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Allan and the Holy Flower Hardcover – May 23, 2010

by H. Rider Haggard (Author)
4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 92 ratings
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This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the original. Due to its age, it may contain imperfections such as marks, notations, marginalia and flawed pages. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions that are true to the original work.
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  1. Print length
    296 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Kessinger Publishing, LLC
  4. Publication date
    May 23, 2010
  5. Dimensions
    7 x 0.69 x 10 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    1161420762
  7. ISBN-13
    978-1161420760
  8. See all details
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Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Kessinger Publishing, LLC (May 23, 2010)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 296 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1161420762
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1161420760
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.61 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 7 x 0.69 x 10 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 92 ratings

Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
4.4 out of 5
92 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Mary
5.0 out of 5 stars A timeless adventure story
Reviewed in the United States on July 9, 2010
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I thoroughly enjoyed this rousing adventure tale, and rate it 5 stars. The author is quite a talented writer, and this book did not seem a bit dated to me even though it is an older book. I would highly recommend it for all readers who enjoy great African adventure stories.
2 people found this helpful
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Reliquiae
4.0 out of 5 stars Another enjoyable Quatermain story
Reviewed in the United States on December 27, 2013
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This is a fairly good Kindle edition with an active TOC. No significant formatting issues except for the irritatingly large spacing between paragraphs.

Allan and the Holy Flower is notable for its place in the Allan Quatermain chronology, this one taking place in the protagonist's middle age. I enjoyed it as a serial volume, but it easily may be read as a standalone story. Like other Haggard novels, for its time and genre (i.e., 19th century Africa adventure), this one is well written but may seem dated and certainly slow-paced for readers of contemporary action and adventure.

Always intuitive of human nature, Haggard usually provides some penetrating and memorable insights. I especially liked these:

"I have always found that hour before the sky begins to lighten very trying indeed. As a rule everything that can be done is done, so that one must sit idle. Also it is then that both the physical and the moral qualities are at their lowest ebb, as is the mercury in the thermometer. The night is dying, the day is not yet born. All nature feels the influence of that hour. Then bad dreams come, then infants wake and call, then memories of those who are lost to us arise, then the hesitating soul often takes its plunge into the depths of the Unknown."

"After all, dangers are everywhere; those who turn back because of dangers will never succeed in any life that we can imagine."

"Often I have thought that if I were doomed to solitary confinement for life and allowed but one book, I would choose the Bible, since, in addition to all its history and the splendour of its language, it contains the record of the hope of man, and therefore should be sufficient for him."

While Allan and the Holy Flower was not my favorite of his books, still I've never read a disappointing Haggard story.
2 people found this helpful
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Soporifix
5.0 out of 5 stars a real book
Reviewed in the United States on October 5, 2013
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One of his best Quatermain novels, a real adventure full of action and vivid moments, very unexpected climax. We'll worth reading.
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Coby
5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
Reviewed in the United States on September 25, 2014
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Great
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doc spindrift
5.0 out of 5 stars Jungle drums
Reviewed in the United States on May 28, 2018
Great adventure in Africa in search of a rare orchid. The expedition also finds more than they bargain for in trouble with natives and slavers.
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Extollager
3.0 out of 5 stars Good later yarn by Haggard
Reviewed in the United States on September 5, 2005
Probably many people who have read widely in Haggard's works would agree with C. S. Lewis, who said that Haggard's later books are better written than the earlier ones, but have less mythopoeic power. My reading of 16 of the novels (so far) bears out the truth of Lewis's comment. Haggard himself claimed that his best work was done early one (say, King Solomon's Mines, She, Nada the Lily, Allan Quatermain, Eric Brighteyes, etc.) - - although it's been reported that he thought the relatively late Child of Storm was his best single book. (I don't know of any Haggard readers who would agree with that.)

Anyway, Allan and the Holy Flower proved to be a fine entertainment. I rate it 3 stars because it isn't on the level of other books by Haggard; but as a "good yarn" it's well worth reading.
4 people found this helpful
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Cedarlila
4.0 out of 5 stars Victorian Collecting Mania!
Reviewed in the United States on December 6, 2013
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I have been reading Allan and the Holy Flower, a H. Rider Haggard tale originally published in 1915. It’s ideal for reading out and about, as it’s not particularly mentally demanding. Like many Quartermain stories, it centers around a quest for something of value, in this case a fabled orchid. We get a glimpse of the Victorian mania for collecting and exploring as young Stephen hires Allan to help him locate and plunder this flower, which is also the god of a remote and bizarre tribe, along with a white goddess. It’s good, silly fun, with improbable rifle shots, a giant monkey fight in the jungle, and inhuman feats of strength by Quartermain. The true hero in the book, though, is his right-hand man in Africa, the shaman Mavovo. He is the only one who seems to know what’s going to happen.
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GPD
5.0 out of 5 stars A wonderful story full of excitement and suspense!
Reviewed in the United States on January 21, 2005
Haggard proved to me again that he is one of the greatest adventure novelists ever. His use of character development and scenery and culture is absolutely captivating. There is nothing predictable in the book, which is very refreshing. There is nothing I dislike more than a novel that is easy to predict what happens next.

By the time you've read an hour's worth, you're hooked, and loving and feeling for nearly every character in the book. Because of this and King Solomon's Mines, I intend to find and read every Haggard book I can get my hands on.
3 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

T Holland
3.0 out of 5 stars Three Stars
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 9, 2015
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Disappointing no dust jacket
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