Haggard, Sir H. Rider

Haggard, Sir H. Rider

▪ British author
in full  Sir Henry Rider Haggard  
born June 22, 1856, Bradenham, Norfolk, Eng.
died May 14, 1925, London
 English novelist best known for his romantic adventure King Solomon's Mines (1885).

      The son of a barrister, Haggard was educated at Ipswich grammar school and by private tutors. In 1875, at age 19, he went to southern Africa as secretary to the governor of Natal, Sir Henry Bulwer. Then he served on Sir Theophilus Shepstone's staff and himself hoisted the flag at the brief first annexation of the Transvaal (1877–81). He then became master of the high court there. In 1879 he returned to England, wrote a history of recent events in southern Africa, Cetywayo and His White Neighbours (1882), and read for the bar.

      He published two unsuccessful novels but captured the public with his African adventure story King Solomon's Mines. He followed this with She (1887) and further stories of Africa, notably Allan Quatermain (1887), Nada the Lily (1892), Queen Sheba's Ring (1910), Marie (1912), and The Ivory Child (1916). He used other settings for such striking romances as Cleopatra (1889), Montezuma's Daughter (1893), and Heart of the World (1896).

      Haggard was also a practical farmer; he served on several government commissions concerning agriculture and was knighted in 1912 for these services. A Farmer's Year (1899) and Rural England, 2 vol. (1902), are works of some importance. His autobiography, The Days of My Life: An Autobiography by Sir H. Rider Haggard (1926), was edited by C.J. Longman and published posthumously. With Robert Louis Stevenson (Stevenson, Robert Louis), George MacDonald (Macdonald, George), and William Morris (Morris, William), Haggard was part of the literary reaction against domestic realism that has been called a romance revival.

Additional Reading
Morton Cohen, Rider Haggard: His Life and Work, 2nd ed. (1968); Tom Pocock, Rider Haggard and the Lost Empire (1993).

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Universalium. 2010.

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  • Haggard, Sir (Henry)Rider — Hag·gard (hăgʹərd), Sir (Henry) Rider. 1856 1925. British writer whose romantic adventure novels include King Solomon s Mines (1885). * * * …   Universalium

  • Sir Henry Rider Haggard — noun British writer noted for romantic adventure novels (1856 1925) • Syn: ↑Haggard, ↑Rider Haggard • Instance Hypernyms: ↑writer, ↑author …   Useful english dictionary

  • Rider Haggard — noun British writer noted for romantic adventure novels (1856 1925) • Syn: ↑Haggard, ↑Sir Henry Rider Haggard • Instance Hypernyms: ↑writer, ↑author * * * Rider Haggard …   Useful english dictionary

  • sir — /serr/, n. 1. a respectful or formal term of address used to a man: No, sir. 2. (cap.) the distinctive title of a knight or baronet: Sir Walter Scott. 3. (cap.) a title of respect for some notable personage of ancient times: Sir Pandarus of Troy …   Universalium

  • rider — riderless, adj. /ruy deuhr/, n. 1. a person who rides a horse or other animal, a bicycle, etc. 2. something that rides. 3. an additional clause, usually unrelated to the main body, attached to a legislative bill in passing it. 4. an addition or… …   Universalium

  • Haggard, Sir H(enry) Rider — born June 22, 1856, Bradenham, Norfolk, Eng. died May 14, 1925, London British novelist. After holding a series of official posts in South Africa (1875–81), he began writing stories set in Africa. Of his 34 colourful adventure novels, the best… …   Universalium

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  • H. Rider Haggard — Sir Henry Rider Haggard (* 22. Juni 1856 in Bradenham Hall, Norfolk, Großbritannien; † 14. Mai 1925 in London) war ein britischer Schriftsteller und Vertreter des englischen Abenteuerromans des 19. Jahrhunderts. Sein bekanntestes Werk ist King… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

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