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.
I am not an author myself, and probably never will be (big sigh), so I can only imagine what a thrill it must be for a writer to see his or her hard work finally appear in print before the public. But can anyone imagine what it must feel like to have three novels released simultaneously?!?! Well, such was the lot for the great H. Rider Haggard, who, facing diminishing fortunes and increased familial responsibilities, was working at a frantic pace toward the end of the first decade of the 20th century. Haggard wrote (or, to be strictly accurate, dictated) no less than five novels from 1908 鈥� '09, and by November '09, three of them--"Queen Sheba鈥檚 Ring," the Egyptian fantasy "Morning Star," and the historical fiction "The Lady of Blossholme"--were being serialized in various British magazines of the day. The novel in question, "Queen Sheba's Ring," originally appeared in "Nash's Magazine" from April till November 1909, and in book form in September 1910--the author's 36th novel, out of an eventual 58--garnering its author a cool 750 pounds. As its title might suggest, the book has several similarities to Haggard's first megasuccess, 1885's "King Solomon's Mines" (one might recall that the Biblical Queen of Sheba did visit Solomon, as detailed in the Old Testament's Books of Kings), including a band of hardy Brits looking for treasure in Africa, a hazardous desert crossing, and a civil war amongst a "lost race"; Haggard, of course, is the Grandfather of the Lost Race Novel. The book, not surprisingly, is hardly on a par with that earlier success, is not as likable as the 13 other Allan Quatermain novels, and does not grip the imagination as much as his four Ayesha lost-race tales: "She" (1887) and its sequel and prequels. And, I might add, it is not as successful a lost-race tale as his 1894 masterpiece "The People of the Mist." Still, even middle-tier Haggard is more entertaining, I have found, than the best works of many others, and this one certainly DOES manage to please a lot more than the author's 1909 lost-race novel, "The Yellow God."
"Queen Sheba's Ring" is narrated by 65-year-old Dr. Richard Adams, a widower whose young son had been kidnapped in "the Dark Continent" many years before the events detailed in his book. After a decade of search, Adams had found his son a prisoner of a tribe called the Fung, who worship a lion-headed sphinx in the heart of North Central Africa. He had been unable to rescue his son, unfortunately, and had been taken in by the nearby Abati people, the hereditary enemies of the Fung, who reside in a fortresslike plateau city called Mur, ruled over by their queen, the Walda Nagasta (Child of Kings). This queen, whose real name is Maqueda, and who is a descendant of the original Queen of Sheba, promises Adams that she and her cowardly Abati will assist in rescuing Adams' son from the Fung, but only if he can destroy their sacred sphinx idol first. And so, Adams returns to England to enlist help, and returns with the book鈥檚 other heroes: Professor Ptolemy Higgs, a rotund, red-bearded expert on archaeology; ex-Army Captain Oliver Orme, an engineer and an expert in explosives; and Orme's old friend, Sgt. Samuel Quick, easily the toughest and shrewdest of the lot, despite his mature years. The quartet travels to Africa, facing off against a remarkable number of perils in their trek to Mur. And once there, the group's troubles are only just beginning, as a taboo love affair that develops between Orme and the Walda Nagasta quickly precipitates the plateau nation into a violent civil war....
Haggard throws a great deal into "Queen Sheba's Ring" to keep the reader entertained. Thus, there is a lion hunt; the mother of all sandstorms; a literally explosive fight against the Fung in their walled city; TWO dastardly villains--the scar-faced Abati guide Shadrach and the Prince Joshua, Maqueda's uncle, to whom she is engaged (don鈥檛 ask!); an underground treasure tomb; the rescue of Higgs from a lion's den; fights atop that humongous sphinx; the suspense-laden demolition of the sphinx; the aforementioned civil war dramatics; a grueling starvation during the resultant siege; fights with swords, spears and flaming arrows; a sweet romance; and many humorous incidents, most of them courtesy of the single-minded professor, whose dedication to his antiquities is practically absolute. Haggard's book is fast moving and colorful, and his characters are either likable or hissable, although it must be stated that Maqueda, impressive as she is, is certainly not in the same league as Ayesha (but then again, Ayesha was a few thousand years older than her!), although she does come off better than "The Yellow God"鈥檚 queen, the Asika. My main problem with "Queen Sheba's Ring," however, is that some of Haggard's descriptions are almost impossible to visualize, forcing the reader's imagination to work overtime (not that there's anything wrong with that!). For example, during the fight that our quartet has in the Fung city, they are trapped between gates under arches of a tower near a courtyard...oh, forget it; I can't even describe it, as I could never properly picture it to myself. Likewise hard to visualize are the river and lake that surround Fung and the Mur plateau, as well as the entire Mur underground complex that enables our heroes to get atop the sphinx and into the lion's den. I did my best, but whether or not my mental pictures are what the author had in mind, I cannot say.
Haggard has been accused of both racism and anti-Semitism in several of his books...unfairly, I've always maintained. It has seemed to me that he has consistently treated his African peoples with the utmost respect, while that anti-Semitism charge, I've long held, is probably due solely to the insane Jewish villain, Jacob Meyer, in 1906's "Benita" (aka "The Spirit of Bambatse"). Sadly, the novel in question only gives fresh fuel to Haggard's accusers. The Abati themselves, diluted descendants of Hebrews, are shown to be craven, lazy and stingy, while Quick utters this unfortunate line regarding Maqueda: "...this lady, although she is half a Jew and I never could abide Jews, is the sweetest and the loveliest and the best and the bravest little woman that ever walked God's earth." And then there is the "n word," which pops out of Quick's mouth on more than one occasion. Still, somehow, Quick remains a hugely sympathetic and heroic character, and in his very next book, "Red Eve," Haggard goes out of his way to paint the Jewish people in a favorable light. (I'm Jewish myself, and Haggard remains my favorite author; this was, incidentally, the 44th book that I鈥檝e read of his.) So, really, other than some fuzzy descriptions and some ouch-worthy offhand comments, "Queen Sheba's Ring" proved a wonderful entertainment for this reader. The fact that it was just one of three books that the author created in 1908 makes the accomplishment even more impressive. Still, I cannot help but feel that with a little more time expended, Haggard might have fine-tuned and polished up some of its rough edges, and come up with another top-grade creation, rather than one of his hugely entertaining but middling affairs. Still, I promise you this: You will NOT be bored!
(This review, by the way, originally appeared on the FanLit website, a most excellent destination for all fans of the great H. Rider Haggard: .)
Znate koja je razlika izme膽u Kiplinga i Rajdera Hagarda? Kipling je toliko dobar pisac da u letu ignori拧em kompletan njegov svetonazor i samo se divim kako dobro pi拧e i kako me uvla膷i u pri膷u. A Hagard NIJE. Ovo bi mi verovatno bila solidna avanturisti膷ka knjiga da sam je kao Rudnike cara Solomona 膷itala sa desetak godina, ovako cvrc. Osobito kad se raspi拧e o degenerisanim kukavi膷kim potomcima afri膷kih Jevreja koji u strahu be啪e pred 膷etvoricom hrabrih Engleza. Ne, stvarno.
The ring, given to the Queen of Sheba by King Solomon himself, in the title is given to Dr. Richard Adams by the Walda Nagasta (Child of Kings) queen of the degenerate Abati tribe, a somewhat lost tribe of Israel, who dwell in the city of Mur. She is a direct descendant of the original Queen of Sheba and her ring is a token of her promise to him of great rewards if he returns with the people and the ability to destroy the idol of the more vigorous Fung people who threaten the Abati with destruction. Adams is seeking to rescue his lost son held by the Fung. Adams returns with a British army captain, his long time friend and aide, a professor and expert on archaeology and languages; along with a a ton of high explosives. This is a group of very a group of upright English gentlemen - archetypes of early 20th century victorian class. This is an adventure and romance tale set in "the Dark Continent" of Africa.
2.5 stars, adding one and a half stars for one of the characters that I particularly liked. :) Definitely not my favorite kind of book, but it's not COMPLETELY awful. It just felt like it rambled a lot.
Above average Haggard work, which may surprise some, as being published in 1910 it is on what is usually considered the downward slope of his career. Yes, it recycles some of the themes and imagery of earlier works. But it's much different as well. Not the least in the lack of sympathy it shows for the Abati, a lost tribe of Abyssinian Jews isolated on a mountain top and decaying into cowardice and fear. They're surrounded by their mortal enemies, the Fung, a proto-Egyptian people who were connected once with their fellows in pharaohnic times. Haggard plays out the conflict fairly well, because it's not simply a matter of controlling land and enemies but a difference in philosophies: deterministic worldviews in which one side yields to sloth and the other sees the eventual reconquest of their home an inevitability.
As is common in many Haggard works, the story is told through a set of memoirs. The effect is to comfort the reader all the while hardship, terrors, and death stalk the main characters. Framed this way, the tale works as something like a ghost story, reassuring even the main characters of their return to home and hearth. It's also the very opposite of the wrath unleashed on the Abati, who prove themselve unworthy of independence, freedom, and prosperity.
Before Indiana Jones, H. R. Haggard wrote adventure stories with archaeological themes. Whether intentionally it unintentionally, he is created from Haggard's characters, who are at once, scholarly, daring, romantic, and absurd. In this book Haggard assigned those qualities to different individuals, while they are all rolled into one in the character of Indiana Jones. But Haggard's story is every but as entertaining and suspenseful. I looking forward to reading more if his books.
Like every book written by H.Rider Haggard, this was entertaining, exciting and educational. I really enjoyed it. While it is no where up to the standards of my two favorite, it is worth reading. My favorites of course are King Solomon's Mines and Allan Quartermain. . All in all, definately worth a read
Just like another Haggard story.Protagonist goes to Africa for fortune,the tribal people doesn't know about guns and a companion fall in love with the queen. Average.
was a writer of adventure novels, often set in imaginary locations, and has been credited with creating the "lost world" genre of literature. Like many of his books, this one is set in Africa, in the imaginary kingdom, or perhaps one should say queendom of Mur, ruled by Maqueda, a descendant King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba.
Richard Adams, a British medical doctor, who had wandered the world practising his trade, met and married an Egyprian woman in Cairo, and also met an Egyptologist, Professor Ptolemy Higgs, whom he cured of typhoid, thus earning his gratitude. Adams's wife dies, and their only son is kidnapped, and many years later Adams has news of his son who is a slave of the Fung tribe in North Central Africa. Maqueda's people, the Abati, are traditional enemies of the Fung, and avoid being conquered by the Fung because they live in an inaccessible valley surrounded by mountains. Maqueda tells Adams of a prophecy that the Fung will leave if their sphinx-like idol is destroyed, and if Adams does that, the Abati will help him release his son.
Adams returns to Britain, taking the Queen of Sheba's ring to prove his bona fides, and enlists Professor Higgs (who is drawn by Adams's stories of ancient artifacts) and a soldier, Captain Oliver Orme, with his sidekick Sergeant Samuel Quick, and they return to Mur with the explosives needed to blow up the idol, with the two soldiers having the necessary expertise in their use.
Unlike some of Haggard's earlier books, this one seems rather contrived and unconvincing. was first published in 1910, by which time most of Africa had been colonised by European powers, and very few parts remained unknown to Europeans. Perhaps Mur was in the south of Libya, which had not yet been colonised by Italy. Soon after this book was written, modern communications ensured that most educated people in most parts of the world were at least aware of the existence of places and peoples living in continents other than their own, though I am sometimes surprised by the degree of geographical ignorance displayed by contestants in quiz shows. So Rider Haggard was pushing the "lost world" trope a bit hard, though the success of Tarzan stories, and later Indiana Jones, showed that there was still a little juice that could be squeezed out of it. But most writers looking for imaginary settings moved their stories to other planets, which gave them more scope for developing exotic civilizations.
In reading this book, however, I was constantly being reminded of the time in which it was written, because if strongly reflects the arms race that preceded the First World War.
In Britain, the Liberal Party, especially, reacted against the aggressive imperialism and violence that had led to the Second Anglo-Boer War. In Haggard shows himself as a convinced militarist, stressing the need for arms production and military training and conscription. At times I wondered if he had been asked, or even paid by the "hawks" in the Conservative Party to write a book that would do this.
As with many of Haggard's novels, this tale is told in retrospect with stretches of extensive and exhaustive description. I believe this is to reflect the memoir model. Also, one must remember that this book was written in the late-18th century so there are antiquated beliefs and language which may offend today's reader. One must view and read this novel with those truths in mind. *SPOILERS* In "Queen Sheba's Ring" , the tale is told by a 60ish aged doctor, Richard Adams who introduces himself as 'the white goat." He recounts the harrowing tale of how he retrieved his kidnapped son, Roderick from an darkest Africa. Dr. Adams relates the long journey to into the heart of the continent. This harrowing type of journey is quite similar to the one Haggard's other movel set in Africa, "She." Adams speaks at length about the pagan worship and warfare between the Fung (kidnappers of his son) and the Abati people (Hebrew descendants), the enmity, nefarious plot concerning Roderick. The Abati are ruled by Queen Walda Nagasta (aka Maqueda), a descendant of the Queen of Sheba who is counseled by her uncle, Joshua who also seeks to marry her. Her isolated but fortified city of Mur stands against the warlike Fung whose lion-god gives them strength. Adams' brokered deal to acquire her people's help hinges on the destruction of the lion-god (sphinx) statue by the small band of Europeans. Adams is aided by Professor Ptolemy Higgs, a veteran archeologist; Oliver Orme, a brave retired Army Captain of Engineers who is skilled in explosives; Sergeant. Samuel Quick, a shrewd and wily seasoned man, and a native guide, Shadrach. Orme's dog, Pharoah is also along for the adventure. They find allies in the Mountaineers who are brave but are outnumbered. Opposing them in their quests to cripple the Fung and rescue are Prince Joshua, Maqueda's uncle who betrays the queen. Despite an unlikely (given Orme's disdain for the African people) romance between Orme and Maqueda, the tale is driven by adventure and action in the form of a sandstorm, temple destruction, near death, subterranean tombs, and several battles, including the Battle of the Square. Haggard's writing style moves this book at a fast pace with an emphasis on intrigue and adventure. "Queen Sheba's Ring" is a tale of fantasy and adventure so the reader should expect exotic locales almost impossible to visualize, forcing the reader to use his/her imagination - the theater of the mind. The novel has overtures of deceit and political intrigue peppering the plot. Haggard does spin a good tale with colorful and multi-dimensional characters with engaging personas in the face of strifeful events. The ending of the novel is unexpected but appropriately just and ironic. Overall, this novel is rewarding and memorable.
Despite the pervasive racist comments (the book is circa 1910, after all, and I don't think they even counted as racist back then) this is a first-rate adventure story. Action is surprisingly brisk, characters are generally likeable, and the ending is not surprising but still satisfying.
"And now, my Oliver, I have no more to write, save that I am glad to have endured so many things, and thereby win the joy that is mine to-day. Not yet have I, Maqueda, wished to reign again in Mur, who have found another throne"