ABOUT THIS BOOK
King Solomon’s Mines is a classic adventure novel by the British author Sir Henry Rider Haggard,
first published in 1885. The book is one of the first works of the ‘Lost World’ literary genre, which
was highly popular during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, inspiring many other
authors to create similar stories. The novel is set in the context of the European scramble for Africa
and reflects the colonial mindset of the era.
AUTHOR OF THE BOOK
Sir Henry Rider Haggard (1856–1925) was a prolific British writer of adventure novels set in exotic
locations, predominantly Africa. Born in Norfolk, England, Haggard was the eighth of ten children.
He attended Ipswich Grammar School before leaving for London, where he worked as an unpaid
secretary for a while.
In 1875, Haggard travelled to South Africa to serve as the secretary to Sir Henry Bulwer, the governor
of Natal. He spent six years in South Africa, during which he gained a deep appreciation for the
African landscape, culture and people. These experiences would later provide a rich backdrop for
his novels.
Haggard returned to England in 1881 and began to focus on his writing career. He wrote his first
novel, Dawn, in 1884, but it was his next work, King Solomon’s Mines, published in 1885, that
brought him widespread acclaim and commercial success. The novel introduced the character
Allan Quatermain, a skilled hunter and adventurer who would become the protagonist of many of
Haggard’s subsequent novels.
Haggard continued to write throughout his life, producing over 40 novels, numerous short stories,
and non-fiction works. His other notable works include She (1887), Allan Quatermain (1887) and
Cleopatra (1889). Haggard’s writing was characterized by vivid descriptions of the African landscape
and culture, thrilling adventures and a deep sense of spirituality and mysticism.
