The Wanderer's Necklace

by H. Rider Haggard

A tale of good and evil, of epic battles, and of a hero with copmlete integrity who values duty above all else.

Genres: Fantasy, Fiction, Adventure, Classics, Historical Fiction, Historical, Heroic Fantasy

276 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1913

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

[Jess the Shelf-Declared Bibliophile · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting tale of a man’s journey through life and a mysterious quest to find the match to a necklace. While not especially captivating, it did keep me reading, and the times were interesting to read about and compare to what I know from history books and the Bible. I would consider reading this again in a few years to get a better understanding.

[Sumaîya Afrôze Puspîta · Rating 4 out of 5]

'শী' সিরিজ এবং 'দ্য পিপল অব দ্য মিস্ট' পড়ে হেনরির লেখার ভক্ত হয়ে গিয়েছিলাম। দীর্ঘদিন পর আবার আরেকটা পড়লাম; দ্য ওয়াণ্ডারার'স নেকলেস; সন্দেহ নেই, আবারও লেখার জাদুতে মজে গিয়েছি।

হেনরির লেখার জাদুটা এখানেই যে, উপন্যাস নিখাদ রোমান্টিকতার হলেও তাতে ইতিহাস, অ্যাডভেঞ্চার, যুদ্ধ, সাংঘর্ষিক মানবিক আচরণের এমন সংমিশ্রণ ঘটান, না পড়ে উঠবার জো নেই।

▪️▪️▪️

কয়েক শো বছর আগে... ভিনদেশি এক যুবকের সাথে সম্পর্কে জড়িয়ে পড়ে এক রাজকুমারী। রাজার ক্রোধের মুখে যুবককে পালিয়ে যেতে হয়। পালানোর আগে প্রেয়সীর কাছ থেকে চেয়ে নেয় একটি স্মৃতিচিহ্ন। মেয়েটি তার গলার নেকলেসের একটি টুকরো দেয় যুবককে; সাথে সাবধান‌ও করে– অন্য কোনো মেয়ের গলায় যদি ওই নেকলেস শোভা পায়, তবে সর্বনাশ হবে ওই মেয়ের! … … …

কীভাবে একটি নেকলেস এক‌ইসাথে চরম ভালোবাসার গুপ্তচাবি ও অভিশপ্ত হয়ে উঠতে পারে, তা ওলাফ-আইরিন-হেলিয়োডোরের সাথে পরিচিত না হলে জানা যাবে না! 'মার্টিনা' চরিত্রটিও সবার মন জয় করে নেবে। এছাড়া বাগদাদের খলিফা হারুন-অর-রশীদের ছোট্ট যে ভূমিকাটা আছে, সেটা পড়েও মজা পেয়েছি।

সবশেষে সায়েম সোলায়মানের রূপান্তর সত্যিই অসাধারণ ছিল। শব্দ নির্বাচন এত‌ই প্রাঞ্জল ছিল, পড়া শেষ করেও মনে হচ্ছে, পৃথিবীর কোথাও এখনও কোনো এক ওলাফ হেলিকে খুঁজে বেড়াচ্ছে গান গেয়ে–
কোথাও খুঁজে না পেয়ে তোমায়
হাজির হয়েছি এই প্রান্তে,
জবাব দাও, প্রিয়তমা,
স্বেচ্ছায় অথবা অজান্তে।

[Pranta Dastider · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a fantastic book! Full of ups and downs, unforeseen incidents. I can easily compare it with Rafael Sabatini's masterpiece- The Sea Hawk. At the core of the story there is a guy, who is much more than he seems. He is honest, brave, adventurous. Also from beginning to end he was a much emotional being. That's what made him humane in my eyes. And of course there is love. Love drives this story, love empowers it, and also corrupts it in insidious way. There is struggle for power, random kindness, true friendship, sacrifice, conspiracies and so on.

It felt like a story which can live random of ages. No matter how many years may have passed by, it may remain relevant and evergreen. Such a story should be read by all. I liked this book very very much.

[La Librería de Íñigo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Me he enamorado profundamente de esta novela

[Shahed Zaman · Rating 4 out of 5]

অনেকদিন পর সেই চিরচেনা হ্যাগার্ডের স্বাদ পেলাম।

[Calzean · Rating 4 out of 5]

Haggard knew how to spin an adventure story - spanning Vikings, Byzantium and Egypt. Heathens, Christians and Islam. Love, broken love, and timeless love. Friendship, broken friendships and friendships where honour must be obeyed. Ghosts, dreams and a mystery.

Our hero Olaf, is a poet, philosopher, honourable, General, confidante to an Empress, leader of men and women find him desirable - although he is faithful to a woman he has never met in this lifetime.

Haggard must have been the J.K. Rowling of his time.

[Sumaiyah · Rating 4 out of 5]

যেমন ভেবেছিলাম ঠিক তেমনই। ভালো লেগেছে।

[Lisa (Harmonybites) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is old-fashioned adventure with an emphasis on old fashioned. I'm not going to claim that Haggard even at his best is the same order of classic as the best by Charles Dickens, the Brontes, George Eliot or Thomas Hardy. But like fellow Victorians Arthur Conan Doyle or Robert Louis Stevenson or Rudyard Kipling, Haggard really could spin a good yarn, and the fantasy genre in general owes him a great debt. Ten of his books are on my bookshelves. I gobbled those up in my teens and most I remember very, very well even decades later. My favorite of his novels involve Ayesha, known as She-Who-Must-Be-Obeyed, especially the book Wisdom's Daughter. But, this is definitely one of the others I found greatly enjoyable, and Olaf is one of Haggard's most memorable heroes--again, old-fashioned, in good senses and bad. The sensibilities and stereotypes in Haggard's books are going to scrape against modern, politically correct sentiments--but they also present a hero for whom words like "duty" and "honor" aren't quaint relics--and there's more imagination and daring do in a novel like this one than you'll find in any ten published in fantasy today. Colorful is how I'd put it, at times bordering on the purple, but certainly not dull.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

On finishing this book tonight, I have resolved to read it to my children nightly until it's done.

Exotic lands, adventure, romance. This is the second book I've read by H. Rider Haggard and I am now a devoted fan.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Filing this one away to read to my son in a few years. A great tale on how to be noble, merciful, and faithful no matter what the cost.

[Voracious · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rip-roaring good yarn. Must read a few more of his books. I think this style of writing would still appeal to boys today. I'll test it on D.

[নাঈম ইসলাম · Rating 4 out of 5]

গল্পের আমার প্রিয় একটি লাইন-"ভ্যালহাল্লা! ভ্যালহাল্লা! বিজয় অথবা ভ্যালহাল্লা!!

[Bros · Rating 3 out of 5]

Una raccolta di racconti lunghi, piacevoli da leggere, scritti in uno stile scorrevole e affatto pesante.

[Antonio Ippolito · Rating 4 out of 5]

H. Rider Haggard è noto soprattutto per “Le miniere di Salomone” e i suoi sèguiti, ambientati in quell’Africa che gli Stati europei cercavano, a gara, di conquistare. Ma scrisse anche romanzi di ambientazione storica diversa: questo Olaf è un caso particolare, perché, anche se il suo protagonista è un vichingo, la storia spazia per tre ambienti ben diversi: Danimarca vichinga, Bisanzio, Egitto musulmano (in Italia è stato pubblicato sia in un volume dalla Nord, sia diviso in tre volumetti dalla Newton Compton; a parte edizioni più antiche).
Il giovane Olaf è un vichingo anomalo: sebbene il coraggio non gli manchi, preferisce cantare e scrivere poesie, e per questo è considerato con perplessità dagli altri, anche se si dimostra capace di uccidere un orso bianco. Sfidato da Iduna la Bella, di cui è infatuato, vìola l’antica tomba del Vagabondo e ne sottrae una stupenda collana di fattura egizia (da qui il titolo originale “The Wanderer's necklace”): ma una profezia di Freydisa, vergine consacrata a Odino, lo avvisa che quella collana porterà disgrazia a qualunque donna, tranne che alla predestinata; e gli lascia capire che costei, se esiste e se riuscirà a trovarla, sarà una reincarnazione di una donna amata secoli prima dal Vagabondo, così come Olaf sarebbe una reincarnazione del Vagabondo stesso.
Comincia così l’irrequieta vita di Olaf, che in cerca di gloria e del suo eterno amore, abbandona la patria nordica.
Innanzitutto si stabilirà a Bisanzio. Il quadro storico è preciso: anno più anno meno, siamo nel 787, anno in cui l’imperatrice-reggente Irene, vedova di Leone IV e madre di Costantino VI, indìce il secondo concilio di Nicea ottenendo che si tornino a venerare le immagini, mentre in Europa Occidentale Carlomagno sta cercando di ricostruire un impero, e a Bagdad Harun-al-Rashid, il Califfo celebrato dalle Mille e Una Notte, regna su uno dei periodi più splendidi della civiltà araba. Insomma un’epoca in cui i secoli più bui dell’Alto medioevo cominciano a essere alle spalle e si cerca di ricostruire un ordine sociale, soprattutto in Europa dove mancava.

La forma narrativa scelta è quella della prima persona: Olaf stesso, da un futuro lontano e imprecisato (ulteriori incarnazioni?) racconta la sua vita, divisa in tre libri; ognuno di questi è diviso in quadri narrativi, scene di cui spesso non ricorda i collegamenti. Con questa tecnica c’è poca suspence, ma in compenso la narrazione è molto fluida.
Davvero molto belle le scene di vita nordica, come la caccia all’orso bianco e la battaglia notturna tra due spedizioni vichinghe che si scontrano in mare aperto, oppure i sacrifici fatti a Odino; e anche le battaglie che gli Uomini del Nord (mai chiamati “Vichinghi” dall’autore) ingaggiano a Bisanzio contro i “corrotti Greci”. Il braccio destro di Olaf, Jodd, è un personaggio che sarebbe piaciuto a R.E.Howard: barbaro, sprezzante della civiltà, capace di deriderla e di combatterla con astuzia.
Nel complesso però l’ispirazione di Rider Haggard è opposta a quella dell’autore texano: qui siamo nell’Inghilterra edoardiana e colonialista, e il barbaro Olaf, in realtà, anela alla civiltà e a un ordine spirituale superiore. Già in Danimarca cerca di salvare dal sacrificio il fratellastro traditore Steinar, utilizzando le stesse parole con cui Gesù aveva salvato l’adultera dalla lapidazione; una volta a Bisanzio si farà cristiano e cercherà sempre di praticare la misericordia, anche se scala le gerarchie militari come favorito dell’imperatrice Irene.

Olaf dovrà imparare a destreggiarsi tra intrighi di palazzo ben più pericolosi delle insidie dei nemici esterni dell’impero, nonché dalle trame femminili: ben tre donne a un certo punto se lo contendono, l’imperiosa e possessiva Irene, classica e bionda bellezza greca; la dolce e attenta Martina, tipo mediterraneo, condannata a essere solo amica di tutti; ed Eliodora, l’amore eterno, ammaliante bellezza egizia.
Sicchè epiche battaglie, crudeli intrighi di palazzo, incantevoli visioni del Bosforo al chiaro di Luna si alternano a battibecchi da commedia tra le prime donne: con Irene c’è ben poco da scherzare, visto che a Bisanzio si usa far accecare i nemici personali, e oltre tutto a noi parrebbe una splendida quarantenne, ma la giovane Eliodora, egizia in difficoltà ma di antichissimo lignaggio, la liquida con un "ti sposeresti con una che è vedova da dieci anni e ha un figlio di venti?" (E non manca di far notare che i riccioli dell'imperatrice sono ottenuti con i ferri, non naturali come i suoi: quindi possono stare tranquilli che non verrà a cercare i due amanti clandestini lungo il ruscello, i riccioli si disferebbero..).
Per fortuna il nostro integerrimo e un po’ legnoso vichingo è immune a queste malìe: come nei racconti per dodicenni, tutte le donne lo cercano, ma lui non capisce; oltre tutto si è pure fatto cristiano, quindi di queste occasioni non può proprio approfittare:
“Un dubbio mi colpì, ma io, che mai fui vanesio, lo ignorai. Non capivo; e a cosa poteva servire cercare di interpretare gli stati d’animo delle donne? Il mio mestiere era la guerra, o almeno, al momento, il servizio che riguarda la guerra; non le donne. Guerre mi avevano portato al rango di cui godevo, sebbene, piuttosto stranamente, di quelle guerre non riesco a ricordare nulla ora; sono svanite dalla mia visione. Da altre guerre mi aspettavo ascesa nel futuro, non essendo un cortigiano, ma un soldato, che solo le circostanze avevano portato a Corte.”
Non sembrino fuori luogo le osservazioni frivole: una caratteristica del romanzo è proprio la leggibilità, la capacità di passare dal drammatico al frivolo mantenendo il piacere della lettura.
E i personaggi femminili sono davvero belli: per esempio Freydisa, la vergine consacrata a Odino, anch’essa donna matura che ama senza speranza il giovane eroe, e gli sarà preziosa consigliera e guida spirituale all’inizio della sua avventura:
“Certo, Olaf, dal momento che sei giovane e sciocco; d’altronde è la tua natura. Ecco il brodo, su. Bevilo, e io, che alcuni chiamano sapiente ed altri strega, dico che domani potrai alzarti da questo letto e sederti al sole, se ci sarà”.
“Freydisa,” dissi, dopo che ebbi mandato giù il brodo, “perchè la gente ti chiama strega?”
“Penso perchè sono un po’ meno sciocca di altre donne, Olaf. E anche perché non ho sentito il bisogno di sposarmi, quando è considerato naturale che ogni donna debba farlo se ne ha la possibilità”.
“Perchè sei più saggia, e perchè non ti sei sposata, Freydisa?”
“Sono più saggia perchè ho interrogato le cose più della maggior parte delle persone, e a quelli che interrogano le risposte giungono, alla fine. E non son sposata perché un’altra donna ha preso il solo uomo che volessi, prima che lo incomtrassi. È stata la mia sfortuna. Eppure, ciò mi ha insegnato una grande lezione, ovvero, come attendere e nel frattempo acquisire conoscenza”.
“Che conoscenza hai acquisito, Freydisa? Per esempio, ti dice che i nostri dèi di legno e pietra sono veri dèi che governano il mondo? O non sono altro che legno e pietra, come talvolta ho pensato?”
“Allora non pensare più, Olaf, perchè tali pensieri sono pericolosi. Se Leif, tuo zio, alto sacerdote di Odino, li udisse, cosa non potrebbe dire o fare? Ricorda: che gli dèi vivano o no, certamente il sacerdote vive, e vive degli dèi, e se gli dèi sparissero, dove finirebbe il sacerdote? Inoltre, riguardo a questi dèi.. ebbene, qualunque cosa possano essere o non essere, quanto meno sono le voci che nei nostri giorni ci parlano da quella terra donde venimmo e a cui torneremo. Il mondo ha conosciuto milioni di giorni, e ogni giorno ha il suo dio, o la sua voce; e tutte le voci dicono il vero a coloro che sanno udirle. Intanto, sei stato uno sciocco a mandare Steinar a portare il tuo dono a Iduna. O forse sei molto saggio. Non posso dirlo ancora. Quando l’avrò appreso, te lo dirò”.
La spiritualità è un tema portante della storia, dato che le azioni del protagonista sono ispirate a valori cristiani; è un Cristianesimo con miracoli, che prendono il posto della magia del fantasy vero e proprio, ma tutt’altro che bigotto o confessionale: convive felicemente con la reincarnazione delle anime, i fantasmi dei dei Faraoni e il Valhalla da cui il fratello Ragnar riesce a mandargli un incoraggiamento durante un battaglia; anche Odino mostra di avere qualche potere e di poter eseguire orridi miracoli.. L’Islam è meno approfondito (dopo tutto è una religione extra-europea): però dopo i consueti scambi di insulti (“adoratori del falso profeta” contro “idolatri della Croce”) troveremo una gara di magnanimità tra i protagonisti cristiani da una parte e niente meno che il califfo Harun al-Rashid dall’altra; un esempio di cavalleria che ci riporta al rispetto reciproco di epoca medievale e alla “Leggenda dei tre anelli” nel Decamerone, prima delle guerre di religione dell’età moderna.
Davanti alla contesa di Martina ed Eliodora per Olaf, il Califfo arriva a ironizzare “invero chi ha scritto la nostra Legge conosceva meglio l’animo umano, permettendo a un uomo di sposare più donne!”, ma vedendole poi fare pace commenta “Evidentemente la fede cristiana deve avere il potere di cambiare la natura delle donne, ciò che ritenevo impossibile” (le nostre lettrici abbiano pazienza per questi commenti: questa è l’eredità che ci portiamo dietro.. l’importante è che non si esprima così chi scrive oggi, no?).

In definitiva una bella avventura a metà tra Heroic Fantasy e romanzo storico, che oggi verrebbe sviluppata in molte centinaia di pagine, e ne varrebbe la pena; una storia che si apprezza per la freschezza nonostante la patina di “antico” (si provi confrontare i costumi di questi vichinghi con quelli descritti da Crichton nei “Mangiatori di morte”, molto meno casti, e con usanze funerarie molto diverse).

[Baylee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Questo è uno dei tanti libri adocchiati per caso che ha finito per stupirmi. Iniziato in sordina, ha finito per conquistarmi e farsi divorare fino all'ultima parola.

Come da titolo, il protagonista è Olaf, vichingo tutto d'un pezzo per il quale il Fato avrà in serbo grandi gioie e grandi dolori. Olaf non è uomo da scendere a compromessi ed è sincero anche a scapito della sua sicurezza personale. È uno di quegli uomini per i quali vale il motto: meglio morto che senza onore. Uno di quelli per i quali la parola data è sacra e inviolabile e che non tradirebbe mai i propri principi.

Olaf è un tipo vecchio stampo e anche il libro che parla di lui ha un sapore antico, il sapore dei vecchi poemi eroici, dove il Fato spinge verso il loro destino gli uomini, che possono soltanto scegliere di affrontarlo a testa alta o voltargli vigliaccamente le spalle, per poi essere colpiti dall'infamia.

Grandiosa e commovente, la storia di Olaf ci mostrerà la forza della rettitudine, una forza capace di dare a un uomo il coraggio di affrontare la propria sorte anche dopo aver perso tutto ciò che lo aveva definito fino a quel momento.

[Jessica · Rating 1 out of 5]

I'm placing this book on indefinite hiatus. I am having a very hard time with the storyline and the characters. I honestly don't care about Olaf or anyone else. May resume later. Page 67, Chapter V, Ave Post Secula.

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

When I first started reading it reminded me of Greek mythology, then I decided it was more biblical. I would love to see it as a movie with Russel Crowe as Olaf.

[Vallah Silverleaf · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. Classic historical fiction with a little bit of timeless love sprinkled in.

[Andrew Hale · Rating 4 out of 5]

A time at the precipice of the old gods and old ways of humanity clashing with the coming Cross, and the younger generation not wanting bloodshed to be the answer for grievances, weary of the world and traditions they know, of the unforgiving standards of justice. A time where the God of antiquity has been ignored so Man can create their own Images and Demons into the ruling caste of gods. and to claim them as the only way lest you choose immediate death or enslavement. This tale is a tragedy of sorts, skirted by a ghost story in the sense of looking back to our past with little acknowledgment of the Here and Now. Olaf suffers, like most, when he refuses to submit to tradition and heritage without an examination of the cause for fealty, and this is done to him by pagans, Christians, and Moslems. He seems .most at peace by going to God instead of submitting to Man. Virtue and honor may be your death sentence or your promotion, just as performing the tasks for an empire may put you in a governorship, or in a noose.

I think the tale espouses the virtue of God's Word through Christianity versus the unquestioned religious fervor of the pagans and also the conquering tyranny of the Moslems. At the same time, Haggard gave us praiseworthy characters from all walks when you come across pagans Ragnar, Odin priestess Freydisa, and Olaf's parents, Thorvald and Thora, the Christian-praising Moslem Caliph Harun-al-Rashid, Christian Coptic couple Marcus and Palka, and his supporting cast of pagans and Christians in Brother Barnabas, Jodd the Northern Giant, Byzantium god-mother Martina, and Egyptian Heliodore. We also get the less likable ones, the pagans and Moslems who adhere to their religious rites at the expense of infidels' lives and livelihood, and the Christians who avoid God's Will in pursuit of worldly possessions, like thrones and riches.

The historical drama was an intriguing read, with the tomb-raiding and tomb-living being the most compelling, in regards to the macabre atmosphere and the legends of ghost's Past. The least compelling, or something sort of like a gripe, is that Olaf's honor was a bit TOO pious in that he could have been more devout to God's Will without emboldening a clearly dishonorable leader who could not be trusted with Man or god when her eyes were set on Lust.

Book One: Aar
"Oh! What is it that I see in your eyes? A new light, a strange light! Olaf, you are not one of us. This time is not your time, nor this place your place. You travel to the end by another road. Well, who knows? At that end we may meet again. At least I love you." - Ragnar
- - - - -
"I grew weary of these thoughts of gods who could not be found, or who, if found, were but devils." - Olaf

Book Two: Byzantium
"The end of it it was that under the teaching of the holy Barnabas, saint and martyr, I became a Christian and a new man. Now at length I understood what grace it was that had given me courage to offer battle to the heathen god, Odin, and to smite him down. Now I saw also where shone the light which I had been seeking these many years. Aye, and I clasped that light to my bosom to be my lamp in life and death." - Olaf Red-Sword
- - - - -
"Love takes no account of rank, and that kiss of yours upon my lips is more to me than the Empire of the world." - Irene the Augusta
- - - - -
"Have done with this talk of betrayals, for who can betray a devil?" - Jodd

Book Three: Egypt
"I remember no such counsel, Madam. It seems to me that the course I took was right and one pleasing to God, since it has given me my husband for myself, although, it is true, wickedly robbed of his eyes." - Heliodore
- - - - -
"God reward you, saint among men, who can pay back cruel injuries with the gentlest mercy." - Mother Irene
- - - - -
"I should perish as a saint. But a wife and children are the most terrible gifts of God, if the most blessed, for they turn our hearts to water." - Olaf the Blind

[Mbuye · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a late Haggard (1913/1914) historical/ reincarnation fantasy. Haggard's best work lies in his lost-world novels, featuring wild Africa, explorers, hunters, monster predators and treasure, while his later novels are more philosophical, realistic and tend to specialise in a kind of proto-science fiction and/or mysticism. The kind of wild adventure in his earlier novels is replaced here by a spatial and historical view of events ranging from pagan eighth century Denmark and a fierce Viking society to the glitter of ninth century Christian Byzantium and its machiavellian court jealousies to a proudly Islamic Egypt and the near extinction of Coptic Christianity, taking in Baghdad, Alexandria and Luxor along the way. Haroun el Raschid makes his mandatory appearance with his famed magnanimity, but other than Haroun, the actual historical personages are the Empress Irene of Byzantium, known for her beauty and her cruelty. She was co-Caesar with her son, Constantine VI, whom she ultimately deposed and cast into prison after first blinding him.

The story of the eponymous Wanderer of the Necklace is told in the beginning as the legend of a Viking warrior nearly a thousand years previously whose wanderlust took him places.

The main themes Haggard plays upon here are ancient prophecies, paganism versus Christianity, Christianity versus Islam, and reincarnation. The scenes set in Byzantium and in Egypt are realistically drawn, but whether they are accurate, or more likely, the template of a fantastic stage setting, on which all future fictional depictions of Byzantium or Luxor were based, is open to question. The character development shows all the zest of the early Haggard, and accordingly is the best feature of the book, which grips the reader's unflagging interest throughout despite its esoteric subjects.

[George · Rating 4 out of 5]

First published in 1914

Olaf a Northman, at a taunt from his betrothed, enters the haunted "Wanderer's tomb" to find a wonderful necklace and sword. Then he dreams himself the Wanderer, falls in love with the dream wearer of the necklace, and, after a feud which comes from the elopement of his betrothed, he leaves Jutland. The story then picks up severl years later with Olaf in Byzantium as a high official in the queen’s guard. He finds the reincarnation of his lady of the necklace, but ends jailed and facing the queen’s wrath because he doesn’t return her love. The story continues to the island of Lesbos and Egypt.

It's a well-balanced blend of history, romance, treachery, and adventure. As well as being a tale of good and evil, of epic battles, and of a hero with complete integrity who values duty above all else. It is an adventure story - spanning Vikings, Byzantium and Egypt. Heathens, Christians and Islam. Love, broken love, and timeless love. Friendship, broken friendships and friendships where honour must be obeyed. Ghosts, dreams and a mystery.

In other words, this Haggard tale has a little bit of everything which is not unusual for a Haggard tale.

[Elise T. · Rating 2 out of 5]

Oh boy, oh boy- I'm not even sure where to start. This was as an oddly entertaining read (sorta)- one more off my "I've been meaning to read more classic fantasy" mixed with "why did I think this was a good idea?" list.
The Wanderer's Necklace starts off entertaining enough- battles and ghostly curses- I thought I was in for a fun romp through mediocre fantasy written over 100 years ago. Then suddenly the story takes a sharp turn into sheer terribleness- the main character becomes a devout Christian and spends the entire second half of the book proving how great of a Christian he is... meaning he can still kill hundreds of people (as long as they are Moselm), but he will stand up for strange principles (very strange principles).
Not to mention the author decided to use the concept of the Narrator forgetting large swaths of story to have the characters move around the world (lazy storytelling).
So what did I learn? Elise, stop picking up classics (especially fantasy classics)- the people that say they stand the test of time forgot how bad they were or read them when they were kids.

[Paul Cornelius · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yet another of Haggard's stories of reincarnation and time travel. It's also among his later works. On both scores, he could sometimes fall short of his earlier standards of storytelling. But Necklace is a satisfying enough novel. Fast paced and set among a variety of eerie places, a Viking kingdom whence a prince flees to Byzantium, and from there to find his immortal betrothed in Egypt. Often Haggard succumbed to preachiness and lecturing in his latter books. For the most part, he avoids it, here, and allows actions to demonstrate belief, story to reveal ideas, and characterization to supply motivation. No long-winded sermons or, worse, discussions. Reincarnated lives seem naturally abundant in this world of the eighth century A.D. Well done making the Northman Olaf an appealing, if some time, slightly annoying virtuous figure who befriends, then denies, and finally redeems the plots and desires of the Byzantine Empress Irene.

[Trounin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Над Европой и Америкой распространялось поветрие возрождения мистических материй. Густав Майринк дописывал “Голема”, Джек Лондон – “Межзвёздного скитальца”, а Райдер Хаггард уже успел предложить читателю “Ожерелье Странника” – сказание о путешествиях души, где путь начинается со Скандинавии, продолжаясь через Византию к событиям из Древнего Египта. Ключевым артефактом стало ожерелье – отсылающее к мифу о разделении полов. Весь сюжет две некогда половины единого целого будут искать друг друга, пока не окажутся вынуждены разорвать отношения. Хаггард уверенно поведёт читателя по закоулкам таинственных перерождений. Но сможет ли выдержать единую повествовательную линию?

(c) Trounin

[Nuha · Rating 3 out of 5]

Olaf a Northman, at a taunt from his betrothed, enters the haunted "Wanderer's tomb" to find a wonderful necklace and sword. Then he dreams himself the Wanderer, falls in love with the dream wearer of the necklace, and, after a feud which comes from the elopement of his betrothed, he journeys to Byzantium to find the reincarnation of his lady of the necklace, much peril, but final happiness. It's a well-balanced blend of history, romance, treachery, and adventure.
Happy reading. :)

[Barbara Curry · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Ending Felt Like a Robbery!

I actually would have rated this book a ‘4’ until I literally turned the page and realized it had ended!! What?! The author might as well have ended in the middle of a sentence, because that’s what it felt like. Other than that, it was an interesting & well-told tale of an ancient warrior who is respected bc of his values and courage.

[Luella Margaret · Rating 5 out of 5]

I quite enjoyed this book! Classic Haggard, war and strong women and fate. The main character is excellent, such an oddly gentle/dutiful warrior; the very soul of honor. I liked it well all the way through. It would've been better without the reincarnation theme, but that's Haggard for you. I was just glad it stayed in this world :)

[Rubana · Rating 3 out of 5]

The hero of this book has very strong personality. His honesty, dedication, loyalty, love, way of thinking were very eye catching and expected by all. But at the end of the book, some part was not described properly which looses the attention of this book.

Overall it is the interesting one!

[Sabrina Nowrin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another masterpiece by Henry Rider Haggard. The way he represented old Scandinavia and Byzantium, proved his versatility. The story of romance and conflicts and a familiar style of storytelling made it a really good read.

[Tebafin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a book I wanted to keep reading...I really liked it...