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Elissa: Or the Doom of Zimbabwe
In the UK,Elissa or the Doom of Zimbabwe was published together with Black Heart and White Heart: A Zulu Idyll as Black Heart and White Heart, and Other Stories.
152 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1900
About the author
H. Rider Haggard
1,840 books1,106 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.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
April 10, 2020
গল্পটা তিন হাজার বছর আগের। ইজরায়েলের রাজপুত্র এযিয়েল ভালোবেসে ফেলে যিম্বো শহরের এক মূর্তিপূজারিণী এলিসাকে। তাদের প্রেমে বাঁধা হয়ে আসে উপজাতি রাজপুত্র ইথোবাল, এলিসার বাবা স্যাকোন, এযিয়েলের সফরসঙ্গী নবী ইসাচার ও ধূর্ত ব্যবসায়ী মেটেম। ধর্ম ও ভালোবাসার দ্বন্দ্বে শেষ পর্যন্ত কে জয়ী হয়েছিল তা জানতে হলে হেনরি রাইডার হ্যাগার্ডের লেখা 'এলিসা' পড়ে ফেলতে পারেন। সেবা প্রকাশনী থেকে বের হওয়া বইটির অনুবাদ করেছেন কাজী মায়মুর হোসেন।
August 10, 2023
Another Haggard historical, although this is only novella-length.
The setting this time is Great Zimbabwe (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Z...), a ruined city in southern Africa which had been "discovered" and forgotten at least a few times by European explorers, most recently (at the time of Haggard's writing) rediscovered in 1867.
While current scholarship indicates that it originated in the 9th Century and was subsequently abandoned in the 15th Century, probably by ancestors of the Shona and other groups located in & around Zimbabwe, Haggard takes the view (popular at the time) that it was considerably older, possibly of Phoenician origin, possibly correlating to the "Ophir" mentioned in the Bible. (Because, of course, it couldn't possibly have been built by the current local population because, well, reasons.)
So Haggard's scholarship is crap, but the story itself is fine, albeit abbreviated. Aziel, a prince of Israel (and with ties to Egyptian royalty for good measure), visiting the city (which Haggard calls "Zimboe" is smitten by Elissa, daughter of Sakon, Zimboe's governor, which is unfortunate for a number of reasons, first because he's a Jew and she's one of the priestesses of Baaltis (much to the chagrin of Aziel's traveling companion, the Levite prophet Issachar, who has Thoughts about Aziel hooking up with a heathen), and because also smitten with Elissa is one Ithobal, a king of the surrounding lands, and not even remotely a nice man.
And, well, given the title of the story, you can probably imagine how happily everyone lives ever after.
The setting this time is Great Zimbabwe (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Z...), a ruined city in southern Africa which had been "discovered" and forgotten at least a few times by European explorers, most recently (at the time of Haggard's writing) rediscovered in 1867.
While current scholarship indicates that it originated in the 9th Century and was subsequently abandoned in the 15th Century, probably by ancestors of the Shona and other groups located in & around Zimbabwe, Haggard takes the view (popular at the time) that it was considerably older, possibly of Phoenician origin, possibly correlating to the "Ophir" mentioned in the Bible. (Because, of course, it couldn't possibly have been built by the current local population because, well, reasons.)
So Haggard's scholarship is crap, but the story itself is fine, albeit abbreviated. Aziel, a prince of Israel (and with ties to Egyptian royalty for good measure), visiting the city (which Haggard calls "Zimboe" is smitten by Elissa, daughter of Sakon, Zimboe's governor, which is unfortunate for a number of reasons, first because he's a Jew and she's one of the priestesses of Baaltis (much to the chagrin of Aziel's traveling companion, the Levite prophet Issachar, who has Thoughts about Aziel hooking up with a heathen), and because also smitten with Elissa is one Ithobal, a king of the surrounding lands, and not even remotely a nice man.
And, well, given the title of the story, you can probably imagine how happily everyone lives ever after.
October 13, 2018
Прошлое настолько непонятно, что трактовать его можно на угодный писателю лад. Например, какие исторические процессы происходили в Африке? Не десять веков назад, а за две-три тысячи лет до того? И не на севере континента, а на юге, либо в центральных областях. Хаггард знал о существовании таинственных развалин на территории современного для нас государства Зимбабве. Кто их возвёл? Пусть их строителями выступят финикийцы – гордый иудейский народ, покоривший море. Отчего-то в этом случае они предпочли бороздить земные просторы, прокладывая караванам дорогу вглубь Африки. Целых три года требовалось, чтобы добраться из Египта до тех мест. На пути сооружались форпосты, позволявшие находить успокоение от тягот дороги. Жили в те времена и беспокойные племена варваров, своей истовой жаждой к наживе вносившие разлад в размеренную жизнь. Однажды, один вождь влюбился в красавицу финикиянку Элиссу, пригрозив разрушить величественный город Зимбое. Что на этот раз приготовил Хаггард для читателя? Неужели разыграет противостояние, подобное стоянию ахейцев под Троей?
(c) Trounin
(c) Trounin
August 21, 2022
If you can deal with the way 19th century Englishmen took for granted white supremacy, male supremacy, and Judeo-Christian supremacy, then this is a perfectly fine little adventure tale set in ancient Zimbabwe.
When Haggard wrote the book, historians didn't yet know that the ruined city of Great Zimbabwe only dated back to the middle ages; thus Haggard set the story around 3000 years ago and fantasized that it had been built by ancient Phoenician traders instead of the mediaeval Africans who actually built it. He also imagines Israel as a great and powerful kingdom, when in fact it was little more than a glorified tribe of farmers. But, as I said, if you can look past these things it's a fine little yarn.
When Haggard wrote the book, historians didn't yet know that the ruined city of Great Zimbabwe only dated back to the middle ages; thus Haggard set the story around 3000 years ago and fantasized that it had been built by ancient Phoenician traders instead of the mediaeval Africans who actually built it. He also imagines Israel as a great and powerful kingdom, when in fact it was little more than a glorified tribe of farmers. But, as I said, if you can look past these things it's a fine little yarn.
August 27, 2020
This is the another masterpiece of Henry Rider Haggard. Really liked the storyline.
December 1, 2016
In this fast-moving novel, we meet Prince Aziel, grandson of Solomon himself, who goes to Zimbabwe (then called Zimboe) and chances to meet the soul mate of his life: Elissa, daughter of Sakon, the governor of the city.
The two instantly develop what I suppose must be called the mutual irresistibles for each other, but there are major problems: Aziel is a Jew, while Elissa, being a Phoenician (popular wisdom in the late 19th century had it that an intricately constructed city such as Zimbabwe could not have been built by native Africans, but most probably was a Phoenician trading post … a belief since invalidated), worships Baal and Baaltis.
To add to their ill-fated romance, Ithobal, the half-breed king of the native tribes, is threatening war if Elissa does not become his wife, and Issachar, a Levite prophet and Aziel’s spiritual guardian, is doing everything he can to prevent this blasphemous union.
As Haggard would have us believe, it is this doomed love affair that brings destruction to Zimboe and its people; how, I’ll let you, the reader, discover for yourself. Haggard does pack in his usual quota of epic battles, religious portents and some (literally) cliff-hanging situations to keep things interesting. Aziel’s other guardian, Metem, a Phoenician merchant almost comically enamored of making shekels, is perhaps the shrewdest and best-drawn character in the book, although Aziel and Elissa — another of Haggard’s “soul mates through all eternity” couples — give the book its heart.
This is a simply written book, perhaps inadequately fleshed out in the detail department, that one can knock off in a few days. Still, it is ultimately satisfying, and even though modern-day finds have indicated that Zimbabwe was erected much later than the 1000 B.C. era that Haggard posits, and that natives WERE most likely responsible for its erection, rendering Haggard’s tale another of his lost-world myths …well, it certainly is another of his highly entertaining and readable ones!
The two instantly develop what I suppose must be called the mutual irresistibles for each other, but there are major problems: Aziel is a Jew, while Elissa, being a Phoenician (popular wisdom in the late 19th century had it that an intricately constructed city such as Zimbabwe could not have been built by native Africans, but most probably was a Phoenician trading post … a belief since invalidated), worships Baal and Baaltis.
To add to their ill-fated romance, Ithobal, the half-breed king of the native tribes, is threatening war if Elissa does not become his wife, and Issachar, a Levite prophet and Aziel’s spiritual guardian, is doing everything he can to prevent this blasphemous union.
As Haggard would have us believe, it is this doomed love affair that brings destruction to Zimboe and its people; how, I’ll let you, the reader, discover for yourself. Haggard does pack in his usual quota of epic battles, religious portents and some (literally) cliff-hanging situations to keep things interesting. Aziel’s other guardian, Metem, a Phoenician merchant almost comically enamored of making shekels, is perhaps the shrewdest and best-drawn character in the book, although Aziel and Elissa — another of Haggard’s “soul mates through all eternity” couples — give the book its heart.
This is a simply written book, perhaps inadequately fleshed out in the detail department, that one can knock off in a few days. Still, it is ultimately satisfying, and even though modern-day finds have indicated that Zimbabwe was erected much later than the 1000 B.C. era that Haggard posits, and that natives WERE most likely responsible for its erection, rendering Haggard’s tale another of his lost-world myths …well, it certainly is another of his highly entertaining and readable ones!
June 7, 2021
আজ থেকে তিন হাজার বছর আগের কাহিনী। ধর্ম বড় না ভালোবাসা! এই কাহিনী দেবীর পূজার বিরোধী ইহুদী ধর্মাবলম্বী ইসরায়েলের রাজা সলোমনের নাতি রাজপুত্র এযিয়েল আর দেবী বালটিসের উপাসিকা এলিসার।
পারিবারিক কারণে এযিয়েলকে আসতে হয় যিম্বো শহরের দিকে (জিম্বাবুয়ে)।সঙ্গী হিসেবে থাকে বিরাট কাফেলা, নবী ইসাচার আর ব্যবসায়ী মেটেম। মেটেম এসেছেন শারীরিক নিরাপত্তা দিতে আর ইসাচার এসেছেন আত্নিক নিরাপত্তা দিতে যাতে কোনো বিধর্মী পূজারিণীর খপ্পরে না পড়তে হয় রাজপুত্রকে।
কিন্তু ঝামেলা বাধে শহরে ঢোকার রাতেই। গভীর জঙ্গলে উপাসনা করা অবস্থায় এলিসাকে দেখতে পান এযিয়েল, হৃদয়ে দোলা দিয়ে যায়। আর তখন এক লোক কর্তৃক অপহৃত হওয়া থেকে এযিয়েল রক্ষা করেন যিম্বো শাসক স্যাকোনের কন্যা এলিসাকে।তার রূপে বিমোহিত হয়ে ভালোবেসে ফেলেন স্যাকোন কন্যা এলিসাকে। কিন্তু পরমুহূর্তেই জানতে পারেন এই মহীয়সী সুন্দরীর রূপে পাগল হয়ে হিংস্র হয়ে গেছে প্রতিবেশী জংলি রাজা ইথোবাল।সেইই অপহরণের জন্য খালাতো ভাইকে পাঠিয়েছিল। এদিকে ইসাচারের মনে শঙ্কা হতে থাকে রাজপুত্র বুঝি ঝামেলায় জড়িয়ে যান, এই বুঝি তাদের জীবনে নেমে আসে ভয়াবহতা, ধর্মের বাইরে যাওয়ার জন্য।
কিন্তু এলিসার প্রেমে নিমগ্ন হয়ে যান এযিয়েল, সাথে এলিসাও। ওদিকে ইসাচার এই পূজারিণীর হাত থেকে রক্ষা করতে চান এযিয়েলকে। শেষ রক্ষা কি হয়েছিল!!?
পারিবারিক কারণে এযিয়েলকে আসতে হয় যিম্বো শহরের দিকে (জিম্বাবুয়ে)।সঙ্গী হিসেবে থাকে বিরাট কাফেলা, নবী ইসাচার আর ব্যবসায়ী মেটেম। মেটেম এসেছেন শারীরিক নিরাপত্তা দিতে আর ইসাচার এসেছেন আত্নিক নিরাপত্তা দিতে যাতে কোনো বিধর্মী পূজারিণীর খপ্পরে না পড়তে হয় রাজপুত্রকে।
কিন্তু ঝামেলা বাধে শহরে ঢোকার রাতেই। গভীর জঙ্গলে উপাসনা করা অবস্থায় এলিসাকে দেখতে পান এযিয়েল, হৃদয়ে দোলা দিয়ে যায়। আর তখন এক লোক কর্তৃক অপহৃত হওয়া থেকে এযিয়েল রক্ষা করেন যিম্বো শাসক স্যাকোনের কন্যা এলিসাকে।তার রূপে বিমোহিত হয়ে ভালোবেসে ফেলেন স্যাকোন কন্যা এলিসাকে। কিন্তু পরমুহূর্তেই জানতে পারেন এই মহীয়সী সুন্দরীর রূপে পাগল হয়ে হিংস্র হয়ে গেছে প্রতিবেশী জংলি রাজা ইথোবাল।সেইই অপহরণের জন্য খালাতো ভাইকে পাঠিয়েছিল। এদিকে ইসাচারের মনে শঙ্কা হতে থাকে রাজপুত্র বুঝি ঝামেলায় জড়িয়ে যান, এই বুঝি তাদের জীবনে নেমে আসে ভয়াবহতা, ধর্মের বাইরে যাওয়ার জন্য।
কিন্তু এলিসার প্রেমে নিমগ্ন হয়ে যান এযিয়েল, সাথে এলিসাও। ওদিকে ইসাচার এই পূজারিণীর হাত থেকে রক্ষা করতে চান এযিয়েলকে। শেষ রক্ষা কি হয়েছিল!!?
December 3, 2016
Another Haggard lost-world myth in which Prince Aziel, grandson of Solomon himself, goes to Zimbabwe (then called Zimboe) and chances to meet the soul mate of his life: Elissa, daughter of Sakon, the governor of the city. As Haggard would have us believe, it is this doomed love affair that brings destruction to Zimboe and its people. There are the usual epic battles, religious portents and cliff-hanging situations found in a Haggard African adventure story.
This is a novella.
This is a novella.
March 10, 2018
তিন হাজার বছর আগের এই কাহিনীর মূলে রয়েছে ধর্ম বনাম ভালোবাসা। ইজরায়েলের ইহুদি পুত্র এযিয়েল ভালোবেসে ফেলে মূর্তিপূজারিণী তরুণী এলিসাকে। কিন্তু দুই জনের ধর্ম বিশ্বাস সম্পূর্ণ আলাদা। ধর্মের বাঁধ ভেঙ্গে তাঁরা কি কাছে আসতে পেরেছিল? নিয়তি কোন পথে নিয়ে তাদের। এমনই এক কাহিনী নিয়ে এ গল্প।
July 22, 2012
Classic Rider Haggard with all the usual ingredients: lost city, adventuring hero, beautiful priestess, invading armies, love, betrayal, and self-sacrifice. Glorious fun.
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February 1, 20164 stars from Sandy: http://www.fantasyliterature.com/revi...
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