Rating: Summary: Blockbuster from the Victorian Period. Review: "She" is a good example of popular Victorian literature as influenced by the British empire. Because of this, it has some literary merit. Otherwise, the novel is fantastical garbage about two men, Holly and Leo (who is the descendant of a pharoah) from England who sail to Africa to confront Ayesha, a 2000 year old woman. That's not to say it's not a fun read. In fact, I believe a movie has been made from it, and if it was written today, it would be transformed into a cinematic extravaganza along the lines of "The Mummy," etc. It's a good adventure story. And perhaps, although I doubt Haggard was conscious of this, the novel reflects a contemporary English fear of female authority and/or foreign power. I wouldn't worry too much about that though. Enjoy "She," but just because it's a "World Classic," don't spend too much time looking for any deep meaning.
Rating: Summary: Blockbuster from the Victorian Period. Review: "She" is a good example of popular Victorian literature as influenced by the British empire. Because of this, it has some literary merit. Otherwise, the novel is fantastical garbage about two men, Holly and Leo (who is the descendant of a pharoah) from England who sail to Africa to confront Ayesha, a 2000 year old woman. That's not to say it's not a fun read. In fact, I believe a movie has been made from it, and if it was written today, it would be transformed into a cinematic extravaganza along the lines of "The Mummy," etc. It's a good adventure story. And perhaps, although I doubt Haggard was conscious of this, the novel reflects a contemporary English fear of female authority and/or foreign power. I wouldn't worry too much about that though. Enjoy "She," but just because it's a "World Classic," don't spend too much time looking for any deep meaning.
Rating: Summary: Blockbuster from the Victorian Period. Review: "She" is a good example of popular Victorian literature as influenced by the British empire. Because of this, it has some literary merit. Otherwise, the novel is fantastical garbage about two men, Holly and Leo (who is the descendant of a pharoah) from England who sail to Africa to confront Ayesha, a 2000 year old woman. That's not to say it's not a fun read. In fact, I believe a movie has been made from it, and if it was written today, it would be transformed into a cinematic extravaganza along the lines of "The Mummy," etc. It's a good adventure story. And perhaps, although I doubt Haggard was conscious of this, the novel reflects a contemporary English fear of female authority and/or foreign power. I wouldn't worry too much about that though. Enjoy "She," but just because it's a "World Classic," don't spend too much time looking for any deep meaning.
Rating: Summary: Excellent--would make a great EPIC movie! Review: "She" is the ultimate woman; intelligent, all-powerful, & knows what she wants. All men fall on their knees when they see her. Her tragic flaw comes from her blind passion of an unworthy man, the flaw of many great heroines. Holly, a fantastically tortured man, is the true hero over Leo, a good-looking but shallow young man. With Haggard's style, this book has it all: ancient lost cities, murder, passion, revenge, women cat fights, and a good native "hot pot" scene. The men are transformed forever from their close encounter with SHE, the queen whose "EMPIRE IS OF THE IMAGINATION." And so will the reader be!!
Rating: Summary: the mother of Indiana Jones Review: "She" might be an extraordinary book in 1905 but not in 2000. It's a classic book for I consider it as the mother of its genre. The style of writing strikes one back to the time of Sherlock Holmes, but suits to the story perfectly. The story varies from profound to superficial - sometimes there's too much information and sometimes too less.. Ayesha's "end" is a little too simple and I would have expected something more surprisingly. Bottom Line: Indiana Jones meets Tarzan and the Mummy with no real excitement for people who live almost 100 years after this book was first issued. But it is certainly a MUST to read if one is interessed of how all the adventure stories started.
Rating: Summary: A classic adventure of the mind Review: *She* is the prequel to H. Rider Haggard's better known *King Solomon's Mines.* The book is a mystery and an adventure of the mind...Ludwig Holly and his young ward journey to central Africa and encounter Ayesha, known as She-Who-Must-Be-Obeyed. Who "She" is and what "She" desires of one of the protagonists is the crux of the mystery. Most of the action takes place in Holly's head as he and Leo traverse the eerie landscape of Ayesha's past. A real page-turner with some strong questions about love, desire, and the will to live. A great ending puts the capstone on this masterpiece of fiction.
Rating: Summary: She's beautiful, She's clever, but is She human? Review: A family legacy leaves Leo Vincey a mysterious casket, which on opening reveals a family document two thousand years old. The contents of the document take Vincey and his guardian, Holly, on a journey deep into the heart of Africa, into a kingdom ruled by Ayesha, She-who-must-be-obeyed (or) just She. She, who is two thousand years old, has the secret of everlasting youth, and infinite wisdom. Why is she attracted to young Leo Vincey of the handsome stature and blond hair? Why is she served by mute slaves? What is her secret? Her barbaric subjects are terrified of her. A great adventure story, a tale of reincarnation. Put on your safari kit, and be prepared to trek into the very soul of Africa to fing out the secret of She-who-must-e-obeyed!
Rating: Summary: If you love lost world stories, this is for YOU! Review: A great story and one that gets better each time you read it. Can be a bit slow at the start, but it will turn into a "can't put down" book.
Rating: Summary: Typo Review: Good read, but this version of the book, had so many typographical errors, that I wondered if Amazon "got a deal" from the publisher. On some pages every paragraph contained these errors, often requiring rereading the sentence several times to decipher the intended meaning. These were not merely "spell checker" omissions. It appeared that the manuscript was sent "off-shore" to be typeset, because no one with English as a first language would let some of the goofs get by. This copy of the book casts a poor reflection on Amazon.
Rating: Summary: Dramatic scenes of adventure, but a bit hard to read Review: H. Rider Haggard's style is the ornate, 19th century melodrama style. There is none of the stylish repartee of Conan Doyle or the sharp characterization of Dickens. Despite its literary flaws, H. Rider Haggard's vivid imagination make "She" an enduring classic. "She", or "She-who-must-be-obeyed" , a.k.a Ayesha, is a mysterious and powerful queen in a subterranean land laced with horrible terrors in darkest Africa. To disregard her word is instant death for her savage subjects. Holly and his adopted nephew Leo explore through her realm and after nearly getting murdered in the most horrible way, meet up with She. Leo is dying from a fever, and Holly, an explorer and a man educated in languages and the classics, contends with Ayesha. The very ill Leo is meanwhile attended by Ustane, a local gal who marries herself to him in the local custom of girl-takes-boy and stands by him loyally. Who is this local girl? Is she really just a native lass as she seems? And what has She to do with Ustane? Rider's description of Ayesha is brilliant, Holly is a sympathetic character and the ending of the tale is spectacular. The only reason I give three stars is that the writing is murky, convuluted and overly ornate. Still, when Rider describes scenes of high drama, horror or beauty, he cannot be beat.
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