King Solomon's Mines

By: Henry Rider Haggard

Narrated by: Simon Prebble

One of the best-selling novels of the 19th century, King Solomon's Mines has inspired dozens of adventure stories, including Edgar Rice Burroughs's Tarzan books and the Indiana Jones movies. Vivid and enormously action-packed, Henry Rider Haggard's tale of danger and discovery continues to shock and thrill, as it has since it was first presented to the public and heralded as "the most amazing book ever written."

The story begins when renowned safari hunter Allan Quatermain agrees to help Sir Henry Curtis and Captain John Good search for King Solomon's legendary cache of diamonds. Eager to find out what is true, what is myth, and what is really buried in the darkness of the mines, the tireless adventurers delve into the Sahara's treacherous Veil of Sand, where they stumble upon a mysterious lost tribe of African warriors. Finding themselves in deadly peril from that country's cruel king and the evil sorceress who conspires behind his throne, the explorers escape, but what they seek could be the most savage trap of all---the forbidden, impenetrable, and spectacular King Solomon's Mines.

Public Domain (P)2010 Tantor

Revisit the past

I saw the movie...years ago. I relived the adventure and excitement...it was great...! Hearing the description of the huge battle was amazing... Give it a try... You'll be glad!

For those who love adventure

For anyone who read Heart of Darkness (also a great story) expecting an adventure story, this is the novel you were looking for. Simon Prebble is an excellent narrator and I very much hope I can find other works in the Allan Quartermain series narrated by him.

Solid Male Friendship Classic

This tale of Allan Q, Captain Goode, and Sir Curtis is an efficient wonder. It is extremely well plotted and racial bias themes are well intertwined. My favorite character is definitely Goode. He was excellent comedy relief. My favorite part was when the three friends behold the minds for the first time.

Simon Prebble never fails to provide entertaining narration, and Haggard's clever adventure wordplay makes this a fine read.

Hoary old tome

Worth a once over just for its influence on other writers. The language is quite purple and archaic and culturally it's definitely "of its time".

Wish I had lived in the 19th Century

If you could sum up King Solomon's Mines in three words, what would they be?

Raiders of the Lost Ark - King Kong - Lost Horizon - these three books / movies come to mind when I think of the King Solomon's mines. It was a great adventure and I loved the way the story was told. I feel that I was born 100 years too late. My great grandfather was born in 1857... I should have been him!

What did you like best about this story?

I remember the 1950's movie but it has been a while since I saw it. The book is different and it is too bad that a modern movie could not be made from the book... that is so long as Hollywood could keep from dumbing it down with politically correct crap or overdosing on CGI effects.

Which scene was your favorite?

I think when the old witch traps the men in the tomb and the door crushes her. I like the fact that they recognize that the native woman dies also. It's not good for all the good guys to always win. I also like the fact that they point out that the races can not coexist in proper society in cohabitation of marriage, as I fully agree with. Yet the author was able to properly translate the human agony of loss by the Captain when the native woman was killed by the witch.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I thought it was a delightful book and would like to read another like it.

Any additional comments?

The reader of the book was absolutely top notch. A perfect match to the great story telling.