King Solomon's Mines

Second Edition

H. Rider Haggard
Edited by Roger Luckhurst

Oxford World's Classics

A new edition of Haggard's classic adventure story, an exciting tale of exploration in the mythical African interior, where Allan Quatermain leads his intrepid companions in search of the fabled King Solomon's Mines
The first English adventure novel set in Africa, King Solomon's Mines also made popular the Lost World literary genre
Roger Luckhurst's introduction explores Haggard's experience of Africa, the romance genre, the context of British interventions in southern Africa and the Zulu Wars, and Haggard's ambivalent Imperial mindset
This edition includes 'The Real King Solomon's Mines', Haggard's later article about the book's reputation and the historical basis for his story
Includes an up-to-date chronology, select bibliography, and informative notes

New to this Edition:

Introduction by Roger Luckhurst that takes account of the scholarship of the last 25 years, providing a more interesting edition for study. As well as being a popular adventure story, the novel is a fascinating window on to colonial attitudes and myth-making, and Luckhurst explores fully its troubled and ambivalent representation of Empire.
New Appendix, 'The Real King Solomon's Mines', Haggard's later article about the book's reputation and the historical basis for his story.
Revised Explanatory Notes.
Updated Select Bibliography.

King Solomon's Mines

Second Edition

H. Rider Haggard
Edited by Roger Luckhurst

Description

'Don't you see that we are buried alive?'

When Allan Quatermain is approached by Sir Henry Curtis and his friend Captain Good to search for Sir Henry's missing brother, deep in the African interior, he agrees to lead their expedition. Quatermain has a map to the fabled King Solomon's Mines, whose treasure the missing man sought to attain. Their journey takes them to Kukuanaland, where they find a warrior tribe in thrall to King Twala. Soon the white men are embroiled in a desperate tribal battle, and Quatermain's expedition can only reach its goal with the aid of Gagool, the ancient 'mother' no one trusts.

Haggard's exciting adventure story captivated readers when it was first published in 1885. It helped inaugurate a wave of 'lost world' romances inspired by the exploits of British explorers in colonial Africa. This new edition looks at Haggard's own African experiences and unlikely literary success, and his ambivalent attitude to the native tribes and the ravages of the British Empire.

ABOUT THE SERIES: For over 100 years Oxford World's Classics has made available the widest range of literature from around the globe. Each affordable volume reflects Oxford's commitment to scholarship, providing the most accurate text plus a wealth of other valuable features, including expert introductions by leading authorities, helpful notes to clarify the text, up-to-date bibliographies for further study, and much more.

King Solomon's Mines

Second Edition

H. Rider Haggard
Edited by Roger Luckhurst

Oxford World's Classics

Author Information

H. Rider Haggard

Edited by Roger Luckhurst, Birkbeck College, University of London

Roger Luckhurst has written widely on Victorian popular fiction, science fiction and Gothic literature. He has edited Stevenson's Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, Stoker's Dracula, and an anthology of Late Victorian Gothic Tales for Oxford World's Classics, and an edition of H. P. Lovecraft's Classic Horror Stories. His books include The Mummy's Curse: The True History of a Dark Fantasy (Oxford, 2012).

King Solomon's Mines

Second Edition

H. Rider Haggard
Edited by Roger Luckhurst

Oxford World's Classics

Reviews and Awards

"My grandfather used to tell me about King Solomon's Mines; how he repeatedly gave up on the book before he was"

"eventually won over by this tale of Allan Quatermain, a hunter who leads an expedition in search of a vanished English explorer in the African jungle ... And my grandfather was right: the narrative has all the unstoppable momentum of a charging rhinoceros." - David Evans, Independent on Sunday

King Solomon's Mines

Second Edition

H. Rider Haggard
Edited by Roger Luckhurst

Oxford World's Classics

Audio Guide

'Don't you see that we are buried alive?'

Allan Quatermain leads an expedition in search of a missing man and the fabled King Solomon's mines in deepest Africa. His exciting adventures captivated readers, and this new edition looks at Haggard's own African experiences and colonial attitudes to native tribes and the ravages of the British Empire.

To listen to Roger Luckhurst, editor of the Oxford World's Classics edition, introduce King Solomon's Mines and H. Rider Haggard's life and work, click on the links below.