Fiction is an extensive genre in literature, the main distinguishing feature is the presence in the works of some factor that cannot exist in the real world. This factor can be characters with an unusual appearance, objects and devices, as well as the universe itself, in which the plot unfolds.
In addition to many other areas (such as steampunk, a new wave, planetary fiction), science fiction includes the genre of "lost worlds". As the name implies, the motive of this subgenre is the discovery of any new, unknown or long-forgotten worlds inhabited by creatures of a different race.
Many famous science fiction writers worked in this direction: Jules Verne, Herbert Wells, Vladimir Obruchev, Howard Lovecraft and others. The founder of the genre of lost worlds is the English science fiction writer Haggard. He created several dozens of novels, still popular among readers.
Henry Haggard biography
The future author, whose full name is Henry Ryder Haggard, was born on June 22, 1856 in the small village of Bradenham, County Norfolk, which is located in the east of England. Henry's father was a lawyer, and his mother was a poet.
It is noteworthy that the origin of Henry Haggard is connected with Russia. His grandfather from his father worked in St. Petersburg, where he married a subject of the Russian Empire.
In addition to Henry, the family had 9 more children. While the older brothers of the future writer were educated in private schools, he studied at the classical school of Ipswich. Then Henry's father sent him to London to prepare for work at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. It was in the capital that Haggard woke up interest in the study of spiritualism.
Contrary to the expectations of his father, Henry Haggard could not become a diplomat. In 1875, he moved to South Africa and began serving in the Supreme Court of South Africa. It was this country that became for the writer a source of themes and plots later used in works.
A few years later he returned to his homeland, was engaged in agriculture and literature.
In 1884, he briefly worked as a lawyer. After some time, Henry Haggard left this profession and decided to devote himself completely to creativity.
The writer died at the age of 68 on May 14, 1925 in London.
Bibliography. The Allan Quatermain Adventure Series
The most popular Haggard brought a series of novels about Allan Quatermain (there are other spellings of the name - Allan Quaterman, Allan Quaterman). Books on the travels of this character in South Africa made the writer world famous.
The cycle includes 18 novels, the first of which is the book Mines of King Solomon, published in 1885, and the last is The Ice Gods, posthumously published in 1927.
The writer Haggard created Quatermain on the basis of the image of the British traveler Frederick Courtney Selous. Also, the American intelligence officer Frederick Russell Barnem and the author himself became prototypes. According to a fictional biography of Alan, he was born in England, but spent most of his life in Africa.
During Quartermain's travels, the native Hans, who served the Alan family, often accompanies. Other characters sometimes join in - Captain John Goode and Sir Curtis.
The image of Quatermain in culture
The character of Haggard's novels became so popular that later other authors began to use it in their works and make peculiar references to the image of Alan. For example, Quatermain can be found in the series of novels by Philip Jose Farmer "Family from the Newton Wold."
The famous traveler also appears on the pages of the comic strip “League of Outstanding Gentlemen”. Together with other popular literary characters, Mr. Quartermain fights with the enemies of Great Britain.
The Adventures of Ayesha
Another cycle of books by Henry Ryder Haggard is The Adventures of Ayesha. This is a trilogy, begun in 1887 and completed in 1923. As with the Allan Quartermain series, the action takes place in Africa during the Victorian era.
The narration is on behalf of one of the travelers named Horace Holly. He and his companion Leo Vinci are busy searching for the mysterious African kingdom. Having found him, the heroes discover a tribe of natives-cannibals and their unusual ruler. Queen Ayesha, who has been living in the world for more than 2 thousand years, is immortal and possesses mystical abilities.
The novels raise such important topics as the superiority of one race over another and the woman in the role of ruler.
The series was filmed three times: in 1935, 1965 and 2001.
"Daughter of Montezuma"
In addition to cycles of works, Haggard created many solo novels. One of them, entitled The Montezuma's Daughter, was co-authored with Andrew Lang and published in 1893.
This time the action takes place in the 16th century. The plot unfolds in northern Mexico in one of the Spanish colonies. The main character is a Spanish-Englishman named Thomas Wingfield, who by chance fell into the Aztec tribe. Thomas almost becomes a victim of the natives, but he manages to make friends with the son of Emperor Montezuma and avoid death.
Further even more unexpected events occur. Wingfield marries Princess Otomi and becomes the embodiment of a local deity. He has to endure many dangers, the death of loved ones, overcome hatred and thirst for revenge.
Cleopatra
Another novel of the writer, not included in any cycle, is Cleopatra, which appeared in print in 1889.
The book tells about the events taking place in ancient Egypt. The main character is Garmahis - hereditary priest and son of Amenemhat, priest of the temple of Seti. At the beginning of the story, the dying mother of Garmakhis prophesies to him a great government of the country, as well as a great fall.
The novel is not in vain named after one of the great rulers of Egypt - Queen Cleopatra. The plot is built around a conspiracy against her. Several priests conceived to deprive Cleopatra of the throne for giving Egypt to the Roman Empire.
Critics believe that Henry Haggard with surprising accuracy described the Egyptian queen as a real historical person. They note that the writer managed to convey her mind and beauty.
Other characters in the story are no less interesting. Each of them is ambiguous and in the course of the plot will cause the reader a whole range of emotions, from sympathy to disgust.
Screen adaptations of works
The most popular works of Henry Haggard have been repeatedly filmed. Books about Allan Quatermain, in particular the first novel in the series Mine of King Solomon, became the most frequent source for creating the script.
The first film of this book was released in the UK in 1937. The director was Robert Stevenson, and the main roles were played by Paul Robson, Cedric Hardwick, Roland Young and others. After that, another 5 films were shot, the last of which was released in 2004.
Also in 2008, the novel “Allan Quatermain and the Temple of Skulls” was filmed. In 2006, based on the plot of the book "She: A Story of Adventure", British musician Clive Nolan created a rock opera.
Reader Reviews
Despite the fact that the works of Haggard were created at the end of the century before last, they do not lose their relevance to this day.
Wherever and at what time the novel of the writer takes place - the Victorian era, Ancient Egypt during the reign of the Ptolemies, the conquest of Mexico by Cortes in the 16th century - the atmosphere and culture of that period are accurately conveyed. But, as readers note, the abundance of details and descriptions does not make Henry Haggard's works less exciting and fascinating.