What do you think?
Rate this book
Allan Quatermain #10
The Ancient Allan
A gripping novel which takes us and the hero, adventurer Allan Quatermain, back in time. It relates several exciting adventures like a lion hunt, wrestling with a crocodile, and a large-scale battle between various armies.
Excerpt:
"Now I, Allan Quatermain, come to the weirdest (with one or two exceptions perhaps) of all the experiences which it has amused me to employ my idle hours in recording here in a strange land, for after all England is strange to me. I grow elderly. I have, as I suppose, passed the period of enterprise and adventure and I should be well satisfied with the lot that Fate has given to my unworthy self. To begin with, I am still alive and in health when by all the rules I should have been dead many times over. I suppose I ought to be thankful for that but, before expressing an opinion on the point, I should have to be quite sure whether it is better to be alive or dead. The religious plump for the latter, though I have never observed that the religious are more eager to die than the rest of us poor mortals."
Excerpt:
"Now I, Allan Quatermain, come to the weirdest (with one or two exceptions perhaps) of all the experiences which it has amused me to employ my idle hours in recording here in a strange land, for after all England is strange to me. I grow elderly. I have, as I suppose, passed the period of enterprise and adventure and I should be well satisfied with the lot that Fate has given to my unworthy self. To begin with, I am still alive and in health when by all the rules I should have been dead many times over. I suppose I ought to be thankful for that but, before expressing an opinion on the point, I should have to be quite sure whether it is better to be alive or dead. The religious plump for the latter, though I have never observed that the religious are more eager to die than the rest of us poor mortals."
196 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1920
23 people are currently reading
491 people want to read
About the author
H. Rider Haggard
1,580 books1,095 followersSir Henry Rider Haggard, KBE was an English writer of adventure novels set in exotic locations, predominantly Africa, and the creator of the Lost World literary genre. His stories, situated at the lighter end of the scale of Victorian literature, continue to be popular and influential. He was also involved in agricultural reform and improvement in the British Empire.
His breakout novel was King Solomon's Mines (1885), which was to be the first in a series telling of the multitudinous adventures of its protagonist, Allan Quatermain.
Haggard was made a Knight Bachelor in 1912 and a Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1919. He stood unsuccessfully for Parliament as a Conservative candidate for the Eastern division of Norfolk in 1895. The locality of Rider, British Columbia, was named in his memory.
His breakout novel was King Solomon's Mines (1885), which was to be the first in a series telling of the multitudinous adventures of its protagonist, Allan Quatermain.
Haggard was made a Knight Bachelor in 1912 and a Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1919. He stood unsuccessfully for Parliament as a Conservative candidate for the Eastern division of Norfolk in 1895. The locality of Rider, British Columbia, was named in his memory.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
October 15, 2023
হ্যাগার্ডের অন্যান্য বইয়ের মতই এই বইটাও দারুণ ছিলো ফুয়াদ ভাইয়ের অনুবাদে। এই বইটা অনেক আগে পড়া, মাত্রই দি আইভরি চাইল্ড পড়া হল, এবং শুরুটা বুঝতে পারলাম। হ্যাগার্ডের প্রতিটা বই এত ভালো লাগে।♥️
August 23, 2011
In this book, one of the 14 that H. Rider Haggard wrote that treats of the adventures of Allan Quatermain, our hero--through the use of the inhaled Taduki drug--views one of his previous incarnations. During that lifetime he was Shabaka, in the age when Egypt had been conquered by the Persians. This book is a direct continuation of the previous Quatermain novel, "The Ivory Child" (which itself is a continuation of "Allan and the Holy Flower"), and a reading of that previous novel is fairly essential when going into this book. Lady Ragnall returns in this one, and shares Quatermain's drug-induced vision. While not as battle intensive as other books in the series, this novel is always interesting, and does feature, amongst other things, a lion hunt, a blind wizard in a cave, a visit to Ethiopia, a fight with a crocodile, and a rousing climactic battle between the forces of the Persians and the allied Egyptian/Ethiopian armies. And for fans of Hans, Quatermain's Hottentot sidekick, there is a previous incarnation of that great character, as well. It's all fascinating and exciting stuff; never a dull moment, and all that. So seek this one out...you won't be disappointed!
February 1, 2016
During the 80's and 90's, TV writers often resorted to certain methods of padding out a season whenever they found themselves running short on story ideas. One such method was to incorporate the idea of reincarnation and have cast members play past/future versions of themselves. WALKER: TEXAS RANGER did this by going back to the 1800's and introducing a Walker stand-in named Hayes Cooper. XENA: WARRIOR PRINCESS did it by having all the main characters reincarnated into the modern day.
With a couple exceptions (XENA, for one), such episodes were boring and generally came across as obvious "filler."
Which is why I was so trepidatious about THE ANCIENT ALLAN, since, from the book description, you'd think Haggard was really scraping the bottom of the idea barrel here. The concept of Allan Quatermain smoking a hallucinogen and experiencing his former life as an Egyptian royal made me initially think that the series should've ended with THE IVORY CHILD (possibly the best pure adventure novel I've ever read, by the way).
Surprisingly, though, despite having all the hallmarks of a series about to jump the shark, THE ANCIENT ALLAN never feels like a throwaway effort. It may not rank among the very best of the series, but it certainly manages to capture that unique brand of fun and magic that makes Quatermain's adventures so special. The time-bending plot line works because (1.) the book was written back in the 1920's before the whole past lives thing had been done to death, (2.) setting the story in Egypt serves as an interesting and novel approach, (3.) the Bes/Hans character is a constant source of amusement, and (4.) the idea for the story was set up in the previous Quatermain novel and feels like a natural extension of the series, as opposed to something that Haggard cobbled together to fulfill a contract. As usual, Haggard's prose is excellent, and the story moves along at what even by today's standards is a breakneck pace. I'm sure sensitive readers in today's PC climate will criticize Haggard for certain racist comments and sexist portrayals, but it can't be ignored that the cleverest and most interesting character in the book is Ethiopian. I also like the scene where the beautiful Egyptian girl is ridiculed by the Ethiopians for her "ugliness," showing that standards of beauty fluctuate from culture to culture.
THE ANCIENT ALLAN would've been an easy story to get wrong, but H. Rider Haggard does a masterful job of providing Quatermain fans with a satisfying combination of the familiar and the new. All the familiar elements are there, just transported into an Egyptian setting. In a lesser writer's hands, this book might've been the very definition of an unnecessary sequel, but Haggard proves that he is able to turn a very iffy premise into storytelling gold.
With a couple exceptions (XENA, for one), such episodes were boring and generally came across as obvious "filler."
Which is why I was so trepidatious about THE ANCIENT ALLAN, since, from the book description, you'd think Haggard was really scraping the bottom of the idea barrel here. The concept of Allan Quatermain smoking a hallucinogen and experiencing his former life as an Egyptian royal made me initially think that the series should've ended with THE IVORY CHILD (possibly the best pure adventure novel I've ever read, by the way).
Surprisingly, though, despite having all the hallmarks of a series about to jump the shark, THE ANCIENT ALLAN never feels like a throwaway effort. It may not rank among the very best of the series, but it certainly manages to capture that unique brand of fun and magic that makes Quatermain's adventures so special. The time-bending plot line works because (1.) the book was written back in the 1920's before the whole past lives thing had been done to death, (2.) setting the story in Egypt serves as an interesting and novel approach, (3.) the Bes/Hans character is a constant source of amusement, and (4.) the idea for the story was set up in the previous Quatermain novel and feels like a natural extension of the series, as opposed to something that Haggard cobbled together to fulfill a contract. As usual, Haggard's prose is excellent, and the story moves along at what even by today's standards is a breakneck pace. I'm sure sensitive readers in today's PC climate will criticize Haggard for certain racist comments and sexist portrayals, but it can't be ignored that the cleverest and most interesting character in the book is Ethiopian. I also like the scene where the beautiful Egyptian girl is ridiculed by the Ethiopians for her "ugliness," showing that standards of beauty fluctuate from culture to culture.
THE ANCIENT ALLAN would've been an easy story to get wrong, but H. Rider Haggard does a masterful job of providing Quatermain fans with a satisfying combination of the familiar and the new. All the familiar elements are there, just transported into an Egyptian setting. In a lesser writer's hands, this book might've been the very definition of an unnecessary sequel, but Haggard proves that he is able to turn a very iffy premise into storytelling gold.
March 2, 2014
This is the conclusion of a set of three Allan Quatermain stories: Allan and the Holy Fower, The Ivory Child, and finally The Ancient Allan. In it Allan recounts a previous life while under the influence of a drug. There are many little nuances that readers will like. I loved the fact that Allan's Hottentot companion made an appearance in a previous incarnation.
Reincarnation was a particular interest at the time that Haggard was writing and he played to his audience. I find his books a good mirror to look at life and the mindset of the people of the time. I don't think that readers will be disappointed.
Reincarnation was a particular interest at the time that Haggard was writing and he played to his audience. I find his books a good mirror to look at life and the mindset of the people of the time. I don't think that readers will be disappointed.
April 10, 2012
Be sure to read The Ivory Child before this story. I enjoyed this story thoroughly and found it one of the Author's best. Good plot. Good characters with very good development. A clever story with in a story it ended well but all too soon.
February 27, 2019
Задумался Хаггард о вечном. Сколько бы не возрождал он к жизни почившего тридцать три года назад Аллана, согласно написания второй книги цикла. Но всё не может успокоиться, позволяя Квотермейну участвовать в событиях, в которых его участие практически не требовалось. Например, для какой цели понадобилось дурманить галлюциногенной травой Аллана, описывая пришедшие к нему видения? Увидеть Квотермейну пришлось собственные прошлые жизни, причём почти все они заканчивались трагически, не дав ему тем самым ни славы, ни почёта. Но однажды, единственный раз, довелось ему оказаться претендентом на владение эфиопским Египтом, причём начать осознавать действительность, находясь у царя царей. Далее последовало обыденное – охота на львов.
(c) Trounin
(c) Trounin
August 26, 2017
We start off in the 1890's with Allan Quartermain visiting a lady friend and then essentially Quartermain tells us an adventure tale of one of his ancestors. There's some weird stuff involved which i won't spoil but thats the gist. This whole setup is by far the most entertaining part. Witty, interesting, and just very fun.
So the main text itself is set in ancient Persia and Egypt. I'm guessing its around the same time as the movie/comic 300, as the Persians are busy fighting the Greeks.
Anyway so as i've said this is an Allan Quartermain story, Quartermain being most well known from King Solomon's Mines.
This also acts as a prequel and sequel to another Quartermain novel, The Ivory Child, so you'd probably want to read that first or a synopsis of it.
The main text of this is pretty standard adventure fare, but the author is well aware of that and tries to fast forward through the boring bits.
He also uses some fortune teller characters who lay out many of the details before they happen. Sort of acknowledging its predictability. So this is not a book which is relying on its plot, not in the broad details anyway.
This is a story which lives in the small moments. It has really distinct characters and a fair amount of humour. There's some real charm here.
It's still a product of its time and as with all Haggard is both sexist and racist, however it also has some very strong female and non-white characters.
Allan Quartermain as a character is often said to be a proto-Indiana Jones, however, he mostly takes on one of two roles in these stories.
Either as a Watson style narrator to some more badass characters' Holmes, or as a Green Hornet-like character. The not-entirely-useless-but-close white man dragged through the adventure by his much more competent ethnic side-kick.
In The Ivory Child he was very much the latter, in this he's a little more active but his side-kick and the other characters are still calling most of the shots.
There's some magic and crazy stuff here and some decent action especially towards the end, in fact the end battle seemed suspiciously like that of the 'Pelennor fields' from The Lord of the Rings :P .
But mostly it was just the charm that kept me going, also its short :) . By far the most likable version of Quartermain i've yet read, even if most of it was technically his ancestor... rather than the modern character but still. I mean its the same character, just from a different time if you see what i mean... how to explain this... ok... its like one of those Tom and Jerry cartoons where they're Musketeers or ancient Romans or something :D .
So the main text itself is set in ancient Persia and Egypt. I'm guessing its around the same time as the movie/comic 300, as the Persians are busy fighting the Greeks.
Anyway so as i've said this is an Allan Quartermain story, Quartermain being most well known from King Solomon's Mines.
This also acts as a prequel and sequel to another Quartermain novel, The Ivory Child, so you'd probably want to read that first or a synopsis of it.
The main text of this is pretty standard adventure fare, but the author is well aware of that and tries to fast forward through the boring bits.
He also uses some fortune teller characters who lay out many of the details before they happen. Sort of acknowledging its predictability. So this is not a book which is relying on its plot, not in the broad details anyway.
This is a story which lives in the small moments. It has really distinct characters and a fair amount of humour. There's some real charm here.
It's still a product of its time and as with all Haggard is both sexist and racist, however it also has some very strong female and non-white characters.
Allan Quartermain as a character is often said to be a proto-Indiana Jones, however, he mostly takes on one of two roles in these stories.
Either as a Watson style narrator to some more badass characters' Holmes, or as a Green Hornet-like character. The not-entirely-useless-but-close white man dragged through the adventure by his much more competent ethnic side-kick.
In The Ivory Child he was very much the latter, in this he's a little more active but his side-kick and the other characters are still calling most of the shots.
There's some magic and crazy stuff here and some decent action especially towards the end, in fact the end battle seemed suspiciously like that of the 'Pelennor fields' from The Lord of the Rings :P .
But mostly it was just the charm that kept me going, also its short :) . By far the most likable version of Quartermain i've yet read, even if most of it was technically his ancestor... rather than the modern character but still. I mean its the same character, just from a different time if you see what i mean... how to explain this... ok... its like one of those Tom and Jerry cartoons where they're Musketeers or ancient Romans or something :D .
November 19, 2018
Clever as it was for Haggard to resurrect some of his favorite characters as well as rejuvenate Allan, his effort ultimately just quite doesn't achieve its desired results. The Ancient Allan seems to lack much of the energy of the earlier novels. To be expected, of course, as Haggard was working on his tenth iteration of Quatermain and doing so as an elderly writer whose spirit clearly did not match that employed in the earlier adventures of Quatermain. Nonetheless, it's a passable read. And it's satisfying to to see Lord and Lady Ragnall once again, albeit in different guises. And very much enjoyable to encounter Hans as the Ethiopian monarch, Bes. Of course, there is also Allan, once more in the prime of his life.
Haggard has written an appealing series. He's done so even as he telegraphs every event ahead of time, at the beginning of every book and every chapter. There are no surprises in his novels. There are moments of fulfillment, instead, as there should be in genre fiction. After all, for close on to three decades, readers of Haggard would have already known Allan's final fate, which was written of in 1887, in Allan Quatermain. It's all just a matter of getting back there. And that is what always leaves such a melancholy feeling after each novel.
Haggard has written an appealing series. He's done so even as he telegraphs every event ahead of time, at the beginning of every book and every chapter. There are no surprises in his novels. There are moments of fulfillment, instead, as there should be in genre fiction. After all, for close on to three decades, readers of Haggard would have already known Allan's final fate, which was written of in 1887, in Allan Quatermain. It's all just a matter of getting back there. And that is what always leaves such a melancholy feeling after each novel.
July 31, 2016
#10 in the Allan Quatermain, African adventurer, series. This is the 3rd in a series following Allan's adventures recounted in The Ivory Child. A few years later, Allan encounters Lady Ragnall, now a widow, and who are still attracted to each other seemingly without reason. Using the smoke of an ancient Egyptian herb used in the previous novel, Quatermain and Lady Ragnall find themselves transported to ancient Egypt becomes an earlier incarnation of himself Shabaka, of royal blood, a warrior renown for his skill and accuracy with the bow and lover of the Lady Amada, the Priestess of Isis.
This is a sort of magical mystery adventure leaving open the end of his Egyptian life.
This is a sort of magical mystery adventure leaving open the end of his Egyptian life.
July 13, 2014
Another tale of one of our earliest heroes. The language used, the style of writing, the tale itself all bring about to tell you of a time gone by. The author was often criticised for his friendship and admiration of the black races. Reading this book these days it shows how far we have come but also how far we need to travel. If written today this book would be accused of racism amongst other things, at the time this was leading edge thinking and shocking to the public.
April 30, 2008
Not as much fun as other Quartermain stories, but the bond between Alan and the lady adds an unexpected bit of intensity.
September 28, 2023
It is one of the great charms of Henry Rider Haggard that no matter how poor a novel he produced, he was able to draw the attention and excitement of the reader, and get an involvement in the story that many a superior craftsman might have envied. In this novel, surely the feeblest of the Quatermain novels - he was running out of ideas - Allan engages in reincarnation and time travel, where to his great delight, things are pretty much the same as far as adrenaline and battles, gold and jewels can make them, with the killing of not just one lion but two, and the second one wounded, a crocodile fight in which the crocodile is bested, great wars fought with all the odds against Allan and his allies.
This book follows on the stories begun in 'Allan and the Holy Flower' and 'The Ivory Child.' While it is not precisely a sequel, one enjoys it more with some idea of the background. Still, the author does give you a detailed synopsis of earlier events.
All the same, the Allan Quatermain novels set in the present time are undoubtedly better as literature. (It is hard enough to swallow Allan's eventful life in the present day without going back thousands of years for more of the same. Besides, it seems a kind of cheating in reincarnation novels that the reincarnee is almost always born as a queen (oddly enough, rarely the Pharaoh himself) or the principal priest/seer/minister in Egypt, and as a king or warrior in India, rarely as a priest. Of course, real power vested with the person named, queens or priests in Egypt, and the glamorous Rajah or Maharajah and the beautiful Ranee with the double e if the setting is Indian. Rarely does the action hero find excitement as a commoner.)
So, subject to the usual Victorian prejudices of class, gender and race, just enjoy the book, for if this is Rider Haggard at his weakest, just imagine what he is like at his best!
This book follows on the stories begun in 'Allan and the Holy Flower' and 'The Ivory Child.' While it is not precisely a sequel, one enjoys it more with some idea of the background. Still, the author does give you a detailed synopsis of earlier events.
All the same, the Allan Quatermain novels set in the present time are undoubtedly better as literature. (It is hard enough to swallow Allan's eventful life in the present day without going back thousands of years for more of the same. Besides, it seems a kind of cheating in reincarnation novels that the reincarnee is almost always born as a queen (oddly enough, rarely the Pharaoh himself) or the principal priest/seer/minister in Egypt, and as a king or warrior in India, rarely as a priest. Of course, real power vested with the person named, queens or priests in Egypt, and the glamorous Rajah or Maharajah and the beautiful Ranee with the double e if the setting is Indian. Rarely does the action hero find excitement as a commoner.)
So, subject to the usual Victorian prejudices of class, gender and race, just enjoy the book, for if this is Rider Haggard at his weakest, just imagine what he is like at his best!
October 16, 2025
📖বইঃ দি অ্যানশিয়েন্ট অ্যালান
🪪লেখকঃ হেনরি রাইডার হ্যাগার্ড
✒️অনুবাদঃ ফুয়াদ আল ফিদাহ
🪧প্রকাশনীঃ বিবলিওফাইল
হ্যাগার্ড এর প্রত্যেকটা বই এক একেকটা মাস্টারপিস।
সেবা প্রকাশনী থেকে এই পর্যন্ত ৪৭ টা হ্যাগার্ড এর বইয়ের অনুবাদ বের হলেও অ্যানশিয়েন্ট অ্যালান বইটির অনুবাদ ইতিপূর্বে কোথাও প্রকাশিত হয়নি।
তাদুকি(Taduki) নামক এক অদ্ভুত ভেষজের সাথে যে গল্পগুলো রিলেটেড সেগুলোর মধ্যে এটি একটি। বইটিতে রেফারেন্স হিসেবে “দ্য আইভরি চাইল্ড” গল্পের অনেক প্রসঙ্গও চলে আসে।
এছাড়াও এই সিরিজের রিলেটেড বইগুলো হল পর্যায়ক্রমে-
১.অ্যালান এন্ড দ্য হোলি ফ্লাওয়ার
২.দ্য আইভরি চাইল্ড
৩.দি অ্যানশিয়েন্ট অ্যালান
৪.অ্যালান এন্ড দ্য আইস গডস (সেবার “নেশা” বইটি)
তবে সিরিয়ালি পড়লে ভালো এবং আগের বইগুলো পড়া থাকলে
রিলেট করতে সুবিধা হবে। "Loosely linked series" যেরকমটা হয় আরকি।
বরাবরের মতোই এই বইটিও দুর্দান্ত ছিলো। গল্পের শুরুতে বৃদ্ধ অ্যালান কোয়াটারমেইন তার পুরনো বন্ধু লেডি র্যাগনাল এর কাছ থেকে একটি রহস্যময় চিঠি পান। লেডি র্যাগনাল তার স্বামীর মৃত্যুর পর মিশরে একটি প্রত্নতাত্ত্বিক অভিযানে গিয়েছিলেন, এবং সেই সময়কার কিছু অভিজ্ঞতা তার অতীতের স্মৃতিকে আলোড়িত করে।
অ্যালান এবং লেডি র্যাগনাল দুজনেই এক ধরনের রহস্যময় প্রাচীন ভেষজ, 'তাদুকি' সেবন করেন। এর ফলে তারা এক প্রাচীন সময়ের ফ্ল্যাশব্যাকে চলে যান।
প্রাচীন মিশর,“দেবী আইসিস,ওসাইরিস,হোরাস” এসব দেবতাকে কেন্দ্র করে কাহিনী আবর্তিত হয়।
পারস্যের বাহিনীর সাথে ইথিয়োপিয়ান বাহিনীর রোমাঞ্চকর যুদ্ধ; সব মিলিয়ে “অ্যালান” তার ইথিয়োপিয়ান ভৃত্য “বেস” এবং “আমাডাকে” কেন্দ্র করে রচিত এই উপন্যাস প্রেম-যুদ্ধের এক রহস্যময় ও রোমাঞ্চকর উপাখ্যানও বটে।
পুনশ্চঃ অনুবাদের ক্ষেত্রে কিছু কিছু জায়গায় বাক্য গঠনে ভুল শব্দের প্রয়োগ লক্ষ্য করা গেছে। নাহলে বইটা আরও বেশী সুখাপাঠ্য হতো।
বইয়ের ইলাস্ট্রেশন গুলো এবং প্রোডাকশন কোয়ালিটি বেশ ভালো লেগেছে।
⭕পার্সোনাল রেটিংঃ ⭐⭐⭐⭐(৪/৫)
🪪লেখকঃ হেনরি রাইডার হ্যাগার্ড
✒️অনুবাদঃ ফুয়াদ আল ফিদাহ
🪧প্রকাশনীঃ বিবলিওফাইল
হ্যাগার্ড এর প্রত্যেকটা বই এক একেকটা মাস্টারপিস।
সেবা প্রকাশনী থেকে এই পর্যন্ত ৪৭ টা হ্যাগার্ড এর বইয়ের অনুবাদ বের হলেও অ্যানশিয়েন্ট অ্যালান বইটির অনুবাদ ইতিপূর্বে কোথাও প্রকাশিত হয়নি।
তাদুকি(Taduki) নামক এক অদ্ভুত ভেষজের সাথে যে গল্পগুলো রিলেটেড সেগুলোর মধ্যে এটি একটি। বইটিতে রেফারেন্স হিসেবে “দ্য আইভরি চাইল্ড” গল্পের অনেক প্রসঙ্গও চলে আসে।
এছাড়াও এই সিরিজের রিলেটেড বইগুলো হল পর্যায়ক্রমে-
১.অ্যালান এন্ড দ্য হোলি ফ্লাওয়ার
২.দ্য আইভরি চাইল্ড
৩.দি অ্যানশিয়েন্ট অ্যালান
৪.অ্যালান এন্ড দ্য আইস গডস (সেবার “নেশা” বইটি)
তবে সিরিয়ালি পড়লে ভালো এবং আগের বইগুলো পড়া থাকলে
রিলেট করতে সুবিধা হবে। "Loosely linked series" যেরকমটা হয় আরকি।
বরাবরের মতোই এই বইটিও দুর্দান্ত ছিলো। গল্পের শুরুতে বৃদ্ধ অ্যালান কোয়াটারমেইন তার পুরনো বন্ধু লেডি র্যাগনাল এর কাছ থেকে একটি রহস্যময় চিঠি পান। লেডি র্যাগনাল তার স্বামীর মৃত্যুর পর মিশরে একটি প্রত্নতাত্ত্বিক অভিযানে গিয়েছিলেন, এবং সেই সময়কার কিছু অভিজ্ঞতা তার অতীতের স্মৃতিকে আলোড়িত করে।
অ্যালান এবং লেডি র্যাগনাল দুজনেই এক ধরনের রহস্যময় প্রাচীন ভেষজ, 'তাদুকি' সেবন করেন। এর ফলে তারা এক প্রাচীন সময়ের ফ্ল্যাশব্যাকে চলে যান।
প্রাচীন মিশর,“দেবী আইসিস,ওসাইরিস,হোরাস” এসব দেবতাকে কেন্দ্র করে কাহিনী আবর্তিত হয়।
পারস্যের বাহিনীর সাথে ইথিয়োপিয়ান বাহিনীর রোমাঞ্চকর যুদ্ধ; সব মিলিয়ে “অ্যালান” তার ইথিয়োপিয়ান ভৃত্য “বেস” এবং “আমাডাকে” কেন্দ্র করে রচিত এই উপন্যাস প্রেম-যুদ্ধের এক রহস্যময় ও রোমাঞ্চকর উপাখ্যানও বটে।
পুনশ্চঃ অনুবাদের ক্ষেত্রে কিছু কিছু জায়গায় বাক্য গঠনে ভুল শব্দের প্রয়োগ লক্ষ্য করা গেছে। নাহলে বইটা আরও বেশী সুখাপাঠ্য হতো।
বইয়ের ইলাস্ট্রেশন গুলো এবং প্রোডাকশন কোয়ালিটি বেশ ভালো লেগেছে।
⭕পার্সোনাল রেটিংঃ ⭐⭐⭐⭐(৪/৫)
January 1, 2023
হেনরি রাইডার হ্যাগার্ড এর বই যতবারই পড়তে বসি প্রতিটা বারেই লেখকের গল্পে প্রবেশের পদ্ধতিটা আমাকে মুগ্ধ করে। এইযেমন এখন পড়া হলো আমার প্রিয় অ্যাডভেঞ্চার চরিত্র অ্যালেন কোয়াটারমেইনকে নিয়ে লেখা হেনরি রাইডারের আরো একটা বই 'দি অ্যানশিয়েন্ট অ্যালেন'। যেখানে লেখক অ্যালেন কোয়াটারমেইন এবং আইভেরি চাইল্ড এর সেই চরিত্র লেডি র্যাগনাল এবার আফ্রিকা ছেড়ে স্বপ্নের মাধ্যমে প্রবেশ করেন প্রাচীন মিশরের সময়কার শিকারী শাবাকা এবং দেবি আইসিসের পূজারি সুন্দরী আমাডার সময়কার সেই যুগে।
যেখানে গল্পটার প্রায় পুরোটা জুড়েই ছিলো শাবাকা এবং তার ভূত্য বেসকে ঘিরেই। বইটা যখন পড়ছিলাম শব্দের মাঝে থাকা আবেগ, ভালোবাসার গভীরতায় এতোটাই ডুবে গিয়েছিলাম যে মনে হচ্ছিলো প্রাচীন মিশরের সেই সময়ে শাবাকা, বেসের পাশে আমিও দাড়িয়ে দাড়িয়ে সেই সব রোমাঞ্চকর, আবেগঘন মূহুর্তগুলো নিজ চোখে অবলোকন করছি।
যেখানে উঠে এসেছে শাবাকার বীরত্বের কাহিনি, দাস বেসের অনুগত্যের নিদর্শন, মহান তানোফি, কারিমার দৈবপ্রভাব, উঠে এসেছে আমাডা শাবাকার ভালোবাসার গল্প। আরো আছে শিকার, যুদ্ধের গল্প, যা গল্পের গভীর থেকে গভীরে নিয়ে গেছে, ঘোর লাগিয়েছে মনে। শাবাকা আর বেসের সাথে এ এক দারুণ ভ্রমণ ছিলো।
বইটির অনুবাদ অসাধারণ হয়েছে, গল্প বর্ণনায় অনুবাদকের শব্দ প্রয়োগ অসাধারণ হয়েছে, যার ফলে লেখক গল্পে যে আবেগ অনূভুতির বহিঃপ্রকাশ ঘটিয়েছেন, তা বাংলা শব্দেও অনুবাদকের কারণে প্রাণ পেয়েছে, আর বিবলিওফাইলের প্রোডাকশন কোয়ালিটি বরাবরই চমৎকার লেগেছে।
যেখানে গল্পটার প্রায় পুরোটা জুড়েই ছিলো শাবাকা এবং তার ভূত্য বেসকে ঘিরেই। বইটা যখন পড়ছিলাম শব্দের মাঝে থাকা আবেগ, ভালোবাসার গভীরতায় এতোটাই ডুবে গিয়েছিলাম যে মনে হচ্ছিলো প্রাচীন মিশরের সেই সময়ে শাবাকা, বেসের পাশে আমিও দাড়িয়ে দাড়িয়ে সেই সব রোমাঞ্চকর, আবেগঘন মূহুর্তগুলো নিজ চোখে অবলোকন করছি।
যেখানে উঠে এসেছে শাবাকার বীরত্বের কাহিনি, দাস বেসের অনুগত্যের নিদর্শন, মহান তানোফি, কারিমার দৈবপ্রভাব, উঠে এসেছে আমাডা শাবাকার ভালোবাসার গল্প। আরো আছে শিকার, যুদ্ধের গল্প, যা গল্পের গভীর থেকে গভীরে নিয়ে গেছে, ঘোর লাগিয়েছে মনে। শাবাকা আর বেসের সাথে এ এক দারুণ ভ্রমণ ছিলো।
বইটির অনুবাদ অসাধারণ হয়েছে, গল্প বর্ণনায় অনুবাদকের শব্দ প্রয়োগ অসাধারণ হয়েছে, যার ফলে লেখক গল্পে যে আবেগ অনূভুতির বহিঃপ্রকাশ ঘটিয়েছেন, তা বাংলা শব্দেও অনুবাদকের কারণে প্রাণ পেয়েছে, আর বিবলিওফাইলের প্রোডাকশন কোয়ালিটি বরাবরই চমৎকার লেগেছে।
January 13, 2019
This is the only book in the Allan Quatermain series that does not deal with Allan's adventures directly, but a past life version of him. 'The Ancient Allan' mainly tells of Lord Shabaka, a past life incarnation of Allan,though he does recount flashes of earlier lives as well. However, this is the one where he meets with past life incarnations of Hans and Lady Ragnall. Towards the beginning, Allan and Lady Ragnall inhale Taduki vapours which induces them to dream about their past lives. The ending of the book is pretty effective, since it does not answer all the questions about what happened to their past selves, but leaves it a mystery.
I am interested about past lives (as my close friends know) and I had really been waiting to come to this one, since I had been reading the series in chronological order. Overall an enjoyable book and a unique one in the entire series.
I am interested about past lives (as my close friends know) and I had really been waiting to come to this one, since I had been reading the series in chronological order. Overall an enjoyable book and a unique one in the entire series.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 11, 2019
From King Solomons Mines up until The Ancient Allan this series had been good Victorian adventure fare. Sadly, as I read to my children this tale, the promise a good tale fell apart.
A shame, as the previous tales', grounded in a more familiar Africa of the time, had been excellent "adventure" reads. The build-up seemed promising... especially the infamous hallucinatory Taduki herbs... But as the tale stepped into ancient Egypt the magic faded. Mr Quatermain "was not himself" and despite a few highlights it did not pass muster.
My kids declared it to be "Really boring". The strange Victorian writing style and a half baked Eygpt laid the narrative low.
I struggled onwards ('stiff upper lip) but I fear that they are unlikely to try reading Solomons'. Which is a shame as up until this book I had throughly enjoyed these tales. Fingers crossed for "She and Allan".
A shame, as the previous tales', grounded in a more familiar Africa of the time, had been excellent "adventure" reads. The build-up seemed promising... especially the infamous hallucinatory Taduki herbs... But as the tale stepped into ancient Egypt the magic faded. Mr Quatermain "was not himself" and despite a few highlights it did not pass muster.
My kids declared it to be "Really boring". The strange Victorian writing style and a half baked Eygpt laid the narrative low.
I struggled onwards ('stiff upper lip) but I fear that they are unlikely to try reading Solomons'. Which is a shame as up until this book I had throughly enjoyed these tales. Fingers crossed for "She and Allan".
September 14, 2020
Haggard once again returns to one of his most popular characters, Allan Quartermain, in this unusual tale of reincarnation and past lives. He and Lady Ragnall enter a hypnotic trance and discover that in a past life they were Egyptian nobles in a time of strife. Enemies from the Middle East have conquered Egypt, and they must lead the battle to regain the lands of the Nile. Partly mystical and partly battle, this is yet another of Haggard's exciting and enjoyable romances. Great fun.
December 6, 2022
স্যার হেগার্ড মানেই আর একটা রোমাঞ্চকর কাহিনী । এটাতেও তার কোন ব্যতিক্রম হয় নি । বেস যে ছিলো প্রভু ভক্ত এক আসাধারণ ভৃত্য । পরদাদা সে তো আজব এক চরিত্র যাকে এখনো বুঝে উঠতে পারিনি । আমাডা দ্বীতিয়বার শপথ না নিলেও পারতো । আর সবশেষে শাবাকা(অ্যালান কোয়াটারমেন) যার বুদ্ধিমত্তা,সাহস আর অভিজ্ঞতার কোন তুলোনা হয় না ।
January 28, 2023
শেষ করলাম আমার প্রিয় রাইটার হেনরি হ্যাগার্ডের
দি অ্যানশিয়েন্ট অ্যালান।
হ্যাগার্ডেে লেখায় বরাবরই আফ্রিকা মিশরী উঠে আসে,
এইটা নিয়ে নতুন করে কিছু বলার নাই যারা তার লেখা পড়েন সবাই জানেন,
এইটা তাদুকি সিরিজের তৃতীয় বই ছিলো,
অনুবাদ খুবই ভালো ছিলো
বানান কিছু কিছু যায়গাতে ভুল ছিলো
আশা করি পরের বার ঠিক হয়ে যাবে,
সব শেষ বলবো একটা তাদুকি থাকলে মন্দ হতো না,
দি অ্যানশিয়েন্ট অ্যালান।
হ্যাগার্ডেে লেখায় বরাবরই আফ্রিকা মিশরী উঠে আসে,
এইটা নিয়ে নতুন করে কিছু বলার নাই যারা তার লেখা পড়েন সবাই জানেন,
এইটা তাদুকি সিরিজের তৃতীয় বই ছিলো,
অনুবাদ খুবই ভালো ছিলো
বানান কিছু কিছু যায়গাতে ভুল ছিলো
আশা করি পরের বার ঠিক হয়ে যাবে,
সব শেষ বলবো একটা তাদুকি থাকলে মন্দ হতো না,
January 28, 2023
I would say it is the weakest book about Allan, not the worse. But from reading the previous books I expected jungle, adventures... the usual. But this story is not so usual, I am not saying this one is bad it is just not good as the others. Still enjoyable in many ways.
December 7, 2024
অনেকদিন পর একটা বই শেষ করতে পারলাম। এলান কোয়ার্টারমেনকে নিয়ে মিশর আর ইথিওপিয়ার অভিযান ভালো ভাবেই সমাপ্ত করা গিয়েছে। শাবাকা, আমাডা, বেস, কারিমার চরিত্রগুলো যথেষ্ট আকর্ষণীয় ছিল।
দি অ্যানশিয়েন্ট অ্যালান শেষ করার পর শি, রিটার্ন অভ শি আবার পড়ার ইচ্ছা জাগছে। সময় করে পড়ে নিতে হবে।
দি অ্যানশিয়েন্ট অ্যালান শেষ করার পর শি, রিটার্ন অভ শি আবার পড়ার ইচ্ছা জাগছে। সময় করে পড়ে নিতে হবে।
December 22, 2025
A departure from the usual Quatermain-focused novels: a bit of a historical fiction novel buried in another historical fiction novel. Quatermain ends up in a drug-induced dream state in which he re-lives a past life as an Egyptian warrior. Still fun, though.
July 25, 2018
STORY WITHIN A STORY
May 30, 2020
This is a trip. Allan takes Taduki, hurling him back into a past life in Egypt. It is a weird story but a lot of fun.
December 29, 2021
The 10th book in the Allan Quatermain series. Entertaining.
January 20, 2023
I have not read a Quatermain book I haven't loved.
October 31, 2022
A beautiful, though predictable story of visions of two high people on Taduki, about them being Egyptians and fighting Eastern King's army.
March 31, 2020
Absurd visions of Egypt, Allan and black dwarf Bes. She insists Allan drug himself. His bizarre states make a cohesive tale.
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews