King Solomon's Mines

Greetings, King Solomon’s Mines is a novel from 1885 and was written by British author Sir H. Rider Haggard. Haggard, who was born in 1856 and died in 1925, is recognized as being a pioneering figure of the Lost World genre with King Solomon’s Mines believed to be one of the first novels of its kind. This book was the first to introduce the protagonist, Allan Quatermain, to the literary world and would expand to include several more works in the series. It is presented in a first person narrative through the recounting of the tale by Allan himself. Solomon’s Mines would also go on to inspire other classic works such as Edgar Rice Burroughs’ ‘The Land that Time Forgot’ and Arthur Conan Doyle’s ‘The Lost World’.

The plot begins with Allan Quartermain, an English Big Game Hunter who has a well-earned reputation as an excellent marksman, living in the South African city of Durban. Allan is approached by two men, one is a British aristocrat named Sir Henry Curtis while the other is Captain Good, an Englishman of a military background. Curtis explains that his brother had been exploring the region for the elusive King Solomon’s Mines and the wealth of treasures held within them. The brother had gone missing in his travels and the two men had come looking for him. The duo offer Quatermain a job in escorting them through the dangerous terrain and promise him a share of the riches after they reach the mines. Allan, intrigued by the fortunes to be gained, accepts their offer and prepares to lead an expedition with a few of the indigenous population to help along the way. Before the team can leave, a native named Umbopa had heard about their plans to find the mines and is very adamant that he join in on the expedition.

It isn’t long before casualties begin to rise among the helping hands as the explorers travel through the treacherous lands filled with dangerous animals and conditions that threaten to perish them all. The team struggles through and eventually encounter a group of hostile natives called the Kukuana from the lush lands of Kukuanaland. The indigenous peoples threaten to kill the heroes until Captain Good, with his quick thinking, removes his false teeth and frightens the isolationist tribe who are under the impression it was a magical action. All the protagonists are dubbed the ‘White men from the stars’ by the fearful warriors as they believed Quatermain, Good and Curtis were otherworldly mystical beings. The British trio are brought before the local ruler, a wicked king by the name of Twala and secrets buried long ago begin to resurface after the meeting takes place.

I really enjoyed this book and it has made me interested in exploring other classical novels of the same era. Surprisingly, Solomon’s’ Mines was far ahead of the social attitudes of its time in that there was an interracial romance between a local woman named Foulata and Captain Good though it is all too aware of the controversy that the relationship would have caused in Britain. The character of Quatermain has still remained in the public’s attention since his inception in 1885 as the story has been adapted into several movies throughout the decades. Allan has also appeared in many other works such as the film version of Alan Moore’s the League of Extraordinary Gentlemen in which he is portrayed by Sean Connery.

Plot=8/10

Characters=8/10

Wording=8/10

Overall=8/10

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