King Solomon's Mines

By: Henry Rider Haggard

Narrated by: Simon Prebble

Length: 8 hrs and 50 mins

Publisher's summary

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.

Surprising and very good

I admit, I did not really know what to expect from this book, but I was curious, so I purchased it. That was a great decision. This book was thoroughly entertaining with so many facets to be surprised by. Love and grief and battle and friendship and wickedness. It was fun. The style takes a bit of getting used to, but fits the story perfectly.

Better than any of the Movies

This book is much different than any of the movies I have seen. Most of the movies have a heroine. The book had no women. It involved four men trying to find Solomon’s Mines that was supposed to be full of jewels.

Many of the trials the group went through were exciting and well told. The only thing I had a problem with was the British accent of the narrator. It is also written in a syntax that is from an earlier era but once I got accustomed to it, it became easier to follow.

It is well worth reading. The story is great and I learned a lot about the thought of men from an earlier time.

Amazing Story

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

This is quite the adventure story.

What was one of the most memorable moments of King Solomon's Mines?

The story of Ignosi

Which scene was your favorite?

Whe Ignosi revealed himself of Ignosi

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

King Solomon's Mine. The great adventure.

incredible inspiration for survival

The story and reading will amaze and inspire you for perseverance. the performance of the work literally gives your imagination some pretty good image.

One of my favorite books

I love this book and story as much as an adult as I did when I was a child. The performance is spectacular and really tells the story well. I highly recommend this book.