quindi se non riuscite a ignorare questi aspetti, sconsiglio la lettura.
Questo libro ha fondato il genere avventura, più nello specifico l'archetipo del mondo perduto; avete presente Indiana Jones? ecco questo libro ha inventato il suo genere.
Non esiste un antagonista in particolare, le vicende del libro tendono ad essere il superamento di ostacoli per la missione; e molto spesso è per fortuite coincidenze.
La storia segue più o meno il tipico schema dell'eroe, con introspezioni perché in forma semi-epistolare.
Questo libro ha fondato il genere avventura, più nello specifico l'archetipo del mondo perduto; avete presente Indiana Jones? ecco questo libro ha inventato il suo genere.
Non esiste un antagonista in particolare, le vicende del libro tendono ad essere il superamento di ostacoli per la missione; e molto spesso è per fortuite coincidenze.
La storia segue più o meno il tipico schema dell'eroe, con introspezioni perché in forma semi-epistolare.
anne_marie_samp's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
Let's face it, any book with adventures in Africa from this time period is going to be racist, imperial and colonial. That said, this isn't nearly as bad as it could have been.
Leaving aside the brutal slaughter of African animals like elephants, this is a rip roaring adventure yarn that is surprising gripping and entertaining, with moments of light humour as well as dark peril.
Read with the warning that it is of it's time, that there are moments of killing and death, and perhaps most startling of all, there is a pair of very white legs.
Leaving aside the brutal slaughter of African animals like elephants, this is a rip roaring adventure yarn that is surprising gripping and entertaining, with moments of light humour as well as dark peril.
Read with the warning that it is of it's time, that there are moments of killing and death, and perhaps most startling of all, there is a pair of very white legs.
fictionfan's review against another edition
5.0
"I speak of Africa and golden joys..."
When Sir Henry Curtis’ brother George goes missing in Africa, Sir Henry and his friend, Captain Good, set out to find him. While they are en route to Natal, they meet up with Allan Quatermain, a local elephant hunter and adventurer, who is able to tell them that George had started out on a quest to find the fabled diamond mines of King Solomon. When Sir Henry asks if Quatermain believes in the existence of the mines, Quatermain replies that he had never paid too much heed to the legend until, some time earlier, he came into possession of a rough map showing the way there, written in blood by a man now long dead. Sir Henry begs Quatermain to go with them to seek for the mines, in the hopes of finding his brother there; and, in return for a promise of a share in any treasure they find, Quatermain agrees. While Quatermain gets together supplies and a team of bearers for the journey, he is approached by Umbopa, a native who doesn’t look or act like the usual bearer but is very keen to join the expedition. And so they set off to cross the burning desert to seek their fortune in the mountains beyond…
This is a great adventure story – the greatest I’ve ever read and truly deserving of the term ‘classic’. The story is told by Allan Quatermain in the first person. He sees Sir Henry as the hero of the story, but the reader knows that Quatermain himself is the true hero. The grizzled old hunter, with his knowledge of the ways of the natives, with his hunting skills and, above all, with the bravery which he hides beneath a cloak of modesty, is the heart of the book. But Sir Henry is a fine character too, tall, strong, handsome, intelligent – everything an Englishman of the Empire should be. Captain Good is a brave and loyal friend, but with eccentricities aplenty, allowing Rider Haggard to introduce some humour (and the tiniest touch of romance) into the story. And the mysterious Umbopa – aah! He represents all of that part of Africa we don’t understand – again courageous and with a strength that becomes vital as the adventurers struggle to survive, but a man who can be frightening and whose loyalty must be earned, not bought – a man with a secret that is only slowly revealed.
The tortured journey across the desert where the only hope for survival rests on finding the waterhole marked on the ancient map; the journey over the mountains where cold and hunger take the travellers to the edge of endurance; the Kingdom of the Kukuanas, ruled over by the cruel King Twala and about to be plunged into a civil war where all must take a side – the pace never lets up as our heroes face danger after thrilling danger from both nature and man. And from woman too – I defy anyone who has read this book to forget the ancient, evil, cackling ‘wise woman’, Gagool of the Kukuanas – the stuff of nightmares and midnight terrors. Or to forget the horrors of the caves…
Written in 1885, King Solomon’s Mines was the first English adventure story to be set in Africa, at a time when much of the continent was still ‘undiscovered’. A small word of warning that obviously some attitudes to race in the book are reflective of the time – however, on the whole, Rider Haggard is respectful and even admiring of the ‘natives’ and their cultures. I first read this (many times) as a child and teenager and, on re-reading recently, enjoyed it just as much as an adult. If you’ve never read it, what a treat you have in store…I envy you!
www.fictionfanblog.wordpress.com
When Sir Henry Curtis’ brother George goes missing in Africa, Sir Henry and his friend, Captain Good, set out to find him. While they are en route to Natal, they meet up with Allan Quatermain, a local elephant hunter and adventurer, who is able to tell them that George had started out on a quest to find the fabled diamond mines of King Solomon. When Sir Henry asks if Quatermain believes in the existence of the mines, Quatermain replies that he had never paid too much heed to the legend until, some time earlier, he came into possession of a rough map showing the way there, written in blood by a man now long dead. Sir Henry begs Quatermain to go with them to seek for the mines, in the hopes of finding his brother there; and, in return for a promise of a share in any treasure they find, Quatermain agrees. While Quatermain gets together supplies and a team of bearers for the journey, he is approached by Umbopa, a native who doesn’t look or act like the usual bearer but is very keen to join the expedition. And so they set off to cross the burning desert to seek their fortune in the mountains beyond…
This is a great adventure story – the greatest I’ve ever read and truly deserving of the term ‘classic’. The story is told by Allan Quatermain in the first person. He sees Sir Henry as the hero of the story, but the reader knows that Quatermain himself is the true hero. The grizzled old hunter, with his knowledge of the ways of the natives, with his hunting skills and, above all, with the bravery which he hides beneath a cloak of modesty, is the heart of the book. But Sir Henry is a fine character too, tall, strong, handsome, intelligent – everything an Englishman of the Empire should be. Captain Good is a brave and loyal friend, but with eccentricities aplenty, allowing Rider Haggard to introduce some humour (and the tiniest touch of romance) into the story. And the mysterious Umbopa – aah! He represents all of that part of Africa we don’t understand – again courageous and with a strength that becomes vital as the adventurers struggle to survive, but a man who can be frightening and whose loyalty must be earned, not bought – a man with a secret that is only slowly revealed.
The tortured journey across the desert where the only hope for survival rests on finding the waterhole marked on the ancient map; the journey over the mountains where cold and hunger take the travellers to the edge of endurance; the Kingdom of the Kukuanas, ruled over by the cruel King Twala and about to be plunged into a civil war where all must take a side – the pace never lets up as our heroes face danger after thrilling danger from both nature and man. And from woman too – I defy anyone who has read this book to forget the ancient, evil, cackling ‘wise woman’, Gagool of the Kukuanas – the stuff of nightmares and midnight terrors. Or to forget the horrors of the caves…
Written in 1885, King Solomon’s Mines was the first English adventure story to be set in Africa, at a time when much of the continent was still ‘undiscovered’. A small word of warning that obviously some attitudes to race in the book are reflective of the time – however, on the whole, Rider Haggard is respectful and even admiring of the ‘natives’ and their cultures. I first read this (many times) as a child and teenager and, on re-reading recently, enjoyed it just as much as an adult. If you’ve never read it, what a treat you have in store…I envy you!
www.fictionfanblog.wordpress.com
carolynf's review against another edition
4.0
Not as racist as I though it would be. The Quarterman character is a good hunter and loyal but also cowardly and not well educated. Not much like Sean Connery in League of Extraordinary Gentlemen.
cinephilegirl_'s review against another edition
No terminado a capítulo 4 una decepción porque era mi Fav de pequeña y lo leí varias veces así que otra vez será
vampierusboy's review against another edition
3.0
Catching up on the classics in the fall of 2020. This book has been on my to-read list for a long time, seeing Quatermain being performed by the late Sean Connery in the league of extra-ordinary gentlemen film and later loving the much extended comic book version.
This novel inspired a lot of the adventure novels and stories we know and love, especially the one set in jungles, or Africa and Asia. Jungle Book, Tarzan and to an extent Indiana Jones all have the same theme. The adventure in this book is quite good I would say. The characters of Good, Quatermain and Sir Henry are complimentary to each other. Quatermain being 55, makes him old for a hero and this is interesting as well. The surroundings are vividly described, which add a lot.
Biggest downside, although I've seen worse, this book is written in the 19th century and situated in colonial Africa. Therefore colonialism, orientalism, sexism and racism are there. I found these themes more subtle than in other books of the era, but that can be a danger as well.
If you want to read one of the forming books of the adventure genre I would recommend to read this, but be aware that a lot of the themes have become outdated/frowned upon today.
This novel inspired a lot of the adventure novels and stories we know and love, especially the one set in jungles, or Africa and Asia. Jungle Book, Tarzan and to an extent Indiana Jones all have the same theme. The adventure in this book is quite good I would say. The characters of Good, Quatermain and Sir Henry are complimentary to each other. Quatermain being 55, makes him old for a hero and this is interesting as well. The surroundings are vividly described, which add a lot.
Biggest downside, although I've seen worse, this book is written in the 19th century and situated in colonial Africa. Therefore colonialism, orientalism, sexism and racism are there. I found these themes more subtle than in other books of the era, but that can be a danger as well.
If you want to read one of the forming books of the adventure genre I would recommend to read this, but be aware that a lot of the themes have become outdated/frowned upon today.
blockonthenewkid's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
2.5/5
A solid, if predictable adventure story, although possibly not so much for the time of publishing.
Solid use of atmosphere and the unknown/mystic in order to ratchet up the tension in the third act.
Dragged down by the views of the author on race and big game hunting, even knowing these were prevailing aspects of society for the era.
A solid, if predictable adventure story, although possibly not so much for the time of publishing.
Solid use of atmosphere and the unknown/mystic in order to ratchet up the tension in the third act.
Dragged down by the views of the author on race and big game hunting, even knowing these were prevailing aspects of society for the era.