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3.16 AVERAGE
3.16 AVERAGE
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I have wanted to read She for so long, at first enflamed by the knowledge that one of my favourite writers, J. R. R. Tolkien, loved it and was inspired by it, and many years small embers were added to to the pile from various places where the author H. Rider Haggard was touted to be a juggernaut of adventure fiction. Having read She, the praise is well-deserved. Haggard is an excellent writer of adventure, and I was surprised to find that even elements of Gothic mystery and even a pinch of Lovecraftian horror permeated through the text, most stronger in the latter half. Haggard even goes philosophical in certain sections, and these too are rendered with polished prose and deep thoughts—and never once did they feel like asides from the main yarn but a natural part of its unravelling.
“Is there no man that will draw my veil and look upon my face, for it is very fair? Unto him who draws my veil shall I be, and peace will I give him, and sweet children of knowledge and good works.”
And a voice cried, “Through all those who seek after thee desire thee, behold! Virgin art thou, and Virgin shall thou go till Time be done. No man is there born of woman who may draw thy veil and live, nor shall be. By Death only can thy veil be drawn, oh Truth!”
And Truth stretched out her arms and wept, because those who sought her might not find her, nor look upon her face to face.
And in all this, the titular character ‘She’ takes the spotlight with her Ozymandian pride, her Siren-like beauty, her Circean infatuation, and her cynical philosophy (which we never truly excavate). He loves deeply as she hates, her mirth is as deep as her sorrow, and her moods are fickle but at the same time measured. She is an awesome figure in the realm of stories, a terrible and sublime villain, cruel and cunning to those who oppose her, yet warm and friendly to those who find favour with her.
Go and read She and meet She.
WARNING: Imperialism, racism and misogyny ...
... but cleverly written and as a product of its times it's quite an interesting cross-section of history. the deep influences of this novel make the original seem trite and simple at times, but when you remember - THIS is where these themes began... it's quite fun.
... but cleverly written and as a product of its times it's quite an interesting cross-section of history. the deep influences of this novel make the original seem trite and simple at times, but when you remember - THIS is where these themes began... it's quite fun.
Interesting late 1800s book. Travel to Africa to seek out a woman who never dies and the unknown area she lives in.
adventurous
informative
medium-paced
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
adventurous
slow-paced
A great introduction, by Margaret Atwood, attached to a meandering, Victorian narrative.
What to make of this book?
This is the first Haggard book I have read, and one of his earliest books (his second success). The pacing is uneven, the plot is full of holes, and the writing can be terrible—he often runs out of over-blown adjectives so it seems he repeats the word “hideous” 10 times in 3 sentences. Nonetheless he manages to keep the story entertaining and engaging. He certainly is wildly imaginative and deserves props for creating a whole new genre (and being often imitated in books and films).
I also don’t find his racism or sexism too off the charts or obnoxious for a 19th century Englishman. The main character ends up longing for the days where polyandry will become the norm and describes positively a female led society. Sure he looks down on savages and poor people, yet he develops a true friendship with a “native” and gives arguments in favor of respecting cultural differences. He also has a deep respect for his old, not too bright servant. The only people Haggard truly despises are Jews (the “Hebrew” race) whom he has She viciously attack not once, but twice. But if Jew-hatred/stereotyping disqualifies English literature there wouldn’t be much to read out there, would there? (Ironically his main biographer was a Jew—Morton Cohen, how’s that for a stereotypical Jewish name?)
Finally, to his credit, he does on occasion rise above genre writing and raise interesting philosophical issues regarding sex, aging, culture and society. He puts highly unconventional views (even by modern standards) in the mouth of She and raises ideas clearly influenced by Indian & Chinese philosophies (albeit filtered through Victorian spiritualism).
I would give this 3.5 if I could (lost points for bad writing) and definitely recommend this book.
In regards to dealing with his uneven writing, I highly recommend listening to The Classic Tales audio book version which offers this book for free. BJ Harrison gives life to Haggard’s purple prose and makes it bearable . His excellent recitation style carries you through the boring bits and somehow makes the blow-hard narrator less insufferable.
This is the first Haggard book I have read, and one of his earliest books (his second success). The pacing is uneven, the plot is full of holes, and the writing can be terrible—he often runs out of over-blown adjectives so it seems he repeats the word “hideous” 10 times in 3 sentences. Nonetheless he manages to keep the story entertaining and engaging. He certainly is wildly imaginative and deserves props for creating a whole new genre (and being often imitated in books and films).
I also don’t find his racism or sexism too off the charts or obnoxious for a 19th century Englishman. The main character ends up longing for the days where polyandry will become the norm and describes positively a female led society. Sure he looks down on savages and poor people, yet he develops a true friendship with a “native” and gives arguments in favor of respecting cultural differences. He also has a deep respect for his old, not too bright servant. The only people Haggard truly despises are Jews (the “Hebrew” race) whom he has She viciously attack not once, but twice. But if Jew-hatred/stereotyping disqualifies English literature there wouldn’t be much to read out there, would there? (Ironically his main biographer was a Jew—Morton Cohen, how’s that for a stereotypical Jewish name?)
Finally, to his credit, he does on occasion rise above genre writing and raise interesting philosophical issues regarding sex, aging, culture and society. He puts highly unconventional views (even by modern standards) in the mouth of She and raises ideas clearly influenced by Indian & Chinese philosophies (albeit filtered through Victorian spiritualism).
I would give this 3.5 if I could (lost points for bad writing) and definitely recommend this book.
In regards to dealing with his uneven writing, I highly recommend listening to The Classic Tales audio book version which offers this book for free. BJ Harrison gives life to Haggard’s purple prose and makes it bearable . His excellent recitation style carries you through the boring bits and somehow makes the blow-hard narrator less insufferable.
Please Haggard I’m on my hands and knees begging you to stop using “ejaculated” as a verb