Finished By: Henry Rider Haggard (1856-1925)
In Finished, Henry Rider Haggard once again takes readers on a breathtaking adventure through mythical lands and ancient civilizations. As an avid fan of Haggard's previous works, I eagerly delved into this novel, expecting nothing less than a captivating narrative filled with thrilling twists and turns. The story follows Allan Quatermain, an intrepid adventurer known from Haggard's previous novels, who receives an intriguing proposition from the mysterious Sir Henry Curtis. Curtis implores Quatermain to join an expedition to discover the fabled lost city of Locusts, said to hold immense treasures and untold secrets. With the promise of unimaginable wealth and the allure of the unknown, Quatermain couldn't resist venturing once again into the heart of Africa. Haggard's vivid, descriptive prose brings to life the stunning vistas and treacherous landscapes that Quatermain and his fellow seekers encounter throughout their journey. Each scene is expertly crafted, immersing readers in a world filled with danger, alluring women, and ancient prophecies. The author's unparalleled ability to transport readers to far-off lands is a testament to his extraordinary storytelling prowess. What sets Finished apart from some of Haggard's other works is its exploration of deeper themes and character development. While Quatermain remains the archetypal brave adventurer, Haggard delves into his backstory, allowing readers to glimpse his vulnerabilities and fears. This adds a layer of complexity to the character, making him more relatable and endearing. Quatermain's interactions with the supporting cast, particularly Curtis, showcase the nuances of friendship and loyalty, providing a heartfelt dimension to the narrative. As the plot unravels, Haggard weaves together elements of romance, mystery, and supernatural intrigue. The secrets and perils Quatermain and his companions encounter in Locusts slowly unfold, building suspense and anticipation with every page. The adept combination of these elements creates a harmonious blend of genres that will surely captivate readers who enjoy a multifaceted adventure. Finished is not without its flaws, though. At times, the pacing feels uneven, with moments where the narrative rushes forward while others seem to linger unnecessarily. Additionally, certain mystical elements introduced in the story might feel clichéd to readers familiar with Haggard's previous works. However, these minor shortcomings do not overshadow the overall enthralling nature of the novel. In conclusion, Finished can be seen as a triumph for Haggard, once again proving his mastery of the adventure genre. With its richly developed characters, breathtaking landscapes, and tantalizing plot, this novel will keep readers on the edge of their seats from start to finish. While it may not be Haggard's most groundbreaking work, it certainly does justice to his legacy and will leave fans yearning for more thrilling exploits from the incomparable Allan Quatermain. First Page: Digital Editor's Note: Italics are represented in the text with underscores . In the interest of readability, where italics are used to indicate non English words, I have silently omitted them or replaced them with quotation marks. Haggard's spelling, especially of Zulu terms, is wildly inconsistent; likewise his capitalization, especially of Zulu terms. For example, Masapo is the chief of the Amansomi until chapter IX; thereafter his tribe is consistently referred to as the "Amasomi". In general, I have retained Haggard's spellings. Some obvious spelling mistakes (as "Quartermain" for "Quatermain" in one instance) have been silently corrected. Some diacriticals in the text could not be represented in 7 bit ASCII text and have been approximated here. To restore all formatting, do the following throughout the text: Replace the pound symbol "" with the English pound symbol Place an acute accent over the "e" in "Nombe", "acces", "Amawombe", and "fiance", and the first "e" in "Bayete" Place a circumflex accent over the "u" in "Harut" and the "o" in "role" Place a grave accent over the "a" and circumflex accents over the first and third "e" in "tete a tete" Replace "oe" with the oe ligature in "manoeuvring" FINISHED by H. RIDER HAGGARD DEDICATION Ditchingham House, Norfolk, May, 1917... Continue reading book >>

Finished By: Henry Rider Haggard (1856-1925)

In Finished, Henry Rider Haggard once again takes readers on a breathtaking adventure through mythical lands and ancient civilizations. As an avid fan of Haggard's previous works, I eagerly delved into this novel, expecting nothing less than a captivating narrative filled with thrilling twists and turns.

The story follows Allan Quatermain, an intrepid adventurer known from Haggard's previous novels, who receives an intriguing proposition from the mysterious Sir Henry Curtis. Curtis implores Quatermain to join an expedition to discover the fabled lost city of Locusts, said to hold immense treasures and untold secrets. With the promise of unimaginable wealth and the allure of the unknown, Quatermain couldn't resist venturing once again into the heart of Africa.

Haggard's vivid, descriptive prose brings to life the stunning vistas and treacherous landscapes that Quatermain and his fellow seekers encounter throughout their journey. Each scene is expertly crafted, immersing readers in a world filled with danger, alluring women, and ancient prophecies. The author's unparalleled ability to transport readers to far-off lands is a testament to his extraordinary storytelling prowess.

What sets Finished apart from some of Haggard's other works is its exploration of deeper themes and character development. While Quatermain remains the archetypal brave adventurer, Haggard delves into his backstory, allowing readers to glimpse his vulnerabilities and fears. This adds a layer of complexity to the character, making him more relatable and endearing. Quatermain's interactions with the supporting cast, particularly Curtis, showcase the nuances of friendship and loyalty, providing a heartfelt dimension to the narrative.

As the plot unravels, Haggard weaves together elements of romance, mystery, and supernatural intrigue. The secrets and perils Quatermain and his companions encounter in Locusts slowly unfold, building suspense and anticipation with every page. The adept combination of these elements creates a harmonious blend of genres that will surely captivate readers who enjoy a multifaceted adventure.

Finished is not without its flaws, though. At times, the pacing feels uneven, with moments where the narrative rushes forward while others seem to linger unnecessarily. Additionally, certain mystical elements introduced in the story might feel clichéd to readers familiar with Haggard's previous works. However, these minor shortcomings do not overshadow the overall enthralling nature of the novel.

In conclusion, Finished can be seen as a triumph for Haggard, once again proving his mastery of the adventure genre. With its richly developed characters, breathtaking landscapes, and tantalizing plot, this novel will keep readers on the edge of their seats from start to finish. While it may not be Haggard's most groundbreaking work, it certainly does justice to his legacy and will leave fans yearning for more thrilling exploits from the incomparable Allan Quatermain.

First Page:

Digital Editor's Note:

Italics are represented in the text with underscores . In the interest of readability, where italics are used to indicate non English words, I have silently omitted them or replaced them with quotation marks.

Haggard's spelling, especially of Zulu terms, is wildly inconsistent; likewise his capitalization, especially of Zulu terms. For example, Masapo is the chief of the Amansomi until chapter IX; thereafter his tribe is consistently referred to as the "Amasomi". In general, I have retained Haggard's spellings. Some obvious spelling mistakes (as "Quartermain" for "Quatermain" in one instance) have been silently corrected.

Some diacriticals in the text could not be represented in 7 bit ASCII text and have been approximated here. To restore all formatting, do the following throughout the text:

Replace the pound symbol "" with the English pound symbol Place an acute accent over the "e" in "Nombe", "acces", "Amawombe", and "fiance", and the first "e" in "Bayete" Place a circumflex accent over the "u" in "Harut" and the "o" in "role" Place a grave accent over the "a" and circumflex accents over the first and third "e" in "tete a tete" Replace "oe" with the oe ligature in "manoeuvring"

FINISHED

by H. RIDER HAGGARD

DEDICATION

Ditchingham House, Norfolk, May, 1917... Continue reading book >>

Genres for this book
Fiction
Literature
War stories

eBook links
Wikipedia – Henry Rider Haggard
Wikipedia – Finished

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