She (Hardcover)

I have read some different versions of the book and found the Barns & Noble books New York (ISBN 0760752400) to have the best introduction (by Clifton Ganyard) that falls just short of Cliff's Notes in explaining Haggard's background and writings. The illustrations are the same as in the Modern Library version but are clearer and larger. You get to see the writing on a potshard that I have not taken the time to see if it is a real language. Of all the versions I prefer most the recording with narrator Fred Williams; at first he seems to be monotone and out of breath. Then as he approaches the adventure he picks up a bit. By the time he comes to the cliff hanger he is huffing and puffing. He actually has the sound and feel of some old person recalling a long past adventure.

Holly is visited by his dying friend in the middle of the night. He is sworn to secrecy and given a mysterious chest to hold onto and asked to take charge of the friend's son (Leo). When the time came to open the chest and find the contents, the adventure began. I will not relate the story as it is the unfolding that is a good part of the mystery. However if you are expecting an adventure story It is there but there is much more with philosophical discussions of science and society.

The story is over way too soon so be sure to get the next book "
Ayesha: The return of She."

It is important to keep in mind that H. Rider Haggard was an Imperialist, as were the majority of his contemporaries. Still, the themes of misogyny, racism, and imperialism are at times a little too heavy-handed in She. Haggard's anti-feminine stance, in particular, comes into full swing when the reader is introduced to the despotic matriarchal queen of the Amahagger tribe. The Amahagger society itself is a direct inverse of male-dominated Victorian society, so there is no surprise that the Amahagger are portrayed as uncivilized cannibals.

If for no other reason, you should read this book to get an understanding of the xenophobia inherent in Victorian society. This book is an invaluable aid to any student of 19th century English literature--it effectively portrays English attitudes towards women, foreigners, and colonization. It's also a very exciting book, so most students will find it easy to read in a single weekend.

So, why only 3 stars? The writing is not amazing. Haggard was, after all, a genre novel author. At times, the allusions are extremely heavy-handed, and the characters are archetypical. This is a plot-driven book, but it could have been much better if Haggard had paid more attention to his characters. They had the potential to be very fascinating. Also, there are better examples of 19th century English literature about Africa. Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness is a vastly superior novel, but it also has an antipodal take on the positives and negatives of imperialism. If you have the time, I would suggest reading both novels to get a feel for both sides of the discussion on British Imperialism.