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3.16 AVERAGE
3.16 AVERAGE
Racist, misogynist, and in one bizarre passage harshly anti-Semitic, this book still somehow manages to be enjoyable. Its influence on adventure stories of the Indiana Jones variety is obvious, and its attractions are the same. The story is fun and exciting in the manner of a slightly cheesy adventure film, thought Haggard also works in some very clever and intricate narrative devices.
One of the few fantasy 'classics' that I have come across that was actually engaging to read. The anti-hero, Holly, made up for much of the charm lacking from Leo Vincey. Although the plot was predictable, the character of 'She' added a certain mystery and majesty to the story itself. The observations about foreigners are a product of the times and sometimes potentially offensive, of course, but if read with the historical context in mind, it is overall a good read.
What a weird book. First of all, this was written in 1887 and boy oh boy does it read like it. Slow. Very slow. Takes ages and ages to even leave England, and this is supposed to be ADVENTURE. Also: Chock full of racism, insistent on a woman's role (but doing badly in convincing the reader, seeing as Ayesha and Ustane are pretty interesting characters, but you're supposed to see them as Bad Examples and Unwomanly and so on), and really, really obsessed with the classics.
However, there were mummies burned as torches, unexplained and terrifying magic, and a sojourn deep into the earth, so I was at least interested enough to finish!
However, there were mummies burned as torches, unexplained and terrifying magic, and a sojourn deep into the earth, so I was at least interested enough to finish!
'She' is all right as an adventure story, if you can get past the overuse of description or the distinct lack of description (there is never any in between), but oh good lord racist. Incredibly racist. Really, really, properly racist. Also pretty sexist.