Sir H Rider Haggard

Allan and the Holy Flower Sir H Rider Haggard

One of the greatest adventure novelists ever, Henry Rider Haggard shines once again, in Allan and the Holy Flower. Haggard's use of character development, scenery, and culture is absolutely captivating. There is nothing predictable in Allan and the Holy Flower, which is very refreshing. By one hour into the novel, readers will be not only hooked, but loving and feeling for nearly every character in the book. This is one of the 14 books that H. Rider Haggard wrote (starting with "King Solomon's Mines") depicting the adventures of Allan Quatermain, great English hunter in the wilds of mysterious Africa. Once you get into the book, the entire read is action-packed, fast-moving and entertaining. The story concerns an expedition for a very rare orchid, and the search for the kidnapped wife of one of Quatermain's friends. There are any number of tremendous battle scenes, and before all is said and done, we have run up against a giant gorilla god, cannibals, slave traders, a very suspenseful lake chase, evil wizards, a hidden volcanic sanctuary, etc. Quatermain's Hottentot sidekick, Hans, has rarely been shown in a more humorous or heroic light. Haggard's imagination seemed to be working overtime on this book, and despite an occasional inconsistency here and there, the result is one tremendously entertaining yarn.