Quatermain - H Rider Haggard

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Biographie:
Sir Henry Rider Haggard, KBE (22 June 1856 - 14 May 1925) was an English author. He wrote adventure novels in exotic settings, chiefly colonial Africa, where he lived, worked and travelled for several years. Professor JRR Tolkien greatly enjoyed Haggard's novels, in particular 'She' (1887) and 'Eric Brighteyes' (1891). Fantasy author H.P. Lovecraft, too, praised Haggard. Several of Haggard's books contain references to volcanoes. Reading them, one is reminded of Tolkien's descriptions of Mount Doom. In 'She', Haggard depicts marshlands reminiscent of the Dead Marshes in The Lord of the Rings. Haggard's protagonists, like Tolkien's, make long journeys, endure painful ordeals, travel underground and are often swept into wars. They encounter beings who are either impossibly long-lived or immortal. Landscape, rock formations and geography play a vital role in Haggard's adventures, as they do in Tolkien's work. To 21st century readers, some of Haggard's work may seem 'politically incorrect'. He was a man of his time, as we are people of ours. His books are not devoid of racism, sexism and ruthless exploitation of wild animals...

Sommaire:
Caught between the red and the black-Quatermain at war! In this, the fourth volume of Allan Quatermain's adventures in the turbulent world of nineteenth century Africa, our hero once again finds it impossible to lead the simple outdoor life of a hunter and trader that he always craves. Now it is the late 1870s and the imperial world powers are overtaking the remaining primitive corners of the globe. The British Empire now borders on Zululand and nothing will satisfy the British but the dissolution of the Zulu Impis themselves-in fact the destruction of the Zulu way of life. In 'Finished' Allan finds himself caught up in these momentous times. In 1879 the Zulu War breaks out and Allan finds himself at Isandlwhana within the doomed ranks of red soldiery. In the 'Ivory Child', Quatermain's adventures become more personal. A beautiful young woman has been abducted into Africa's dark heart to become an unholy priestess. She must be rescued but there are many perils and once again a war erupts between rival native factions which threatens to destroy Allan and his friends....