Review of the Book "King Solomon's Mines"

King Solomon’s Mines
By H. Rider Haggard
Genre: Action
Publication: 1885
Number of Pages: 292, Puffin Edition

Plot:
Allan Quartermain, a hunter and trader in South Africa, meets Sir Henry Curtis and Captain Good. Sir Henry tells him that he had a dispute with his brother over some land. In his anger, Sir Henry refused to give any land to his brother. His brother went to Africa in search of fortune and went missing. Sir Henry wants to find his brother with the help of Allan. Allan knows the surrounding country well and agrees to help them.

The trio, and their servants Khiva, Ventovogel and Umbopa, journey across deserts and mountains in Africa. They come to a land cut off from the rest of the world. The land is ruled by the evil king Twala and equally evil with doctress Gagool. The king teats the people of the land badly and kills them as sacrifices.

The trio discover Umbopa’s background. This leads to a war between Twala’s army and the trio and their supporters. After the war, the trio force Gagool to take them to the diamond mines, a cave filled with diamonds.They think that the diamonds will make them rich men. However, all previous visitors to the mines have never returned…

Recommendation:
The language and behaviour is an indicator how old fashioned the book is. I would not recommend this book as I did not like the language and gory descriptions of war.