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Allan Quatermain #7
Allan and the Holy Flower
Allan and the Holy Flower is a 1915 novel by H. Rider Haggard featuring Allan Quatermain. It first appeared serialised in The Windsor Magazine from issue 228 to 239, illustrated by Maurice Greiffenhagen, and in New Story Magazine from December 1913 through June 1914.
Brother John, who has been living in Africa for many years, gives Allan Quatermain the largest orchid he has ever seen. Later, in England, he has a meeting with Mr. Somers, an orchid collector who is prepaired to finance an expedition to search for the plant. Join Allan as he sets out to find this rare orchid ... and finds something more.
Excerpt:
Now I, the listener, thought for a moment or two. The words of this fighting savage, Mavovo, even those of them of which I had heard only the translation, garbled and beslavered by the mean comments of the unutterable Sammy, stirred my imagination. Who was I that I should dare to judge of him and his wild, unknown gifts? Who was I that I should mock at him and by my mockery intimate that I believed him to be a fraud?
Brother John, who has been living in Africa for many years, gives Allan Quatermain the largest orchid he has ever seen. Later, in England, he has a meeting with Mr. Somers, an orchid collector who is prepaired to finance an expedition to search for the plant. Join Allan as he sets out to find this rare orchid ... and finds something more.
Excerpt:
Now I, the listener, thought for a moment or two. The words of this fighting savage, Mavovo, even those of them of which I had heard only the translation, garbled and beslavered by the mean comments of the unutterable Sammy, stirred my imagination. Who was I that I should dare to judge of him and his wild, unknown gifts? Who was I that I should mock at him and by my mockery intimate that I believed him to be a fraud?
390 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1915
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647 people want to read
About the author
H. Rider Haggard
1,568 books1,090 followersSir 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.
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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews
October 21, 2023
To be fair, I love the character Allan Quatermain, and all of his African adventures. I find Haggard's writing to be filled with suspenseful situations that awaken the big game hunter spirit for adventure in most men. Although the antiquated language sometimes serves as an impediment to joy, I am also comforted by the longevity of these tales despite their sometimes cultural issues.
Allan and the Holy Flower was originally serialized from 1913 to 1914 in New Story Magazine (a pulp), and The Windsor Magazine those same years. It was then published as a novel in 1915 for the first time. The plot is about Quatermain's friend and missionary, Brother John, who has stolen a newly discovered large orchid that he tasks Quatermain to take back to the UK to sell. While in the UK, a young man named Stephen decides to finance an African trip to acquire more orchids.
Little does Quatermain know that Brother John has appropriated the orchid from an African tribe that considers the orchid to be their responsibility to keep in its sacred garden. The obstacles to the flower are multitudinous: Arabian slavers, Zulu warriors, witch doctors, their gods, cannibals, and a giant gorilla.
I love this kind of stuff, despite the negatives of African colonization. I am a Puerto Rican born and raised in Brooklyn, New York who now lives in Puerto Rico; so if anyone would understand it is someone that is made painfully aware on a daily basis the negative aspects of imperialism. I still love these stories. It seems to me that Quatermain loves Africa: the people, the culture, the danger. If he speaks like a turn-of-the-century he-man, it's because he is. I still consider this a major classic.
Allan and the Holy Flower was originally serialized from 1913 to 1914 in New Story Magazine (a pulp), and The Windsor Magazine those same years. It was then published as a novel in 1915 for the first time. The plot is about Quatermain's friend and missionary, Brother John, who has stolen a newly discovered large orchid that he tasks Quatermain to take back to the UK to sell. While in the UK, a young man named Stephen decides to finance an African trip to acquire more orchids.
Little does Quatermain know that Brother John has appropriated the orchid from an African tribe that considers the orchid to be their responsibility to keep in its sacred garden. The obstacles to the flower are multitudinous: Arabian slavers, Zulu warriors, witch doctors, their gods, cannibals, and a giant gorilla.
I love this kind of stuff, despite the negatives of African colonization. I am a Puerto Rican born and raised in Brooklyn, New York who now lives in Puerto Rico; so if anyone would understand it is someone that is made painfully aware on a daily basis the negative aspects of imperialism. I still love these stories. It seems to me that Quatermain loves Africa: the people, the culture, the danger. If he speaks like a turn-of-the-century he-man, it's because he is. I still consider this a major classic.
July 27, 2024
হেনরি রাইডার হ্যাগার্ডের অন্যান্য বইয়ের মতই এই বইটাও দারুণ। বেশ কিছুদিন আগের পড়া, আমার কাছে অনেক ভালো লেগেছে। পুরো জার্নিটা উপভোগ্য ছিলো।
February 23, 2018
All of these Allan Quatermain adventures are exciting...
nothing more to say...
nothing more to say...
September 12, 2017
Allan Quatermain is a colonial era white adventurer. He is not a modern character set in colonial times the author H Rider Haggard was writing in colonial era, around the same time Rudyard Kipling wrote "White Man's Burden." Quatermain novels are always page-turning action books with crocodiles, monster apes, and mysterious gods from the darkest heart of Africa, they are also full of period racism.
I think as literature and even inspirational entertainment Haggard's books still have a place, but at no point should the background politics of the time be excused. Acknowledging the shortfalls opens the opportunity for them to be teaching instruments.
I think as literature and even inspirational entertainment Haggard's books still have a place, but at no point should the background politics of the time be excused. Acknowledging the shortfalls opens the opportunity for them to be teaching instruments.
September 29, 2019
A wonderful book filled with action, adventure, and humor--and published in 1915. I find it odd that many of my favorite books were written so long ago.
September 27, 2025
Allan and the Holy Flower by Henry Rider Haggard is one of those classic adventures that sweeps you off into another world, packed with danger, excitement, and unexpected moments of philosophical reflection. Haggard weaves a thrilling journey through Africa, led by his intrepid hero Allan Quatermain, all in search of a mythical and incredibly rare orchid, the famous 'Holy Flower'. Along the way they encounter Arabian slave merchants, hostile tribes, cannibals, and even a monstrous gorilla.
At its heart, the novel explores the relentless pursuit of the unknown, whether that is a priceless flower or the deeper mysteries of foreign cultures. Haggard touches upon the darker realities of the world, including the uncomfortable dynamics between European explorers and the native peoples they encounter.
H. Rider Haggard does not gloss over the brutality of the slave trade, making mention of Arabian slave merchants who were active across East Africa and the Indian Ocean.
The Urdu Translation Experience
My journey with this book began with an Urdu translation by Mazharul Haq Naqvi, printed by Nasim Book Depot, Lucknow, a truly special edition. Later, I dove into Haggard's works in English, and comparing both was a fascinating experience. The translator's creativity shone brightest in scenes that involved a sunset or a tense conflict. These moments were given extra color and drama, sometimes making the translation even more vivid and poetic than the original. It is amazing to see how a translator can sometimes take a step beyond the author, adding their own artistic flourish while staying true to the spirit of the story.
Reading about Allan's extraordinary travels and brushes with danger always makes me wonder: Could anyone in real life have lived such a rich adventure?
At its heart, the novel explores the relentless pursuit of the unknown, whether that is a priceless flower or the deeper mysteries of foreign cultures. Haggard touches upon the darker realities of the world, including the uncomfortable dynamics between European explorers and the native peoples they encounter.
H. Rider Haggard does not gloss over the brutality of the slave trade, making mention of Arabian slave merchants who were active across East Africa and the Indian Ocean.
The Urdu Translation Experience
My journey with this book began with an Urdu translation by Mazharul Haq Naqvi, printed by Nasim Book Depot, Lucknow, a truly special edition. Later, I dove into Haggard's works in English, and comparing both was a fascinating experience. The translator's creativity shone brightest in scenes that involved a sunset or a tense conflict. These moments were given extra color and drama, sometimes making the translation even more vivid and poetic than the original. It is amazing to see how a translator can sometimes take a step beyond the author, adding their own artistic flourish while staying true to the spirit of the story.
Reading about Allan's extraordinary travels and brushes with danger always makes me wonder: Could anyone in real life have lived such a rich adventure?
August 23, 2011
This is one of the 14 books that H. Rider Haggard wrote (starting with "King Solomon's Mines") depicting the adventures of Allan Quatermain, great English hunter in the wilds of mysterious Africa. I was a little worried when I started this book, as it took around 1 1/2 whole pages to get going, but then the next 394 pages proved just as action-packed, fast-moving and entertaining as can be. The story concerns an expedition for a very rare orchid, and the search for the kidnapped wife of one of Quatermain's friends. There are any number of tremendous battle scenes, and before all is said and done, we have run up against a giant gorilla god, cannibals, slave traders, a very suspenseful lake chase, evil wizards, a hidden volcanic sanctuary...and on and on. And for fans of Quatermain's Hottentot sidekick, Hans, let me add that this great character has rarely been shown in a more humorous or heroic light. Haggard's imagination seemed to be working overtime on this book, and despite an occasional inconsistency here and there (e.g., in one spot he writes that the Mother of the Flower is always eaten by her followers, and later on he writes that she is buried), the result is one tremendously entertaining yarn. What an incredible movie this would make, if done faithfully! It is a real shame that this book has been out of print for so long and is so hard to find now. It is well worth searching out.
January 10, 2022
হেনরি সাহেব বইটিতে হতাশ করেন নি, যারা এডভেঞ্চার পছন্দ করেন তাদের জন্য বইটি এক কথায় অসাধারাণ, তাছাড়া এডভেঞ্চার এর জন্য আফ্রিকা একদম আদর্শ স্থান, এর আগেও এই আফ্রিকারই এডভেঞ্চার পড়েছিলাম "চাঁদের পাহাড়"। এটি আমার পড়া লেখকের অষ্টম বই, প্রথম বই পড়েছিলাম শী। এই বইটিতেও লেখক এডভেঞ্চার এর পূর্ণাঙ্গ স্বাদ দিতে পেরেছেন বলে আমার মনে হয়। তাছাড়া লেখকের তার গল্প বলার ধরণটা আমার কাছে ভাল লেগেছে।
July 28, 2014
Of all the Allan Quatermain novels I've read (about half the series), THE HOLY FLOWER is far and away my favorite. If you ever wondered where George Lucas got the idea for INDIANA JONES, look no further than this. Sure, one uses a bullwhip and the other a hunting rifle, but they both have the same penchant for exploring lost cities and cultures, jumping from scrape to scrape with hardly a moment's breath, and finding themselves confronted by various forms of ancient mysticism.
There are a couple reasons why THE HOLY FLOWER is the superlative Quatermain novel. First off, there are far fewer depictions of hunting and trekking, which means more chapters devoted purely to action and adventure. Hardly a page goes by without some interesting new plot development. Secondly, if political correctness is your bag, THE HOLY FLOWER has a more modern mindset than most other Haggard novels. At several junctures, Quatermain questions whether Europeans can really consider themselves superior to the African natives. At other times, Quatermain's life is saved thanks to tribal practices he earlier wrote off as pure superstition. Finally, THE HOLY FLOWER is one of the best-written of the Quatermain novels. Haggard's prose feels very breezy and off-the-cuff, yet there is a great deal of weight and artistry to it, as well.
If you're a fan of old-timey action/adventure novels, you'd be hard-pressed to do better than ALLAN QUATERMAIN AND THE HOLY FLOWER.
There are a couple reasons why THE HOLY FLOWER is the superlative Quatermain novel. First off, there are far fewer depictions of hunting and trekking, which means more chapters devoted purely to action and adventure. Hardly a page goes by without some interesting new plot development. Secondly, if political correctness is your bag, THE HOLY FLOWER has a more modern mindset than most other Haggard novels. At several junctures, Quatermain questions whether Europeans can really consider themselves superior to the African natives. At other times, Quatermain's life is saved thanks to tribal practices he earlier wrote off as pure superstition. Finally, THE HOLY FLOWER is one of the best-written of the Quatermain novels. Haggard's prose feels very breezy and off-the-cuff, yet there is a great deal of weight and artistry to it, as well.
If you're a fan of old-timey action/adventure novels, you'd be hard-pressed to do better than ALLAN QUATERMAIN AND THE HOLY FLOWER.
November 7, 2018
A return, in many ways, to its late Victorian origins, this volume in the Quatermain series seems to relish in adventure and fantasy for their own sake. At the same time, Haggard also returns to a sense of Victorian morality, especially as regards the issues of killing and justice. Odd, because the book first appeared in serial form just before the carnage of the First World War. In the book format, it was published during the war, in 1915. So here we have a work reaching back into the last century to find its bearings. Even more so, just a few years later, the Roaring Twenties would blow the doors off their hinges and usher in a cultural shift so radical that the pages Haggard penned, especially about empire, marriage, murder, and law, would come to be seen as quaint and out of place. Lucky for those reading the novel, now, that they can put themselves into two pairs of shoes--those of the readers whose world was about to be upended by World War I and the cultural cacophony that followed and those of the readers nostalgically looking towards the past, as Quatermain himself does in this volume and as the aging Haggard also was no doubt doing.
*One more note. Again, it appears that Haggard is making use of James G. Frazer's The Golden Bough to lace his work with allusions to taboos in place in far away lands. I also wonder if Merian C. Cooper read this book about this time or soon thereafter. Some resemblance to King Kong fills the novel.
*One more note. Again, it appears that Haggard is making use of James G. Frazer's The Golden Bough to lace his work with allusions to taboos in place in far away lands. I also wonder if Merian C. Cooper read this book about this time or soon thereafter. Some resemblance to King Kong fills the novel.
August 22, 2021
অন্ধকার আফ্রিকার নরখাদক পঙ্গো জাতি, যারা দেবতা জ্ঞানে পূজা করে অর্কিড ফুল। সেই ফুলের খোঁজে চলছে অ্যালান কোয়াটারমেইন। সাথে অর্কিড পাগল ইংরেজ যুবক স্টিফেন, প্রজাপতি পাগল ব্রাদার জন, চতুর হ্যান্স, ভীতু রাঁধুনি স্যামি, যাদুকর যোদ্ধা মাভোভো। অভিজানের শুরুতেই ওরা ক্রীতদাস ব্যাবসায়ীদের সাথে যুদ্ধে জড়িয়ে পড়ে। সেখান থেকে হাজির হয় মাযিটুদের এলাকায়। তারা ওদের হত্যা করতে চাইলে ব্রাদার জনের কারনে বেচে যায়। জলাভূমি পেরিয়ে হাজির হয় নরখাদক পঙ্গোদের এলাকায়। পঙ্গোরা ওদের ছুড়ে দেয় গরিলা দেবতার মুখে। পরিচয় হয় দুই সাদা দেবীর সাথে। জড়িয়ে পড়ে পঙ্গোদের সাথে মরনযুদ্ধে। অনেক বাধা পেরিয়ে অবশেষে ওরা দেখা পায় হোলি ফ্লাওয়ারের।
অসাধারণ একটা এ্যাডভেঞ্চার কাহিনী।
অসাধারণ একটা এ্যাডভেঞ্চার কাহিনী।
April 22, 2012
This is the perfect turn of the century action novel: Arabic slavers, wild animals, an unarmed excursion to the land of Pongo, a monsterous ape demon, a cannabalistic tribe of natives, damsels in distress, and a closing battle between a village and 400 villains! If you're a fan of Indiana Jones you must read this book to see where Indy got his parentage. Highest possible recommendation!
August 15, 2011
For a while I thought this might be the first Allan Quatermain book I'd give three stars to.
I should have trusted Haggard more than that.
Not particularly original... not particularly moving or insightful... but in the end, it's just such a satisfying tale.
I should have trusted Haggard more than that.
Not particularly original... not particularly moving or insightful... but in the end, it's just such a satisfying tale.
October 2, 2011
First sentence - I do not suppose that anyone who knows the name of Allan Quatermain would be likely to associate it with flowers, and especially with orchids.
Henry Rider Haggard. Allan and the Holy Flower (Kindle Location 27).
Henry Rider Haggard. Allan and the Holy Flower (Kindle Location 27).
April 30, 2008
One of my favorite Haggard novels
May 17, 2012
This is a particularly tasty episode in the annals of Allan. I do love him. He is an adventurer, a seeker, above all, a gentleman.
November 6, 2014
Easy read which doesn't require in depth thought, it's the sort of book not really written anymore. Quartermain is the original great white hunter, unfortunately kept seeing Sean Connery as the lead.
August 9, 2017
I was not prepared for this.
I've read King Salomo's Mines years ago and am a huge fan of Mary Henrietta Kingsley and travelogues from that time period, so I thought I'd know what I am getting into.
The plot: Quartermain meets an old friend who tells him of a very valuable orchid which is worshipped as a god by a tribe, the Pongo. They want to take it, take, not steal, because that would mean they had some inkling of what they were planning, some kind of moral conscience.
Quartermain has a trip to England sheduled, and ventures to find a sponsor willing to set them out for the expedition. He recruits a young guy, who clearly never achieved any kind of training he'd need for the adventure and who just was disinherited by his father. I wonder where he had the money from, since his father gave him none.
Back in Africa, I am left quite speechless at the level of racism portrayed here. Guy takes the wrong cup by accident and is nearly retching because on of the "stupid savages" has drunk from it before.
The white men see themselves in their right, save the day, are noble when it suits them.
I'm not sure I want to read Hagard's other books.
I've read King Salomo's Mines years ago and am a huge fan of Mary Henrietta Kingsley and travelogues from that time period, so I thought I'd know what I am getting into.
The plot: Quartermain meets an old friend who tells him of a very valuable orchid which is worshipped as a god by a tribe, the Pongo. They want to take it, take, not steal, because that would mean they had some inkling of what they were planning, some kind of moral conscience.
Quartermain has a trip to England sheduled, and ventures to find a sponsor willing to set them out for the expedition. He recruits a young guy, who clearly never achieved any kind of training he'd need for the adventure and who just was disinherited by his father. I wonder where he had the money from, since his father gave him none.
Back in Africa, I am left quite speechless at the level of racism portrayed here. Guy takes the wrong cup by accident and is nearly retching because on of the "stupid savages" has drunk from it before.
The white men see themselves in their right, save the day, are noble when it suits them.
I'm not sure I want to read Hagard's other books.
January 19, 2024
একটি অপূর্ব সুন্দর সাইপ্রিপেডিয়াম এর খোঁজে এক দুঃসাহসিক যাত্রার গল্প।শুরুতেই আমরা পরিচিত হই যাত্রাদলের সাথে, যাত্রাদলের দলপতি অ্যালান কোয়াটারমেইন, একজন অ্যাডভেঞ্চার প্রিয় শিকারী। তারসাথে আছেন ধনীর দুলাল এক টগবগে তরুন স্টিফেন সমার্স, পুরোনো কাজের লোক বুড়ো হ্যান্স, যাদুবিদ্যায় পারদর্শী এবং যাদুবিদ্যায় একান্ত বিশ্বাসী মাভোভো। তবে এই যাত্রার মূল হোতা বৃদ্ধ চিকিৎসক, ধর্মযাজক, সফেদ দাড়ির ভদ্রলোক ব্রাদার জন, যাকে ডগিটা বলে সম্বোধন করেন মি. কোয়াটারমেইন।
যাত্রা শুরুতেই দিকপাল ডগিটাকে হারিয়ে অথৈ সাগরে পরে অ্যালান ও তার দল।ঐ ফুলের খোঁজ জানে একমাত্র ডগিটা অথচ তার কোনো হদিস নেই।তবুও এই অভিযানে নেমে পরে অ্যালান, নতুন শিকারের লোভে কারন ডগিটা যখন ফুলের গল্প করছিলো তাতেই ছিলো এক অদ্ভুত প্রানীর কথা যাকে পঙ্গো জাতির লোকেরা তাদের দেবতা হিসেবে মানে।একই অভিযানে প্রতিটি আলাদা মানুষের থাকে আলাদার কিছু খোঁজার তীব্র আকাঙ্খা।প্রত্যেকে নিজের প্রতিক্ষীত জিনিস পাওয়ার আশায় নিতে থাকে একের পর এক দুঃসাহসিক সিদ্ধান্ত।
এই পবিত্র ফুল খোঁজার যাত্রায় দুইটি ভিন্ন জাতির সাথে পরিচয় হবে, মাযিটু আর পঙ্গো জাতি।অ্যালান ও তার দলের সাথে আমরাও হারিয়ে যাবে মাযিটুদের ভীড়ে, কখনো মৃত্যুর মুখোমুখি হবো। এই অভিযানে প্রতিটি রাত কাটবে অজানা আশঙ্কায়, ভোর হবে নতুন সম্ভাবনা কে সঙ্গী করে। সভ্যতার ছোঁয়া না পাওয়া দুই জাতির সংস্কৃতি, তাদের বিচারব্যবস্থা, তাদের ধর্মবিশ্বাস অবাক করে অভিযাত্রীদের। একদল ক্রীতদাস ব্যবসায়ীর খপ্পরে শুরুতেই তছনছ হবে গোছানো পরিকল্পনা। নরখাদক পঙ্গো জাতির মুখোমুখি হতে হবে বিনা অস্ত্রে! এই যাত্রার মূল লক্ষ্য সেই পবিত্র সাইপ্রেপিডিয়াম আর অদ্ভুত প্রানী দুই ই পঙ্গো জাতির দেবতা হিসেবে পূজিত হয়ে আসছিলো যুগ ধরে। অভিযানের পথিমধ্যে পাঠক বুঝতে পারবে আরো একজনের মনোবাসনা, যার এই অভিযানে আসার পেছনে রয়েছে এক রহস্য! এইসব রহস্যের জট খুলতে এবং নিজেদের লক্ষ্যে পৌঁছতে এগিয়ে যাবে অভিযাত্রী বাহিনী। নিজেদের হার মেনে নিয়ে মৃত্যুর অপেক্ষায় থাকার মূহুর্ত থেকে ফিরে আসার উত্তেজনার মূহুর্ত থেকে অদ্ভুত সব অভিজ্ঞতা পরতে পরতে মিশে থাকবে পুরো অভিযানে।নিজেদের উপস্থিত বুদ্ধি, একে অপরের প্রতি ভরসা আর বোঝাপড়াই হয়ে উঠবে অভিযানের ভীত।
তরুন সমার্স, যার পৃষ্ঠপোষকতায় এই অভিযান সে কি পারবে প্রথমবারের মতো বেরিয়ে পরা এই অভিযানের শেষ সীমানায় পৌঁছে তার জীবনের একমাত্র ভালোবাসা সেই পবিত্র অর্কিড সংগ্রহ করতে? অ্যালান কোয়াটারমেইন কি খোঁজ পাবে নতুন প্রজাকির কোনো শিকারের, নাকি সেটা নিতান্তই একটা অশরীরী দেবতা? ব্রাদার জন একজন ধর্মযাজক হয়ে এই অভিযানে তার লক্ষ্য আসলে কি? মাভোভো র জাদু কি সত্যিই ভবিষ্যৎ বলতে পারে? তার জাদুর জোরে সে কি বাঁচাতে পারবে তার সহযোদ্ধা বন্ধুদের? বুড়ো হ্যান্স ঠিক কতটা মাথামোটা, সে কি পারবে এই বাহিনীর সাথে তাল মিলিয়ে অভিযান শেষ করতে? কি ঘটে শেষ পর্যন্ত অভিযাত্রী বাহিনীর কপালে, আর কিইবা ভবিষ্যত হয় সেই অপূর্ব সুন্দর সাইপ্রিপিডিয়ামের? – এইসব প্রশ্নের উত্তর খুঁজতে বেরিয়ে পড়তে হবে নেই অভিযাত্রী দলের সাথে, পড়তে হবে এই অ্যাডভেঞ্চার ঘরানার বই “অ্যালান এন্ড দ্য হোলি ফ্লাওয়ার”।
যাত্রা শুরুতেই দিকপাল ডগিটাকে হারিয়ে অথৈ সাগরে পরে অ্যালান ও তার দল।ঐ ফুলের খোঁজ জানে একমাত্র ডগিটা অথচ তার কোনো হদিস নেই।তবুও এই অভিযানে নেমে পরে অ্যালান, নতুন শিকারের লোভে কারন ডগিটা যখন ফুলের গল্প করছিলো তাতেই ছিলো এক অদ্ভুত প্রানীর কথা যাকে পঙ্গো জাতির লোকেরা তাদের দেবতা হিসেবে মানে।একই অভিযানে প্রতিটি আলাদা মানুষের থাকে আলাদার কিছু খোঁজার তীব্র আকাঙ্খা।প্রত্যেকে নিজের প্রতিক্ষীত জিনিস পাওয়ার আশায় নিতে থাকে একের পর এক দুঃসাহসিক সিদ্ধান্ত।
এই পবিত্র ফুল খোঁজার যাত্রায় দুইটি ভিন্ন জাতির সাথে পরিচয় হবে, মাযিটু আর পঙ্গো জাতি।অ্যালান ও তার দলের সাথে আমরাও হারিয়ে যাবে মাযিটুদের ভীড়ে, কখনো মৃত্যুর মুখোমুখি হবো। এই অভিযানে প্রতিটি রাত কাটবে অজানা আশঙ্কায়, ভোর হবে নতুন সম্ভাবনা কে সঙ্গী করে। সভ্যতার ছোঁয়া না পাওয়া দুই জাতির সংস্কৃতি, তাদের বিচারব্যবস্থা, তাদের ধর্মবিশ্বাস অবাক করে অভিযাত্রীদের। একদল ক্রীতদাস ব্যবসায়ীর খপ্পরে শুরুতেই তছনছ হবে গোছানো পরিকল্পনা। নরখাদক পঙ্গো জাতির মুখোমুখি হতে হবে বিনা অস্ত্রে! এই যাত্রার মূল লক্ষ্য সেই পবিত্র সাইপ্রেপিডিয়াম আর অদ্ভুত প্রানী দুই ই পঙ্গো জাতির দেবতা হিসেবে পূজিত হয়ে আসছিলো যুগ ধরে। অভিযানের পথিমধ্যে পাঠক বুঝতে পারবে আরো একজনের মনোবাসনা, যার এই অভিযানে আসার পেছনে রয়েছে এক রহস্য! এইসব রহস্যের জট খুলতে এবং নিজেদের লক্ষ্যে পৌঁছতে এগিয়ে যাবে অভিযাত্রী বাহিনী। নিজেদের হার মেনে নিয়ে মৃত্যুর অপেক্ষায় থাকার মূহুর্ত থেকে ফিরে আসার উত্তেজনার মূহুর্ত থেকে অদ্ভুত সব অভিজ্ঞতা পরতে পরতে মিশে থাকবে পুরো অভিযানে।নিজেদের উপস্থিত বুদ্ধি, একে অপরের প্রতি ভরসা আর বোঝাপড়াই হয়ে উঠবে অভিযানের ভীত।
তরুন সমার্স, যার পৃষ্ঠপোষকতায় এই অভিযান সে কি পারবে প্রথমবারের মতো বেরিয়ে পরা এই অভিযানের শেষ সীমানায় পৌঁছে তার জীবনের একমাত্র ভালোবাসা সেই পবিত্র অর্কিড সংগ্রহ করতে? অ্যালান কোয়াটারমেইন কি খোঁজ পাবে নতুন প্রজাকির কোনো শিকারের, নাকি সেটা নিতান্তই একটা অশরীরী দেবতা? ব্রাদার জন একজন ধর্মযাজক হয়ে এই অভিযানে তার লক্ষ্য আসলে কি? মাভোভো র জাদু কি সত্যিই ভবিষ্যৎ বলতে পারে? তার জাদুর জোরে সে কি বাঁচাতে পারবে তার সহযোদ্ধা বন্ধুদের? বুড়ো হ্যান্স ঠিক কতটা মাথামোটা, সে কি পারবে এই বাহিনীর সাথে তাল মিলিয়ে অভিযান শেষ করতে? কি ঘটে শেষ পর্যন্ত অভিযাত্রী বাহিনীর কপালে, আর কিইবা ভবিষ্যত হয় সেই অপূর্ব সুন্দর সাইপ্রিপিডিয়ামের? – এইসব প্রশ্নের উত্তর খুঁজতে বেরিয়ে পড়তে হবে নেই অভিযাত্রী দলের সাথে, পড়তে হবে এই অ্যাডভেঞ্চার ঘরানার বই “অ্যালান এন্ড দ্য হোলি ফ্লাওয়ার”।
January 29, 2019
Вновь читателя ожидает путешествие по неисследованным местам Африки. Причина – существует цветок в единственном экземпляре, считающийся самым дорогим растением на свете. Может даже дороже пьемонтских белых трюфелей, с чьей стоимостью не сравнится даже золото, взятое по весу в том же соотношении. Осталось собрать экспедицию, для чего найти человека, способного оплатить расходы. В этом плане Райдер ничего нового не предложил. Опять долгие сборы, обсуждение нюансов, распределение процентов будущей прибыли между компаньонами. И самое обыденное – главной наградой окажется туземка, должная достаться одному из членов экспедиции. Если читатель готов продолжать знакомиться с текстом произведения, тогда только различия в деталях смогут ему принести радость от чтения.
(c) Trounin
(c) Trounin
September 6, 2023
Like all Haggard novels, this is a wild fantasy loaded with risks in the interior of Central Africa, naturally including wild beasts, cannibals, Arab slave traders, mysterious religions involving human sacrifice, witch doctors and all that would make your spine shiver with pleasurable anticipation – especially when you have only four bullets left, face a crocodile infested river on one bank of a river, and a huge gorilla god on the other, with the gorilla's cannibal priest on the other. And of course, that river has to be crossed in a tropical thunderstorm!
Like all empire novels of the time, this one has its baggage of paternalism, imperialism, condescension and racism, but otherwise a ripping yarn.
Like all empire novels of the time, this one has its baggage of paternalism, imperialism, condescension and racism, but otherwise a ripping yarn.
August 24, 2022
For the type of book it tries to be, it’s a very fun and light read which takes hours at a time before it can start to wear you out. Quite a captivating way to experience both the literary culture of the early 20th century, the (little) information the english had on africa and their view on it.
Notwithstanding the constant spoilers the narrating voice makes about the plot, the story itself manages to still entice me enough to read on to find out what this narrator is exactly going on about.
All in all its an interesting and worthwile addition to one’s library. But once you’ve read one of these type of books, you’ve read enough of them for a lifetime.
Notwithstanding the constant spoilers the narrating voice makes about the plot, the story itself manages to still entice me enough to read on to find out what this narrator is exactly going on about.
All in all its an interesting and worthwile addition to one’s library. But once you’ve read one of these type of books, you’ve read enough of them for a lifetime.
August 29, 2025
Allan Quartermain meets and befriends Brother John, a man long considered crazy because he wanders across Africa in search of butterfly specimens. He discovers this is a ruse, and that John is actually searching for his wife, stolen by slavers twenty years earlier. And Brother John has stumbled upon a unique orchid that plant enthusiasts lust after. Allan leads an expedition to a remote area in search of the flower - and it's white priestess. Any guesses what he finds?
Another terrific adventure story from Rider Haggard, though the plot is pretty obvious. It's the journey that counts, and it's a delightful one.
Another terrific adventure story from Rider Haggard, though the plot is pretty obvious. It's the journey that counts, and it's a delightful one.
February 18, 2018
Allan is in fine fighting spirits as he takes on cannibals, a killer gorilla and an army of slave traders. Mavovo, the Zulu warrior/witch doctor and Hans, Allan's cunning Odysseus-like sidekick, are a likeable odd couple who accompany Allan into the lost world of the Pongos in search of a rare orchid. The Holy Flower is a good yarn and a quick read.
December 23, 2022
Such simple things Haggard describes money, greed, cowardice, vengeance and savages.
This was the seventh book I read by Henry and find his books entertaining.
Far more entertaining for example than recent movies that were released this year(2022).
Anyway, I would recommend this book to anyone who has a thirst for adventure books.
This was the seventh book I read by Henry and find his books entertaining.
Far more entertaining for example than recent movies that were released this year(2022).
Anyway, I would recommend this book to anyone who has a thirst for adventure books.
January 17, 2018
Interesting story.
April 23, 2018
fantastic!!!!
May 30, 2020
Number seven in the series, this adventure is to find a large orchid. I must admit, I read this one so long ago, I don't remember much about it.
September 27, 2020
The physics of Allan's magnifying glass and mirror troubled me.
October 29, 2020
Relaxing read.
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