King Solomon's Mines: (Classics)

Many years ago George Curtis set out for South Africa in the wild hope of making a fortune. Since then his brother, Sir Henry Curtis, has not seen or heard of him. Sir Henry and his friend, Captain Good, decide that sitting around waiting is doing no good, and set out to find him. As luck would have it they meet Allan Quatermain, an experienced elephant hunter, who encountered the missing brother many years earlier. He had told Quatermain that he was searching for the mines of King Solomon - diamond mines, which most people believe to be a myth. With a glimmer of hope, and an idea which way he had headed, our heroic trio venture out into the unexplored regions of Africa. Their quest takes them into the very heart of danger. Unbelievable adventures follow involving ancient tribes, terrifying Kings and evil witches. Will our adventurers find George and the treasures rumoured to be hidden in King Solomon's Mines? Or will the obstacles they experience prove too much for them?

About the Author :
Sir Henry Rider Haggard was born on 22nd June 1856, in Norfolk, England. He was very much an Englishman and a gentleman, but like his most famous creation, Alan Quatermain, he found himself in the wilds of Africa at the tender age of nineteen. The eighth of ten children, Henry was sent to work for free at a post in South Africa. His father, a barrister; and his mother, an author, wanted him to learn a useful trade while he was there. Instead, what Sir Henry discovered was the extent to which adventure can be found in the heart of Africa. It left an impression on him that had such an impact it became the setting and influence for many of the books he would later write. Having worked in, and travelled around, South Africa for several years, Henry finally settled down with his wife in England, in 1881. He began to study law and was called to the bar in 1884. While pursuing this more traditional occupation, literary work still held great appeal for him. As a result his first book, Cetywayo and his White Neighbours was published in 1882. Although it was not as successful as he would have hoped, this did not deter him. Three years later King Solomon's Mines, an adventure story set in Africa, brought him instant and amazing success. In 1887, She also proved to be a hit and won critical acclaim. Haggard was knighted in 1912, thirteen years before his death. Though he continued to write novels in his later years, they did not gain the popularity of his earlier works. In the 1960s, some four decades after he passed away, fantasy writing began to gain popularity once again, and many of his works were re-published. They were well received and some were even adapted as films.