Allan's Wife and Others

by H. Rider Haggard

During his years in Africa, it's said Haggard came to know and appreciate Zulu culture -- intimately, as it were. It's said he had an affair with an African woman, and not just any sort of an affair, but the sort of affair that makes men mutter in retrospect about profound relationships. That's the tale they tell on Haggard: that affair changed his portrayal of women. Even the psychologists got in on the act -- really, psychologists! Just ask Carl Jung, who used Haggard's She to exemplify anima. Or not. Read these stories, we say, and see for yourself.

Genres: Adventure, Historical Fiction, Classics, Fiction, Fantasy, Africa

168 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1889

About the author

Sir 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.

Reviews

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very silly, very fun, rousing adventure story featuring everybody's favorite ivory hunter. ALLAN'S WIFE (the world's most boring title?) delves deeply into Quatermain's childhood, and depicts his short-lived marriage to a beautiful Englishwoman raised in the heart of uncharted Africa.
Too bad the insanely jealous baboon woman had to cut in on their romance.
This book also includes several Allan Quatermain short stories, all of which feature him or his companions getting savagely attacked by lions, causing him to set out in search of revenge. Because Quatermain takes wild animal attacks personally.

[Angel · Rating 2 out of 5]

Aunque emotivo, no es el mejor de la serie. Un poco sobre el origen de nuestro héroe.