-King Solomon’s Mines

A quest romance inspired by Treasure Island, this was Haggard’s first successful novel. It began his Allen Quatermain series, which spanned fifteen books. Prior to becoming an author, Haggard worked for the British colonial government in South Africa, and his writings reflect ideas of biological essentialism and colonial stereotypes like the “noble savage.” Haggard has been criticized for the racist and misogynistic content of his novels. He locates King Solomon’s Mines, the home of the biblical ruler’s treasures, within the imagined African nation of Kukuanaland. The idea of Africa as home to more advanced ancient civilization played into the stereotype of modern Africans being lesser than Europeans. Haggard’s adventure stories provided inspiration for the popular Indiana Jones films.