Allan Quatermain

by H. Rider Haggard Narrated by Lucas Nelson

Overview

"Allan Quatermain" is an 1887 novel by H. Rider Haggard, featuring his recurring character Allan Quatermain. This adventure novel serves as the sequel to Haggard's earlier work, "King Solomon's Mines". Let's delve into the plot of this captivating tale: Background: Haggard wrote "Allan Quatermain" during his summer holiday in 1885, immediately after completing "King Solomon's Mines". The novel was first serialized in Longman's Magazine before being published as a complete work. Plot Summary: At the beginning of the book, Allan Quatermain mourns the loss of his only son and longs to return to the wilderness. He persuades his friends-Sir Henry Curtis, Captain John Good, and the Zulu chief Umslopogaas-to accompany him on an expedition. Their journey takes them from the east coast of Africa into the territory of the Maasai. While staying with a Scottish missionary named Mr. Mackenzie, they encounter a group of Maasai who kidnap Mr. Mackenzie's daughter. The Maasai demand a life as ransom, but instead, the group launches a surprise attack, defeating the Maasai. The adventurers then travel by canoe along an underground river to a sacred lake in the kingdom of Zu-Vendis. In Zu-Vendis, they encounter a warlike race of white-skinned people ruled by two sisters, Nyleptha and Sorais. Both sisters fall in love with Sir Henry Curtis, leading to a civil war. After a victorious battle, Queen Nyleptha becomes the ruler, while Quatermain dies from a wound sustained in the fight. Reception: "Allan Quatermain" is considered one of Haggard's most successful works. It exemplifies the lost-race novel genre, setting the stage for many subsequent works in this subgenre. In this thrilling adventure, Allan Quatermain's courage and loyalty are put to the test as he navigates treacherous lands and encounters powerful queens. "

Editorial Reviews

AudioFile

This sequel…is, like its predecessor, a story of high adventure in the wilds of interior Africa a century ago…Williams [is] earnest, blessed with a lovely baritone voice, at times as richly dramatic as the events he describes.”

Kliatt

Williams’ fully voiced reading of this magnificent first-person narrative emphasizes the dangers and hardships that the adventurers undergo in their journey. Williams reads with excellent narrative timing and his wide range of voices and accents adds a great deal.”

Product Details

BN ID:	2940191184388
Publisher:	Manifold Media LLC
Publication date:	09/20/2024
Edition description:	Unabridged
Age Range:	12 - 17 Years

Read an Excerpt

posed to have its home somewhere up in this direction, and I have a mind to see if there is any truth in them. If you fellows like to come, well and good; if not, I'll go alone." " I'm your man, though I don't believe in your white race," said Sir Henry Curtis, rising and placing his arm upon my shoulder. " Ditto," remarked Good ; " I'll go into training at once. By all means let's go to Mt. Kenia and the other place with an unpronounceable name, and look for a white race that does not exist. It's all one to me." " When do you propose to start?" asked Sir Henry. " This day month," I answered, " by the British India steamboat ; and don't you be so certain that things don't exist because you do not happen to have heard of them. Remember King Solomon's Mines." Some fourteen weeks or so had passed since the date of this conversation, and this history goes on its way in very different surroundings. After much deliberation and inquiry we came to the conclusion that our best starting-point for Mt. Kenia would be from the neighborhood of the mouth of the Tana River, and not from Mombasa, a place over one hundred miles nearer Zanzibar. This conclusion we arrived at from information given to us by a German trader whom we met upon the steamer at Aden. I think that he was the dirtiest German I ever knew ; but he was a good fellow, and gave us a great deal of valuable information. " Lamu," said he, "you goes to Lamuoh ze beautiful place !" and he turned up his fat face and beamed with mild rapture. " One year and a half I live there and never change my shirt never at all." And so it came to pass that on arriving at the island we disembarked with all our goods and chattels, and not knowing whereto go, marched boldly up to the house of her Majesty's consul, where we were ...

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