Reviews

Marie by H. Rider Haggard

paul_cornelius's review against another edition

4.0

As is often the case with H. Rider Haggard, this volume in the further adventures of Allan Quatermain contains both riveting action, a bit of philosophy, and several touches of melancholy. After a lapse of almost a quarter of century, Haggard picked up his story of Allan following the 1889 publication of Allan's Wife. Already something of a transitional figure during the late Victorian period, Haggard by the time of Marie's publication in 1912 had passed through the Edwardian era and into the reign of George V, right before World War I. How appropriate, as the Zulu king, Dingaan, constantly refers to the Englishmen in Marie as the Sons of George, albeit Dingaan means the late George IV of Great Britain, who had died in 1830, some eight years before the main events in Marie take place.

Marie is a brisk read. In it, the certainties of the earlier Quatermain have given place to a sense of impending doom. And this even though it is a tale of the young Allan, not the mature man of the early novels. Neither Quatermain or Haggard seem as sure of the future as they once were--even when that future is death. For death, here, is a much more spoiled affair, the assurances of a resolution in the after life become a bit doubtful.

metaphorosis's review against another edition

1.0

reviews.metaphorosis.com

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1.5 stars

Allan Quatermain, an English teen growing up in what is now South Africa, falls in love with Marie Marais, a Boer neighbour girl. Her father is against the marriage, favoring instead his wealthy nephew. He and the nephew put one obstacle after another in the lovers' way, with tragic consequences.

I read H. Rider Haggard's King Solomon's Mines when I was very young, and eventually followed it with She and a few others in the She/Quatermain saga. I remember them as fun, if overwrought, adventure stories. I haven't read them in a few decades, but found them for free, and thought it would be nice to read more of the series. As I've found with a few other re-reads, some things are better left alone.

Marie is the first in the Quatermain series, chronologically, and tells of how Allan met and lost his first wife. I didn't remember much about Quatermain, but, while he does refer to his later exploits, I didn't find it a problem.

The story opens well enough, with Allan just happening to be a supremely skilled and confident teenager. He never has to work at much, but that doesn't mean things go his way. Marie's father dislikes Englishmen, and that's pretty much all the explanation we get for his more and more bizarre efforts to keep the two lovers apart. It's a central question that Haggard never really tries to answer. For all that Haggard consciously steers clear of religion, there's a fair amount of ex machina happening in the story. The villain's final declamation belongs in a comic book. This casual approach to plot is one thing that keeps the story from being more than a casual adventure story.

The other thing that knocks you back from almost the first page is the story's pervasive racism. Granted, the story was written in 1912, and granted, Quatermain is in some ways progressive for his time. I give leeway to books read well outside their time frame. The attitudes in this story, however, robbed it of much of its pleasure. One of many, many examples: Hans, Quatermain's Khoikhoi (Hottentot) servant, comes in the middle of the night to warn Quatermain of danger to the Marais family. When he dares to mention the risk to Marie, Allan "thrust his fist through the window and struck the Hottentot's toad-like face", calls him a dog, and threatens to kill him. Gee, thanks, baas.

Hans, throughout the book, is clever, loyal, and helpful. His reward is to be treated badly and given scraps. He saves Allan's life repeatedly, but is never given any credit at all. When it's possible Hans has been killed, Quatermain doesn't waste a thought on him. It's reflective of the times, perhaps, but even a much stronger story wouldn't have been able to save the book from its own attitudes. That's not to say that Quatermain never treats Hans well; just most of the time. But then, that's just what you do with natives, given their natural gloom, love of fighting, sly cunning, etc. To give Haggard his due, whites who misbehave really badly (such as murdering an African - 'Kaffir', as they're called throughout) do end badly, but only if it can't be helped. After all, "even savages love their lives and appreciate the fact that wounds hurt very much". If only, Haggard implies, they were civilized, and knew how to make war properly. Quatermain appears mildly opposed to slavery, though the book suggests he later becomes a slave trader. I don't recall that, but perhaps I didn't read enough of the books.

White women fare slightly better. Marie is the classic damsel in distress, whose only real virtues are beauty and a constant love for her man. The book's plot centers around which man she belongs to and can therefore marry her when she comes of age. To solve the problem of an African servant woman who falls in love with him, Quatermain marries her off, "somewhat against her will". There are occasional derogatory references to other groups as well - including, ironically, criticism of people who treat their native servants badly. To Haggard's credit, there is at least one very strong female character.

I wish I could say I'd been able to reawaken an interest in a childhood favorite. Only, Haggard wasn't really a favorite, and reading this book killed my interest almost entirely dead. Some of the attitudes fit their time and might be overlooked with a grimace. Maybe in a much stronger story, I'd even be able to get past the treatment of Hans. In this case, though, I can't, and I don't think I'll be going on to the rest of the series. Marie was written toward the end of Haggard's life, suggesting that the earlier books would be even more difficult. I'm not interested enough to find out.

vayeate's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Prejudice much ? - Could have been another title for the book, but putting that aside.
Sir Henry Rider Haggard does it again, this is the fifth book that I read about Allan and everything is still amazing. This is story tells a tale of a much younger Allan than the stories before.

I have to confess the description of the book is quite confusing in which the first wife of Allan is mentioned, but the previous book was called Allan's wife. Thankfully the author explains everything methodically and clearly.

schwimfan's review against another edition

adventurous fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

birdmanseven's review against another edition

4.0

After reading King Solomon's Mines it was interesting to read the story of a young Allan Quatermain and his first love, Marie. In some ways the pacing and action in Marie was more exciting that King Solomon's Mines. I particularly enjoyed the standoff at the Marias home which happens early in the story. Overall I really enjoyed this book and I look forward to reading more of Quatermain's adventures. However I do have one big complaint and that's the handling of the fate of Marie. You start the book with the knowledge that Marie is doomed. You know that, and yet you still spend the rest of the book rooting for Marie & Allan and hoping that you misread the grim prologue. It's actually pretty powerful in that way. That being said, I was hugely disappointed with how Haggard handled Marie's end. It could have been a huge moment, but instead it felt rushed, pointless and (worst of all) anti-climactic. It doesn't ruin the book, but it sure takes a bite out of the conclusion. Anyway, I'd say it's definitely worth a read, but be prepared that the ending may let you down.

We discuss this series further on this episode of Howe's Things: https://youtu.be/kCkGJh4Pp8I

knjiskirovac's review against another edition

3.0

Another classic Haggards book. Predictive, full of action and bad guy/good guy/Zulus/English/Boers characters. Side characters played important role in narrative.

giantjackalopes's review against another edition

5.0

I first read King Solomon's Mines last year. It quickly became my favorite book, that is until I read this one! It is a heroic tale of man who loved someone so dearly he gave up his life for her. It is the first book in chronological order of the Quatermain books. Indeed a wonderful read. I cannot describe how much I loved it! However, at the saddest part I found myself crying along with " the little son of George" adieu to Allan for now, but forever his stories will remain with me!