H. Rider Haggard came to literary prominence with the publication of King Solomon’s Mines in 1885. Haggard self-consciously modeled the book on Robert Louis Stevenson’s Treasure Island, which Haggard had read. He bet his brother that he could write an adventure story at least as good, and within a year Haggard had published the now-famous novel of adventure. According to some accounts, he wrote the book in under six months.
Virginia Brackett calls King Solomon’s Mines the “quintessential quest story” (Brackett 1). It includes the archetypal call to adventure (Sir Henry’s offer to hire Quatermain), the reluctant hero (Quatermain’s lack of desire to go until he knows his son will be...
