Allan's Wife

Allan Quatermain #4

by H. Rider Haggard

The third novel H. Rider Haggard's celebrated Allan Quatermain series, this book tells more stories of Quartermain's time in South Africa--presenting his observations about two dueling witch doctors, his father's death, and, eventually, the fate of his wife, Stella.

Excerpt:
For a moment I literally staggered beneath the terror of the shock. Then I roused myself from my despair. I bade the native run and alarm the people at the kraals, telling them to come armed, and bring me guns and ammunition. He went like the wind, and I turned to follow the spoor. For a few yards it was plain enough--Stella had been dragged along.

Genres: Adventure, Classics, Fiction, Historical Fiction, Fantasy, Novels, Victorian

112 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 1, 1889

About the author

Sir Henry Rider Haggard, KBE was an English writer of adventure novels set in exotic locations, predominantly Africa, and the creator of the Lost World literary genre. His stories, situated at the lighter end of the scale of Victorian literature, continue to be popular and influential. He was also involved in agricultural reform and improvement in the British Empire.

His breakout novel was King Solomon's Mines (1885), which was to be the first in a series telling of the multitudinous adventures of its protagonist, Allan Quatermain.

Haggard was made a Knight Bachelor in 1912 and a Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1919. He stood unsuccessfully for Parliament as a Conservative candidate for the Eastern division of Norfolk in 1895. The locality of Rider, British Columbia, was named in his memory.

Reviews

[Louie the Mustache Matos · Rating 4 out of 5]

In a review that I gave earlier in 2022, I relayed how I came to acquire a 60-plus novel compendium of Sir Henry Rider Haggard books and how my intention is to read as many of these as I can, expecting to read them over the course of several years. This is my second review of an Allan Quartermain work, as organized in said compendium. I continue to be awed by the intrinsic value that these adventure stories provide as sheer escapist entertainment. In Allan’s Wife, the story is told that when Allan was just a boy still in England, Stella and her father were visiting the Quartermains before leaving for Africa in avoidance of British society, because Stella’s mother had run off. During the visit, Allan at 9-years-old saved Stella from a horrific death or at least severe injury from burning. Later in life, Stella returns the favor and saves Allan (not a spoiler). Along the way, there is tragedy, adventure, a more-than passing love/respect of African indigenous cultures and wildlife, and (the most fear-inducing) several horrific encounters with baboons. This novel was written in 1889 which warrants consideration as a classic (longevity and exceptionalism are my two literary criteria for classic consideration) which I am inclined to call this. I found this wonderfully enjoyable, but in recognizing the British colonialization of Africa, I have to give this 4 and a half Grey Geeks or 4 stars in the Goodreads vernacular.

[Joseph · Rating 3 out of 5]

Probably closer to a 3.5.

So H. Rider Haggard had a bit of a Reichenbach Falls problem ... In 1885, in his (fabulously successful) novel King Solomon's Mines, he had created Allan Quatermain, an English hunter who'd spent most of his life wandering the wilds of Africa before being recruited to join the search for the titular mines. And then in 1887, in the sequel Allan Quatermain, at the end of the book he had (spoiler alert for a 130+ year old novel) killed Quatermain off. What to do? Obviously, start writing prequels!

The story of Allan's Wife will be no great surprise, simply based on the title and a certain familiarity with Quatermain's history as sketched out in the previous books. We begin with young (age 9-ish) Allan at home in England meeting young Stella; then, Stella's mother abandons her husband (more than a whiff of scandal), leaving him a broken man who decamps with his daughter for Africa with the intention of living as far away from "civilized" men as possible. Then, a few years later, Allan's mother and three brothers all succumb to ... well, some common disease or other; and Allan & his father find themselves en route to Africa. Fast-forward another 10-15 years and Allan, himself newly orphaned, finds himself on a trek through the bush during which he encounters hostile Zulus and (surprise!) Stella & her father, now living, as promised, far, far away from civilization. (And, because Quatermain is who he is, there's also a selection of African wildlife to run in front of his guns.)

This one was ... fine, I guess. No major lost civilizations or anything; and the romance seems a bit ... perfunctory. But it got the job done, and there was plenty of action. The portrayal of the natives was ... not great, but, as usual for Haggard, it was relatively respectful and based on actual experience; probably about as good as you're going to find in a book of this vintage.

EDIT: Oh, and I forgot the baboons! They're also menaced by a large & nasty tribe of baboons; relatedly, Stella & her father have taken in an orphan girl (white, so presumably a child of other English settlers, or maybe the Boers) who was taken in & raised by the baboons, and who speaks their language and has some remarkable physical abilities. Hmmm … Whom does that remind me of?

This was also a pretty short one -- maybe novella-length? -- originally published as part of a collection with a couple of other Quatermain stories.

[Craig · Rating 3 out of 5]

Allan's Wife is set early in the chronology of Haggard's heroic great white hunter, with sequences set in his English childhood and his earliest years in Africa. There are some racist/imperialistic prejudices and attitudes that will offend people who don't stop to think that it's for a book written almost a century-and-a-half in the past for popular British consumption, and in that light it's remarkably free of such. The natives are regarded with great respect for the most part. There's also an implied predatory Lesbian character, a feral woman named Frederika (who's been raised by baboons a quarter of a century before Lord Greystoke hit the scene) who is infatuated with Stella, the woman Allan married and who becomes the mother of their son, Harry. It's a somewhat unlikely romance novel/tragedy, and readers of his wildly successful earlier novels already know how it all turned out. There's less apocalyptic adventure than in many of Haggard's books, but it fills in some interesting details of Allan's life and is an interesting story. I listened to a fine reading of it via Librivox.

[Stephen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Rider Haggard. I started the Allan Quatermain series with King Solomon's Mines and followed through until he was killed off. Thankfully when the books were being written, Haggard realized he had a great character that he had just murdered, so he wrote the prequels. This is one of those. It tells the story of Allan Meeting his wife, the jealousy of the woman raised by baboons, and her actions in murdering Allan's wife. His wife dies in childbirth due to complications of the baboon woman's actions. This is a fun read that gives us a more human side of Allan. He's not just the great white hunter, he is a man who loved, lost, and deals with his loss.

For all those of you who are going to cry racism, etc. Let me remind you that the Allan Quatermain series was written long before you were ever born. It is a product of a time when British Colonialism was in full swing and the British considered civilized society more important and developed than the wild hinterlands. This is not racism to be looked down upon, this is a reality of history being reflected in a book. Read about it and learn.

[Rob · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm working my way through the Quatermain tales in order of publication. If this one is any indication, they're going to get progressively stranger. Haggard has gone from a 'lost' African tribe (King Solomon's Mines), to a lost 'white' tribe (Allan Quatermain) to this tale of a rediscovered, abandoned marble city and Hendricka, the baboon-woman.

Nope, didn't make an error there. Baboon-woman.

What I love about this is that, other than some vague speculation by some of the characters, there's no real effort made to explain the existence of a baboon-woman. She simply is, if you understand me. There's a certain charm in that. Other that that, Haggard keeps the tone and 'voice' of Quatermain consistant, (see my review of Allan Quatermain for more on that) and I'm still enjoying that, and so I'm going to move on to the next tale.

[Cait · Rating 1 out of 5]

nan, I have GOT to stop reading books recommended by emma donoghue. this was a STRUGGLE to get through.

the racism is uh lush and ripe here. just like staggering. I was honestly surprised that in this racist book written in 1889 by a white englishman about south africa that the 'baboon-woman' hendrika is white (I guess he couldn't bear to give a black woman that much screen time and what little complexity hendrika is afforded??? or because pseudo-bestial lesbianism is more acceptable than interracial lesbianism??????), but not to worry, there are plenty other instances of grotesque racism to choose from!!!!!

also features a bunch of made-up shit (which like...........I THINK SPILLED OVER INTO OTHER MEDIA???? there is a t'chaka in this book and I googled it to confirm but yeah looks like it's not a "real" name [although someone please correct me if I'm wrong] so I'm like dear good did marvel get that from h. rider haggard.). anyway, this is the funniest line in the whole novella because like THIS is the #discrimination allan cares about:

“That is what comes of marrying a papist, Carson,” said my father. That was his fault; he was as good and charitable a man as ever lived, but he was bigoted.

hendrika is like theeeee ultimate in predatory lesbians, though (“I killed her!” the dying woman faltered, “and I loved her. Yes, yes, I know now. I became a brute again and dragged her to the brutes, and now once more I am a woman, and she is dead, and I killed her—because I loved her so”). which is why emma donoghue recommended this book for its like literary value slash academic interest re: historical depictions of that lesbic love that dare not lick its name or whatever.

“Hendrika,” I said, “why were you watching Miss Stella and myself in the garden?”

She drew her lips up till her teeth gleamed in the moonlight.

“Have I not watched her these many years, Macumazahn? Shall I cease to watch because a wandering white man comes to steal her? Why were you kissing her in the garden, Macumazahn? How dare you kiss her who is a star?”

“I kissed her because I love her, and because she loves me,” I answered. “What has that to do with you, Hendrika?”

“Because you love her,” she hissed in answer; “and do I not love her also, who saved me from the babyans? I am a woman as she is, and you are a man, and they say in the kraals that men love women better than women love women. But it is a lie, though this is true, that if a woman loves a man she forgets all other love. Have I not seen it? I gather her flowers—beautiful flowers; I climb the rocks where you would never dare to go to find them; you pluck a piece of orange bloom in the garden and give it to her. What does she do?—she takes the orange bloom, she puts it in her breast, and lets my flowers die. I call to her—she does not hear me—she is thinking. You whisper to some one far away, and she hears and smiles. She used to kiss me sometimes; now she kisses that white brat you brought, because you brought it. Oh, I see it all—all; I have seen it from the first; you are stealing her from us, stealing her to yourself, and those who loved her before you came are forgotten. Be careful, Macumazahn, be careful, lest I am revenged upon you. You, you hate me; you think me half a monkey; that servant of yours calls me Baboon-woman. Well, I have lived with baboons, and they are clever—yes, they can play tricks and know things that you don’t, and I am cleverer than they, for I have learnt the wisdom of white people also, and I say to you, Walk softly, Macumazahn, or you will fall into a pit,” and with one more look of malice she was gone.

I stood for a moment reflecting. I was afraid of this strange creature who seemed to combine the cunning of the great apes that had reared her with the passions and skill of human kind. I foreboded evil at her hands. And yet there was something almost touching in the fierceness of her jealousy. It is generally supposed that this passion only exists in strength when the object loved is of another sex from the lover, but I confess that, both in this instance and in some others which I have met with, this has not been my experience. I have known men, and especially uncivilized men, who were as jealous of the affection of their friend or master as any lover could be of that of his mistress; and who has not seen cases of the same thing where parents and their children are concerned? But the lower one gets in the scale of humanity, the more readily this passion thrives; indeed, it may be said to come to its intensest perfection in brutes. Women are more jealous than men, small-hearted men are more jealous than those of larger mind and wider sympathy, and animals are the most jealous of all. Now Hendrika was in some ways not far removed from animal, which may perhaps account for the ferocity of her jealousy of her mistress’s affection.

I mean, who can blame hendrika when allan comes in for like TWO SECONDS and then immediately marries stella and everybody's like yes we love this big fans!!! three cheers for heterosexuality!!!

"My people, Macumazahn and the Star, my daughter, are now man and wife, to live in one kraal, to eat of one bowl, to share one fortune till they reach the grave."

hendrika stays committed to the end; #noragrets.

“Macumazahn has robbed me of the love of my mistress. I would have robbed him of his life, which is a little thing compared to that which I have lost at his hands. I have failed, and I am sorry for it, for had I killed him and left no trace the Star would have forgotten him and shone on me again.”

unfortunately, though, as usual, where donoghue finds interesting things to analyze, I find myself bored to tears. save yourself the time and read inseparable for the highlight reel. or watch the league of extraordinary gentlemen movie (bc tbh I cannot in good faith recommend the comic) if you're really craving the allan quatermain goods and want some stupid fun. don't waste your time and life like I did.

“What is it all for?” she asked earnestly. “What do they seek? Having so few years to live, why do they waste them thus?”

if you find out, stella...LET ME KNOW.

+ surprised me with its use of 'an awkward customer'! I would have thought that was later.

+ not to sound annoying about it but the elephant-hunting scene honestly really bothered me. allan quatermain! the worst! booo!

+ fuck landlords too for good measure!!!

And now, there is one more thing: when I left England my fortunes were in a shattered condition; in the course of years they have recovered themselves, the accumulated rents, as I heard but recently, when the waggons last returned from Port Natal, have sufficed to pay off all charges, and there is a considerable balance over. Consequently you will not marry on nothing, for of course you, Stella, are my heiress.

and that's what u missed on the allan quatermain show!

Then she turned and walked past me, and as she passed whispered a native phrase in my ear, that, being literally translated, means, “Till another moon,” but which has the same significance as the French “au revoir.”

[Bruce · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am working my way through the Allan Quatermain books, and have finished King Solomon's Mines, which was the best so far, as well as Allan Quatermain, which had an interesting Lost World premise, but was just too wordy at 312 pages for the story it told. Allan's Wife is the third in the series, and I found it quite enjoyable, with a pace that was quicker than either of the two which preceded it. More of an adventure story than the other two, which focus on Lost Worlds, this tale just tells us the backstory of Allan Quatermain and how he came to find his great love and then tragically lose her. An enjoyable read.

[H.L. Stephens · Rating 3 out of 5]

Perhaps not his most exciting work by far when compared to his other books about the Dark Continent, this book took some getting into. I am a huge fan of Haggard and so I read it through to the end, enjoying the language and art of the man who wrote it. I will most likely not revisit it again, though one never knows what one will do on a snowy afternoon. All in all, it was a good book.

[Mark Smeltz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Smaller in scope than King Solomon's Mines/Allan Quatermain, and better for it. A more intimate, simple story. The character of Hendrika may well be more fascinating than that of Gagool.

[Paul Cornelius · Rating 4 out of 5]

Darwinian thought influences Allan's Wife and the other tales contained herein more forthrightly than anything else by Haggard I have so far read. In fact, in the story, "Long Odds," he directly employs the term, "survival of the fittest." This is as close to literary naturalism as you will find in any of his works. The hunting short stories, in particular, focus on a perceived realism, although the descriptions of animal behavior are exaggerated and, indeed, often incorrect, and they combine this realism with an emphasis on the rawness of nature and the combat necessary simply to get from one day to the next. It is harrowing stuff.

But it is in the title story/novel/novella, or however it may best be termed, that Haggard really gets around to dealing with notions of naturalism in literature. Taking up a trope common to European mythology, the feral White child, which can be seen even in the foundation stories applied to the creation of Rome, Haggard transplants the idea to Africa. Here, a White feral girl is raised by a troop of baboons, until she is rescued by a young woman who will become Allan Quatermain's wife.

Named Hendrika, the feral girl can not only communicate in "baboon talk" but also trains herself up in ways that manifest the strength, agility, and balance of those apes. Brought into the home of Stella Carson and her father, Hendrika is civilized and made a part of the family. All works well until Allan's arrival unleashes a streak of jealousy and hatred in Hendrika that leads to yet more adventure and tragedy.

Clearly, Haggard anticipates Edgar Rice Burroughs' Tarzan by almost a quarter of a century. (Burroughs, by the way, along with Zane Grey, would bring literary naturalism to the forefront of the American bestseller in the years right before World War I.) But Haggard does so in his own unique way. And this is what makes his protagonist, Allan, so interesting. Far from the indomitable, perfect White hero, ruling over the plains and jungles of Africa, Quatermain is a flawed man, stubborn, easily put into moods, doubting, and, worst of all, someone who frequently makes the wrong decision, even as his instincts try to warn him off taking errant paths. In Allan's Wife, these flaws multiply, especially when the skeptical Allan refuses to listen to the warnings his African friend, a seer, constantly supplies. This thematic tension, between rational skepticism and mysticism runs throughout the Quatermain series of books. And, in this particular tale, Allan's refusal to listen to advice has consequences that forever sadden his life.

[Slinkyboy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another fine installment in the adventures of Allan Quatermain.

And once again, the most interesting character is the native African Allan pals around with. This time it's Indaba-zimbi.

[Noor · Rating 5 out of 5]

شہر خاموشاں
Allen's Wife by Sir Henry Rider Haggard
میری ہنری رائیڈر ہیگارڈ اور مظہر الحق علوی کی کتابوں سے پہلی ملاقات دریائے گنج کے اتوار کے کتاب بازار میں ہوئی تھی، جہاں میں پرانی کتابوں کی خریداری کے لیے گیا تھا۔ یہ وہ جگہ تھی جہاں ہر اتوار کو کتابوں کی ایک دنیا آباد ہوتی تھی، لیکن مجھے یقین نہیں کہ اب بھی یہ بازار لگتا ہے یا نہیں۔ اس دن میں نے ہیگارڈ کی کچھ انگریزی ناولوں کی اردو تراجم دیکھے، جن میں سے ایک مظہر الحق علوی کا ترجمہ تھا۔ اس پہلی ملاقات نے مجھے ان کی تحریروں کی طرف کھینچ لیا۔ بعد میں، میں نے مظہر الحق علوی کی تقریباً تمام تحریریں پڑھیں اور ان کا زندگی بھر کا مداح بن گیا۔ ان کی تراجم اور اصل کہانیاں مجھے ہمیشہ متاثر کرتی رہیں۔

میری اس کہانی سے محبت کا ایک اور دلچسپ پہلو اس کی ہندی آڈیو ورژن ہے، جو ریڈیو کے ذریعے وویدھ بھارتی (विविध भारती) پر نشر ہوا کرتا تھا۔ میں اس آڈیو کی سننے کا شوقین تھا، جو ایک جادوئی تجربہ تھا – آوازوں کی لہروں میں گھل مل کر، یہ سننے والے کو براہ راست افریقہ کے جنگلوں میں پہنچا دیتا تھا۔ ڈرامائی آوازیں، پس منظر کی آہنگیں اور کہانی کی تیز رفتار پیشکش نے مجھے ہمیشہ مسحور کر رکھا، جیسے میں خود ایلن کوارٹر مین کے ساتھ مہم جوئی پر نکل پڑا ہوں، اور یہ شوق آج بھی میری یادوں میں زندہ ہے۔

"شہر خاموشاں"، جو ہنری رائیڈر ہیگارڈ کے "ایلنز وائف" کا اردو ترجمہ ہے، ایک دلچسپ مہم جوئی کی کہانی ہے جو افریقہ کی زندگی کو تفصیل سے بیان کرتی ہے۔ ناول میں ایلن کوارٹر مین کی ابتدائی زندگی، اس کی بیوی سٹیلا سے ملاقات اور افریقہ کے جنگلوں، قبائلی زندگی، جنگلی جانوروں اور پراسرار مقامات کی تصویر کشی کی گئی ہے۔ افریقہ کی زندگی کو ہیگارڈ نے ایسے بیان کیا ہے کہ قاری کو محسوس ہوتا ہے جیسے وہ خود زولو قبائل کے درمیان ہے، قدرتی مناظر کی خوبصورتی اور خطرات کو محسوس کر رہا ہے۔ کہانی میں محبت، مہم جوئی اور غم کی آمیزش ہے، جو افریقہ کی ثقافت اور زندگی کے مختلف پہلوؤں کو اجاگر کرتی ہے۔

ہنری رائیڈر ہیگارڈ مہم جوئی کی صنف میں ایک اہم مقام رکھتے ہیں۔ انہوں نے "لوسٹ ورلڈ" کی ادبی صنف کو مقبول بنایا، جہاں افریقہ جیسے دور دراز مقامات پر مبنی کہانیاں لکھیں جو قاری کو ایک نئی دنیا میں لے جاتی ہیں۔ ان کی کتابیں جیسے "کنگ سلیمانز مائنز" اور "شی" نے مہم جوئی کی ادبی تاریخ کو تبدیل کر دیا، اور "ایلنز وائف" بھی اسی سلسلے کی ایک کڑی ہے جو افریقہ کی پراسراریت اور مہم جوئی کو زندہ کرتی ہے۔

مظہر الحق علوی کی ترجمہ کی مہارت غیر معمولی ہے۔ انہوں نے اصل متن کو اردو میں اس طرح منتقل کیا ہے کہ اس کی روح برقرار رہتی ہے۔ وہ لمحات کو تفصیل سے بیان کرتے ہیں، جیسے افریقہ کے مناظر یا کرداروں کی جذبات کو، اور اس میں اپنی تخلیقی چھاپ بھی شامل کرتے ہیں جو ترجمہ کو مزید دلچسپ بناتی ہے۔ ان کی زبان سادہ مگر پر اثر ہے، جو قاری کو کہانی میں غرق کر دیتی ہے۔ یہ ترجمہ ہیگارڈ کی اصل تحریر کی قدر کو مزید بڑھاتا ہے اور اردو قارئین کے لیے ایک شاندار تحفہ ہے۔

[Farseer · Rating 4 out of 5]

King Solomon's Mines introduced Allan Quatermain and his friends Sir Henry Curtis and Captain Good, having extraordinary, Indiana-Jones-like adventures in unkown 19th century Africa. The eponymous novel (Allan Quatermain), had more adventures with those characters and also dealt with Allan's last days.

In this prequel, we start back at Allan's childhood, showing how he first met his future wife, and how his father and him migrated to Africa after the rest of the family died. The novel proper starts when Allan's father eventually dies, and Allan, now a young man, starts traveling in Africa. As the title suggests, this one also shows how he meets his wife again, and how they get in love and get married. Of course, it has more extraordinary adventures, involving a character who has been raised by baboons (a precedent of Tarzan).

The novel is quite short, and your enjoyment of it will depend on whether you enjoy Haggart's style. 19th century adventure novels are an acquired taste, after all. Haggard, of course, being a man of his time, did not have 21st century ideas about colonialism, so this shows how Europeans of the time saw the natives. However, he knew Africa, and he had respect for some natives. Here we get one of those noble African characters as a companion, in this case a magical man. It can be considered fantasy, because although Haggard likes to leave magic a bit ambiguous, it's strongly implied in the story that it works.

[CynthyB · Rating 3 out of 5]

I gave "Allan's Wife" three stars only because, (even though it was almost as riveting as other Haggard books), I was disappointed that this story proved inconsistent among his novels that involve the same character (Allan Quatermain) which have always been so wholly consistent in every detail. After reading "Marie," (a different story about Allan's"only" wife), I was expecting some allusion to the character "Marie" and there never was any. The story-lines were both similar, as well. Maybe Haggard was trying a different version of the story of Allan's wife out, but his current readers wouldn't know this.

Still, a really interesting story, as always. Gotta love Rider Haggard's storytelling prowess.

[Islay Tonkinese · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am reading the Quatermain novels in chronological order and while "Allan's Wife" is a fast-paced and exciting story, it is rife with canonical inconsistencies. It does have some interesting supporting characters such as Indaba-zimba, the witch-doctor and friend to our hero and Hendrika, the Baboon Woman, a literary predecessor to Tarzan. "Allan's Wife" does feature some fine moments - the arrival in Babyan Krall and the Zulu attack on the Boer lagaar stand out but overall it disappointed me by its implausible and confusing place in the Quatermain chronology. Perhaps I would have enjoyed it more if I had read on its own merits and not in comparison to the much better novel about another of Allan's wives, the eponymously titled "Marie". Still, it is a quick read and a fun one at that.

[Trounin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Хаггард осознал ошибку. Нельзя ставить точку в истории, если есть возможность продолжать её рассказывать. Пусть Аллан умер, зато жива память о нём. Значит нужно приступать к раскрытию белых пятен его жизни. Нужно сообщить, что он родился в Англии в семье миссионера, рано отправился вместе с отцом на Чёрный континент, где жил без забот, пока не осиротел. Именно с такой завязки начинается повествование о знакомстве с девушкой, которую Аллан некогда спас. Теперь, спустя десятилетия, пришло время для её поисков. И читатель уже знает, она станет его женой, поскольку то ему сообщается с первых страниц.

(c) Trounin

[Aleksei Uljassov · Rating 5 out of 5]

I do not know how Henry Haggard Rider did it, but the stories about Allan I read so far are great.
This story is about Allan's wife, but also, I would say about his family.
Allan's personal and family life is truly tragic, the book is filled with trauma.
If three previous books were filled with adventure and action where this one filled with adventure and drama.

[Joel Jenkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Haggard writes really great stuff. In this one Quatermain loves wins, then loses. This also includes Haggard's version of Tarzan, except she is female and not quite so sympathetic a character. I believe this book was written prior to the first Tarzan book, however.

[Joanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Ed Underfinger · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love classic adventure tales like this.

[John C. Malcolm · Rating 4 out of 5]

Classic adventure! The baboons creeped me out.Plenty of action in
Haggard’s inimitable style.

[Dan Blackley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Third in the series, it's about his wife, Stella. This is a shorter novel, but it is very interesting to read about Allan's past relationship.

[Erik · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another good adventure yarn, telling the story of how he met Stella, his wife at age 20-21.

[Fred · Rating 4 out of 5]

Refreshing adventure.

[Michael Jeffries · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good story going back to see young Allan and his meeting, courting, and marriage to his wife, Stella. Warns also against jealousy with its vile fruit.

[Sean Bester · Rating 3 out of 5]

A worthy follow-up (chronologically) to Marie, the first of Allan Quatermain novels! Although it retreads a lot of the same ground covered with the story of Allan and his first wife, this one is told quite differently and the ending really picks things up. I felt this one's characters were a little more cartoony, but somehow Haggard makes it work perfectly with his main.

I absolutely recommend reading this one right after Marie, even though I believe this one was written first? It makes sense that after two attempts, Allan never gets married again after this, and having a son will definitely make later novels interesting to see how that plays out.

I read this a few years ago and never reviewed it, but I'm going through the libribox audio recordings and revisited this one and it's just as fun as I remember. Not quite as long or intensely plotted as Marie was, but still pretty good overall.

[Daniel · Rating 2 out of 5]

While Quatermain doesn't exactly discover a whole new race in this book, we still wind up with the typical "few against the many" climactic battle that occur so frequently in his stories.

Allan's Wife is more or less a tragedy, and it suffers a little from it's prequel status, as well as the narrative style, both of which hint too much at the ending.

The baboon battle was a little too far fetched for me, as well as the use of magic which breaks the historical spell his books have had up till now.

[Amy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Fascinating read, but obviously very dated. I got annoyed with the racism and the typical Victorian ingenue that was at the heart of the story. Mainly read because I had downloaded it for free on Kindle by accident and figured I might as well get through it since it was quick. I learned some things, and it wasn't entirely worthless, but I wouldn't recommend it unless you are really into this type of story.

[Russell Hayes · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a collection of four short stories in the Allan Quatermain series. They are decent adventure stories that take place in Africa. The longer Quatermain books are better, because they pull you into the action more than these short tales by Allan, which are mainly just him relating particular hunts.

[George · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is Quatermain's story about his marriage to Stella. He often mentions her in King Solomon's Mines and Allan Quatermain and this fills in the details. Typical of Haggard's engrossing narrative style, it is a fantasy African adventure including magic and ghosts. It is a novella rather than a novel.