The Ivory Child

Sir Henry Rider Haggard (b. 1856) is an English Victorian adventure novelist and barrister who pioneered the lost world literary genre. His imaginative tales of exotic exploration and imperialism shaped modern fantasy and adventure fiction.

Traveling extensively in his youth, Haggard served in South Africa as a government official, an experience that deeply inspired his African adventure settings. Upon returning to England, he practiced law and managed estates while writing breakthrough novels.

Later in life, he became a recognized authority on agriculture and rural development, publishing influential sociological studies. He utilized his diverse real-world experiences to enrich his vast bibliography of popular fiction.

Essential Reading

• A Tale of Three Lions (1887): Allan Quatermain faces fierce predators and tribal conflict in the African wilderness.
• Allan and the Holy Flower (1915): Allan embarks on a dangerous expedition to find a rare orchid guarded by a cult.
• Allan and the Ice Gods (1927): Allan relives a prehistoric past life among primitive ice age tribes.
• Allan Quatermain (1887): The intrepid hunter leads an expedition to discover a hidden white race in Africa.
• Allan's Wife (1889): A collection of gripping tales features tragic romance and dangerous encounters in the wild.
• Ayesha, the Return of She (1905): Adventurers return to Tibet to seek the immortal queen known as She-who-must-be-obeyed.
• Belshazzar (1930): This historical novel depicts the dramatic fall of the ancient Babylonian empire.
• Child of Storm (1913): Zulu history and fierce political intrigue unfold during the reign of Mpande.
• Finished (1917): The final chapter of the Allan Quatermain saga resolves ancient curses and battles.
• Heart of the World (1896): Explorers discover a lost Aztec civilization hidden deep within Central America.
• Heu-Heu (1924): Allan investigates mysterious legends surrounding a monstrous creature in a remote volcanic region.
• Hunter Quatermain's Story (1885): An early short account shares thrilling wilderness survival exploits.
• King Solomon's Mines (1885): Allan Quatermain searches for legendary fabled treasures in uncharted African territories.
• Long Odds (1907): A collection of dramatic short stories highlights colonial hunting and survival.
• Maiwa's Revenge (1888): Allan aids a wronged African chief in seeking justice against a ruthless ruler.
• Mary of Marion Isle (1929): A shipwrecked man faces difficult moral choices on an isolated island.
• Montezuma's Daughter (1893): A young Englishman voyages to sixteenth-century Mexico seeking vengeance and adventure.
• Nada the Lily (1892): An epic tragedy recounts the legendary history of the Zulu nation.
• Queen of the Dawn (1925): Ancient Egyptian royal intrigue and romance unfold during turbulent times.
• She (1887): Travelers encounter an immortal sorceress ruling a primitive African civilization.
• She and Allan (1921): Two of Haggard's greatest literary creations finally cross paths in mystical realms.