Monday, December 6, 2021

Back to the Classics Challenge 2021- She: A History of Adventure.

This title was a perfect pic for the category “Travel or Adventure”.  She: A History of Adventure by H. Rider Haggard was first published in serial format between 1886 and 1887 and is a classic tale of a “lost world”. It is also very much worth remembering that the novel was written at the zenith of British Imperialism and when there were still parts of the globe “undiscovered” by Europeans.  I’ll bet the creators of Indiana Jones also drew inspiration from Haggard’s books.

The book is set up as a double frame narrative.  In the prologue, the “editor” claims to have received the story as a manuscript sent to him by Mr. Horace Holly, a man with whom he only has the slightest acquaintance. Along with the manuscript, Holly has sent his wish that the editor publish and profit from the tale as he sees fit, since Holly doesn't intend to return from his adventures.  Then the text jumps to the manuscript itself which starts with Holly recounting a strange visit from his best friend Vincey who (a) knows he (Vincey) is going to die soon, (b) can recount his family history going all the way back to ancient Greece and Egypt, (c) has a five year old son (Leo) whom he wants Holly take on as his ward, and (d) gives Holly a wooden box to be opened only upon his son’s 25th birthday.  It’s a lot to take in, but of course Holly says yes, his friend promptly dies and the boy comes to live with him. Fast forward 20 years, they open the mysterious box on Leo's birthday and adventure ensues. As a result of what they find, Holly, Leo, and their faithful servant, Job take off for Africa to investigate the origins of Leo’s family history and discover the lost tribe of the Amahagger and their mysterious queen, “she-who-must-be-obeyed”, Ayesha.  

For me, the premise of the book was better than the execution. I expected racism and sexism, but I didn’t expect to be bored. I found most of this novel to be cartoonish and very longwinded about details I didn't really care about. And I like a lot of longwinded Victorian authors (Dickens, Trollope), so I think it is Haggard’s style that simply doesn’t appeal to me.  I don’t regret reading it, but I also don’t see myself seeking out any further books from Haggard’s oeuvre.   

There are some aspects of the story that did surprise me, considering the era in which the book was published. Both Holly and Leo fall in love with Queen Ayesha with no jealousy or alpha-male competition between them. They both respect her and accept her superiority to them, which I found interesting.  On the other hand, Ayesha’s main interest in life is waiting for her long lost lover, who may or may not be reincarnated in Leo, to return to her.  I mean, she is 2000 years old, but still pining for the one who got away? That seems a little reductive. 

This is the 9th book for the Back to the Classics Challenge 2021 that I’ve managed to blog, while I have read actually 11. But I think I have to call it a day at nine and wrap it up here. I still have trouble finding the time to do the write ups and also to read everyone else's posts. I am sorry that I haven't been as present in commenting on my friend's blogs as in previous years. I really need to re-think how I want to move forward in 2022.

 

22 comments:

  1. Wow, thanks for reading this one for me. I do want to read Haggard at some point but I think I'll pass on this one. Perhaps I'll try King Solomon's Mines. Good for you for attempting She though and better luck with the next one!!

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    1. Thanks for the comment Cleo. I think I am not the right audience for this kind of adventure novel. I hope you have better luck with him than I did!

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  2. Hi Ruthiella, I think I will take your advise and pass on She but it's good you read it because we need to give these authors we have been hearing about forever a try. Sometimes we get lucky and other times they are not for us. I think it's great that you finished reading 9 books for the challenge and posted about them as well. I too am finding that the pressure to post one's thought after pretty much every book one reads can be a burden. On the one hand it ensures that I will finish the book which is good but I also read books differently now obsessing about what I am going to say in the post and that can ruin the enjoyment of simply reading the book. I too need to think about how to proceed in 2022

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    1. Thanks for your encouragement Kathy! 9 books isn't bad, you are right. Its not the reading but the blogging that holds me back. Like you, I read now often with an eye on how to review it either on this blog or on Goodreads. Such a modern conundrum, right? LOL.

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  3. It's been so long since I've read anything by Haggard that I can't remember what I though of him. I think I liked King Solomon's Mines??
    I've read more than usual this year but haven't blogged about a lot of them. I concur with Kathy that focusing so much on writing about the books may ruin the enjoyment of them.

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    1. I wonder if this kind of story is something I would appreciate more in film. Its one think to read about flora and fauna and another to see in in color, you know?

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    3. Maybe...For some weird reason when I think of Haggard I also think of Collins' The Moonstone.

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  4. I've never read any of Haggard's books, though we owned a copy of King Solomon's Mines when I was growing up. Sorry this one ended up being kind of boring. That's never good, especially in an 'adventure' book. And I know what you mean about reviewing books; it's sometimes the reason why I don't sign up for a reading challenge, because while I want to participate and read the books, I don't always want to then review and post about them.

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    1. This challenge is so low key and broad in categories, it normally presents few problems. I think the real issue is working now (mostly) from home and not wanting to be on the computer for longer than I have to...

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  5. I've also only read King Solomon's Mines, a long time ago. I remember liking it well enough, but I also don't remember it that well and it didn't send me off to read others... ;-)

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    1. There have been authors where the first book wasn't a hit but the second was, but I don't think that will be the case for Rider Haggard and me.

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  6. I've never read Haggard, but this is the one I often see associated with his work. Boring? I'll give it a miss!

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    1. This and King Solomon's Mines are probably his most famous. I think both have also been adapted to the screen multiple times.

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  7. Loved King Solomon's Mines as a child (about 50+ years ago) and I fear a lot of the racism/colonialism passed without much critical interrogation from me. Excited by my first experience I enthusiastically got a copy of She and was very disappointed! Boring indeed.

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    1. Thanks for the comment Dark Puss! Children do read uncritically and what they don't understand, they pass over. At least that was my experience. But honestly, I was expecting the racism/colonialism but not the dullness.

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  8. Hi Ruthiella! Long time, no comments form me! It's interesting to see that my own inability to focus on blogging is shared by others; I definitely feel the reading is great but the writing -- well, it does really detract from my enjoyment of the books a bit. Like you, I've read about 9 of my Classics Challenge books but, unlike you, have reviewed exactly -- Zero!
    I actually read, and loved, She but then -- I was mid-teens! Ditto for King Soloman's Mines. Like Dark Puss, however, I'm afraid the darker aspects of racism & imperialism of these works passed me by. I considered a trip down memory lane, i.e., a re-read of She, a few years ago; actually read a few pages and just couldn't take any more! I'm afraid that my time for enjoying those period piece Victorian adventure things has gone, perhaps for good.
    On a side note, did you ever read any of John Mortimer's Rumpole of the Bailey stories? They're very, very funny and -- Rumpole refers (only in his thoughts, as he dare not speak this aloud) to his overbearing wife as "She who must be obeyed." So you see, your time with Haggard hasn't been wasted; you can now enjoy all these kind of pop culture references as you've paid your dues.
    On a different but related note: I actually saw a movie version of She, starring Ursula Andress. I do believe you can watch the highlights on Youtube.

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    1. Hi Janakay! Perhaps my time for enjoying this kind of literature has passed as well. I also read The Lost World by Conan Doyle a few years ago and didn't really care for it. I've not read or seen the T.V. adaptation of Rumpole of the Bailey, but I knew of the term because my parents and brother watched it on PBS back in the day and would use specifically that line “She Who Must Be Obeyed” humorously But I didn’t know it originated with Rider Haggard, which is a bit of trivia that may serve me well if I ever go back to pub quizzes!

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  9. A famous book! I must admit it is nice to get some of the flavor without actually having to read it.

    I find I am spending too much time blogging and my house is a disaster. Because of Covid, I have no visitors but it would be embarrassing if someone wanted to come visit. I think in 2022, I need to be more disciplined. It doesn't help that the warmest room in the winter is the little office with my computer.

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    1. Thanks for the comment CLM! Since working from home I find that I am keeping tidier actually! But my home office is FREEZING (and super hot in summer LOL), so getting up to do the dishes on my breaks warms me up.

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  10. From what you said, I would have to agree that the premise is better than the execution. Nice idea, but it takes real talent to be long-winded without being boring!

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    1. Yes, the premise is great and maybe that is why it has been filmed so many times. Still, I am glad I gave it a go. :D

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