Folio Archives 32: H.Rider Haggard’s African Adventures – King Solomon’s Mines, She, Alan Quartermain 1995
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1wcarter
H.Rider Haggard’s African Adventures – King Solomon’s Mines, She, Alan Quartermain 1995
If you want pure nineteenth century exploration adventure it is hard to go past H. Rider Haggard and he African Adventures trilogy.
Sir Henry Rider Haggard knew Africa intimately, having traveled and explored with Cecil Rhodes and was present at the annexation of the Transvaal to the British Empire, an event that was the initial trigger for the Boer War.
The stories are based on the adventures of the imaginary hero, Allan Quartermain, who led an action packed life in an imaginary African kingdom set somewhere near present day Zimbabwe and Zambia. With a trusty African sidekick, Umbopa, he has one adventure after another facing everything from witchcraft to freezing mountains and burning deserts.
The books are an easy and pleasant read, and often hard to put down, although somewhat simplistic in style of other fiction writers from the late 19th. Century.
Ayesha, the female protagonist of “She”, is the original source of the phrase "She Who Must Be Obeyed" long before it was used by John Mortimer for the wife of Rumpole.
The three volumes are introduced by Frank Derlaney and there are eleven black and white drawings by David Eccles in each volume.
They are bound in yellow-brown cloth blocked with a gilt and colour image on the cover and spine. Printed on Hamilton Wove paper. The three volume slipcase measures 22.5x14.5x9cm. Allan Quartermain has 297 pages, King Solomon’s Mines 247 pages and She 318 pages.
The three books were never available individually from the FS, only as part of the three volume set.
Folio Society brochure
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.
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Slipcase
An index of the other illustrated reviews in the "Folio Archives" series can be viewed at : http://www.librarything.com/topic/266300
If you want pure nineteenth century exploration adventure it is hard to go past H. Rider Haggard and he African Adventures trilogy.
Sir Henry Rider Haggard knew Africa intimately, having traveled and explored with Cecil Rhodes and was present at the annexation of the Transvaal to the British Empire, an event that was the initial trigger for the Boer War.
The stories are based on the adventures of the imaginary hero, Allan Quartermain, who led an action packed life in an imaginary African kingdom set somewhere near present day Zimbabwe and Zambia. With a trusty African sidekick, Umbopa, he has one adventure after another facing everything from witchcraft to freezing mountains and burning deserts.
The books are an easy and pleasant read, and often hard to put down, although somewhat simplistic in style of other fiction writers from the late 19th. Century.
Ayesha, the female protagonist of “She”, is the original source of the phrase "She Who Must Be Obeyed" long before it was used by John Mortimer for the wife of Rumpole.
The three volumes are introduced by Frank Derlaney and there are eleven black and white drawings by David Eccles in each volume.
They are bound in yellow-brown cloth blocked with a gilt and colour image on the cover and spine. Printed on Hamilton Wove paper. The three volume slipcase measures 22.5x14.5x9cm. Allan Quartermain has 297 pages, King Solomon’s Mines 247 pages and She 318 pages.
The three books were never available individually from the FS, only as part of the three volume set.
Folio Society brochure
.
.
.
Slipcase
An index of the other illustrated reviews in the "Folio Archives" series can be viewed at : http://www.librarything.com/topic/266300
2CarltonC
>1 wcarter: Thanks for posting scans of the brochure.
I bought these on the secondary market and they are a lovely set.
I bought these on the secondary market and they are a lovely set.
4dyhtstriyk
How easy is this set to come by in the secondary market?
6HuxleyTheCat
Deleted for duplication.
7stumc
these look like fantastic editions. i would love it if FS produced more classic adventure literature, but unfortunately it seems out of fashion now. KSM is an incredibly entertaining book
8CarltonC
>7 stumc: Have you looked for the John Buchan set (5 Hannay), The 39 Steps individually and (short) Stories. Greenmantle may also have been published individually. These were issued about 8-10 years ago, so should be available second hand.
About 25 years ago there were a set of three volumes of short stories from The Strand magazine, one of which was Adventure stories.
And there is Stevenson, of course.
None exactly the same as Haggard of course, but of a similar era.
About 25 years ago there were a set of three volumes of short stories from The Strand magazine, one of which was Adventure stories.
And there is Stevenson, of course.
None exactly the same as Haggard of course, but of a similar era.
9stumc
i have the adventure stories from the Strand book, and am aware of the john buchan set (which looks very nice)
i just think folio now publishes a lot of science fiction, which is great, but a few more classic adventure stories would restore the balance a bit: conan doyle, sabatini, dumas, scott etc
i just think folio now publishes a lot of science fiction, which is great, but a few more classic adventure stories would restore the balance a bit: conan doyle, sabatini, dumas, scott etc
10folio_books
On eBay UK, ending tomorrow afternoon, currently £21.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Folio-society-African-Adventures-H-Rider-Haggard-3-vo...
The usual disclaimer.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Folio-society-African-Adventures-H-Rider-Haggard-3-vo...
The usual disclaimer.
11HuxleyTheCat
>7 stumc: - >9 stumc: I felt exactly the same following my last read of Twenty Thousand Leagues...
It would be nice if Folio did a bit more Verne (as long as they are up to the same production standards as TTLUtS) and Tarzan would be interesting. As it is, there are the Strand Stories and The Lost World in the after market, but I can't think of any others. I wouldn't classify the Buchan books, Rogue Male or Riddle of the Sands in the same genre as 'classic adventure'.
ETA - It's an awfully long time ago that I read them, but some of the Biggles books had the right ingredients for classic adventure stories, then there were the Willard Price books I enjoyed in primary school. I don't know if it is worth risking the fond nostalgia to revisit these.
It would be nice if Folio did a bit more Verne (as long as they are up to the same production standards as TTLUtS) and Tarzan would be interesting. As it is, there are the Strand Stories and The Lost World in the after market, but I can't think of any others. I wouldn't classify the Buchan books, Rogue Male or Riddle of the Sands in the same genre as 'classic adventure'.
ETA - It's an awfully long time ago that I read them, but some of the Biggles books had the right ingredients for classic adventure stories, then there were the Willard Price books I enjoyed in primary school. I don't know if it is worth risking the fond nostalgia to revisit these.
12podaniel
>11 HuxleyTheCat:
There is also the FS version of Verne's Journey to the Center of the Earth. Interestingly enough, the introduction is by Michael Crichton who clearly loved the book and gives a fascinating explanation for why he regards Verne as a master storyteller.
There is also the FS version of Verne's Journey to the Center of the Earth. Interestingly enough, the introduction is by Michael Crichton who clearly loved the book and gives a fascinating explanation for why he regards Verne as a master storyteller.
13HuxleyTheCat
>12 podaniel: I'd forgotten about that one. I just had a look at it and reminded myself that it's a pretty nice edition, so perhaps no need for a reprint, as there are plenty on abe.
14stumc
>10 folio_books: the H RIder Haggard collection looked very nice, but having recently bought the Monte Cristo LE, and seriously considering the Darwin set with 15% off before Christmas, i will need to purchase another day!!
>11 HuxleyTheCat: the Willard Price books were one of the first collections of books i ever read. I still have a few of those over 30 years old paperbacks kickiing around. i must give them a re read. i cant imagine them being too popular now, as I recall the adventures generally revolved around the brothers going to far flung corners of the globe to catch animals for their zoo!!
>11 HuxleyTheCat: the Willard Price books were one of the first collections of books i ever read. I still have a few of those over 30 years old paperbacks kickiing around. i must give them a re read. i cant imagine them being too popular now, as I recall the adventures generally revolved around the brothers going to far flung corners of the globe to catch animals for their zoo!!
15HuxleyTheCat
>14 stumc: The zoo aspect had completely slipped my mind - it was about 45 years ago I read them (courtesy of the weekly visit of the mobile library). I do remember the underwater sequences though, which were probably instrumental in making me wish to learn to scuba dive as soon as I went off to university.
ETA - It seems that the '...Adventure' books have been resurrected by Anthony McGowan who has recently added four new titles to the series (with a very nice spin on the animal collection theme) under the Puffin imprint, and that the original series has been reissued by Red Fox.
ETA - It seems that the '...Adventure' books have been resurrected by Anthony McGowan who has recently added four new titles to the series (with a very nice spin on the animal collection theme) under the Puffin imprint, and that the original series has been reissued by Red Fox.
16stumc
>15 HuxleyTheCat: thanks for the update. i always found that the reason that the Adventure series worked so well is that they, like all classic childrens books, did not patronise the younger mind. they simply told a story in an action packed way with a vocabulary that would stretch, but not alienate, young readers.
also, as you mention, the exotic locations are perfect to inspire travel and broadening of the mind!
i will definitely dig out and re read one in the next couple of weeks!
also, as you mention, the exotic locations are perfect to inspire travel and broadening of the mind!
i will definitely dig out and re read one in the next couple of weeks!
17overthemoon
How did I miss these in 1995?
18folio_books
>17 overthemoon: As far as I recall the set was not featured in a regular prospectus. I do recall receiving one of Folio's flyers about it. That leaflet is featured in "Selected Folio Society Brochures" on the wiki page (http://www.librarything.com/wiki/index.php/Groups:Folio_Society_Devotees), listed as "African Adventures - H Rider Haggard".
Edited to correct error.
Edited to correct error.
19overthemoon
>18 folio_books: thanks for that information. I definitely did not receive the flyer - I kept everything at the time. And I would have bought it. Seriously miffed.
20folio_books
>19 overthemoon: I would have bought it. Seriously miffed.
That's a shame. But no need to be deprived of the set forever - I've just counted ten on Abe. Good luck!
That's a shame. But no need to be deprived of the set forever - I've just counted ten on Abe. Good luck!
21overthemoon
I had plenty of money for books in 1995; budget is a lot tighter now... So it will depend on price and postage.
