Wisdom's Daughter

But for the chapter devoted to Noot's tale, Wisdom's Daughter is a tedious failure, a product of an author in clear decline. It is a repetitive sermon that pretends profundity yet gives up only endless cliches on the pain of immortality and the weathering of nature upon men's souls. A pity, because earlier volumes in this series actually provoked a lively interest in new ways of approaching life's mysteries, many evolving from, it seems, theosophic ideas.

Here, however, ideas languish until mercifully the book ends. It is worth saying that Haggard apparently had more than a passing acquaintance with the ancient history of Egypt, Persia, and the Middle East. His historical characters, although the details of their lives might be stretched show more and altered somewhat, seem true to the actual record. Mentor, Bagoas, Artaxerxes III, and Nectanabo all come to life as their histories indicate they should. The intrigue, the battles, the conflict, all accurate to a degree. show less

I'm not going to claim this is the same order of classic as the best by Charles Dickens, the Brontes, George Eliot or Thomas Hardy. But like Arthur Conan Doyle or Robert Louis Stevenson or Rudyard Kipling, Haggard really could spin a good yarn. Ten of his books are on my bookshelves. I gobbled those up in my teens and most I remember very, very well.

Of all of them, this one is my favorite by far. Ayesha is one of the kick-ass heroines of the Victorian Age. Haggard's first book involving her, She, was first published in serial form from 1896 to 1897, and along with King's Solomon's Mines is his most famous book. Wisdom's Daughter, published in 1923, is one of Haggard's last novels, and is Ayesha's first person account of her life in show more Ancient Egypt. As such it falls into historical fantasy, and I absolutely loved it. It's the first chronologically of the four books involving her though, and the first one I read, and can stand alone. By all rights I probably should reread this before reviewing--I last read this in my teens. I think I'm a little afraid I might find She-Who-Must-Be-Obeyed diminished in my esteem, and I'd hate that. I'd rather remember this not only as a rollicking good adventure to read, but above all remember Ayesha as one of the most awesome and powerful female characters in literature. show less

Not the most compelling story by Haggard. Haggard is best at action and adventure--not so good at exposition and long speeches, which make up far too much of this book.

Honestly, I only kept reading to finish it so that I could say I'd read all of the Ayesha books.