Mondays Book Talk - King Solomon's Mines

Written by Ben Kesp

King Solomon’s Mines by Henry Rider Haggard

King Solomon’s Mines is a beautiful fable for this Mondays Book Talk. It is one of Henry Rider Haggard's greatest works and was first published in 1885. Many of his works are fables which viewed native people as primitive and in need of salvation in contrast to white Europeans who were superior to other humans. It was Haggard’s experience in a wild and uncharted Africa that gave the backdrop to King Solomon’s Mines. 

This adventure story is set in Africa and follows Allan Quartermain, an elephant hunter and his companions as they cross mountains and deserts in search for the hidden treasures of the biblical King Solomon. They eventually arrived in a place called Kukuanaland, which is ruled by a dictatorial King. Quartermain and his companions become caught up in tribal war, endure fierce hardships and finally must confront the evil witch Gagool who knows the secrets to the hidden treasures of King Solomon’s mines. 

The story moves at a fast pace right from the beginning. It is an easy read and plainly written, drawing you into the adventure in a wild Africa. It is set in a time when hunting of animals is a common occurrence so expect scenes of elephant and giraffe killing. This however is just in a small part of the overall story. The adventures of Quartermain and his companions are invigorating, making you eager to see what happens next especially surrounding their experiences of the tribal warfare at Kukuanaland. 

The main characters in the book are Allan Quartermain, Sir Henry Curtis, Captain John Good and Umbopa (Ignosi). Each character is given a general round development. The adventure of finding the treasure begins early on, pulling the characters through the various events and hardships. The story is narrated by Allan Quartermain and he is the most developed character, often reflecting on his own life within the tale and in return giving us great little nuggets of insights into the story and characters. 

If you wish to pass some time, this is certainly a great way to lose yourself and become immersed in the wild and primitive continent of Africa – an adventure that will certainly keep you reading to see how the tale unfolds!