The name of the master of adventure novels, Henry Ryder Haggard, is firmly connected with the book, which many generations still love and revisit its film adaptation. The writer himself served under the English administration in Africa and studied the customs and characteristics of the tribes.
The novel "The Mines of King Solomon" was filmed many times. And each time the main characters make the reader completely immerse themselves in their world. What is special about this famous novel, and what are the characters of the heroes?
Novel "The Mines of King Solomon"
The novel was written in 1885. Through the book, the features and customs of that time are revealed; and in the eyes of the reader a strong male friendship is formed.
So, what is the book "Mines of King Solomon"? The summary of this novel, perhaps many know from the stories of friends or from the film. However, not a single retelling can be compared with a read book.
The well-known novel tells of a fascinating journey to find the diamond mines of the great biblical king. Three central figures - the traveler Allan Quatermain, Captain Goode and Henry Curtis are experiencing exciting adventures in sultry Africa.
The novel is suitable for all ages. Both a teenager and an adult who love adventure books will be absorbed in events with his head. And the reader will exhale only by reading the last page.
Plot of the novel
At the beginning of the novel, the captain comes to visit the main character Alan Quatermain and asks to go with him in search of his brother George. Some time ago, he went under an assumed name in search of solomon treasures, and went missing. The task of Allan and his companions is to find the lost wanderer and, possibly, get rich by finding treasures at the same time.
Travelers hike, hoping for the experience of Quatermain, who hunted elephants for 40 years. Allan has a map leading to the treasures, and now at 55 he decides to go on a dangerous adventure.
Friends go through many dashing dangers. They have to endure hunger and escape from furious elephants. To restore justice and return the king to the throne, the British participate in a coup. The new king gives the order to bring guests to the digging as a token of gratitude.
However, here everything is not as simple as tired travelers would like. The conductor wants to keep the entrance to the cave secret, and closes them, sacrificing her life. A huge boulder crushes the old sorceress. Further, travelers need to find another way out on their own, or perish from hunger in a dark cave with treasures. Thanks to ingenuity and endurance, friends find a way out and get out into the sunlight, taking diamonds with them. And finding George (sir Good's brother), they return to England.
Mines of King Solomon. Characters
In addition to the main characters (Allan Quatermain, John Goode), there are several notable characters. John Goode from the book is a former captain of the Royal Navy. And the third hero accompanying them is Henry Curtis, an aristocrat with a powerful physique, going to Africa for his brother.
- Ignozi (or Ambopa) is a servant of heroes on a campaign that later turned out to be the king of the strange Kukan people, protecting the secret of Solomon’s kopalen.
- Infandus is the commander of the kukuans.
- Fulata is a Cuckoo girl.
- Tvala is the cruel king of kukuans who seized power.
- Khiva, Ventfogel - travelers guides.
- Grandma Gagula is a guide to the treasure cave.
The novel was written in Victorian style, because the writer himself was an ardent Victorian, like his father. And so readers can enjoy this particular era; see in the main characters of real English gentlemen.
Is there a sequel?
The novel “Mines of King Solomon,” a summary of which is known to everyone thanks to the film adaptations, is the very first book from a series of novels about Allan Quatermain. After her, the writer wrote 7 more books:
- Allan Quatermain;
- "Sacred Flower";
- "The wife of Allan";
- "Ivory Child" and others.
But, of course, the first book is considered the most interesting and fascinating. The charm of the protagonist Allan and the intriguing plot leaves the reader with unforgettable emotions after reading the book.
Romance Films
The novel has already been filmed many times in different interpretations. Each director sought to create a unique film based on the well-known plot. But not one of the films tells an original story written by Henry Haggard Ryder.
We describe all the filmed adaptations in the chronology, starting with the first.
- In 1937 the first film, The Mines of King Solomon, was shot. The screen versions of the following eras were undoubtedly brighter, but at that time it was a masterpiece. The director of the first film is Robert Stevenson.
- 1950 - the film is also called "Mines of King Solomon. Its short content is the same, but in many respects the version is adapted for filming. The directors were Compton Bennett, Andrew Morton.
- 1959 - sequel "Watussi".
- 1979 - "Treasures of King Solomon."
- 1985 - The Mines of King Solomon. The summary of the novel was conveyed by a talented English director Jay Lee Thompson.
- 1986 - "Allan Quatermain and the Lost City of Gold." Australian movie.
- 2004 - the series "Mines of King Solomon", a joint work of the United States and Germany.
- 2008 "Temple of the Skulls". American version of Mark Atkins.
In 1950, starring Deborah Kerr and Stuart Granger were cast.
In 1985, Richard Chamberlain and Sharon Stone. In 2004, the producers decided to make a series. It involves: Patrick Swayze - Allan Quatermain; Roy Mersden - Captain Good; Alison Doody - Elizabeth Maitland and other actors.
Reviews on the book of Henry Ryder Haggard
Over the more than 100 years of the book’s existence, it has been read many times and loved by many of those who became famous themselves, for example, the Englishman Arthur Conan Doyle, director George Lucas and the famous psychologist Carl Jung.
This wonderful work has already become a classic adventure novels. The unfading interest in the novel can be explained by Haggard's writing gift or the striking secret of Solomon's caves, about which myths still circulate. But the book "Mines of King Solomon", the brief content of which we have discussed, continues to be popular with readers of our time. It is not in vain that the writer dedicated his novel to all those who dream of hiking and adventure.