King Solomon's Mines - H. Rider Haggard (3.5 of 5 Lost Civilizations)

So...it looks like my last review was posted on September 28, 2009. That's pretty sad. This isn't for lack of reading though. I read about 30-35 books this semester. I just haven't had time to write up the reviews. But, now that finals are over, I hope to share many of these books with you.

King Solomon's Mines was published in 1885. It was one of the first "Lost World" adventure novels. It follows three white men in their exploration of the interior of Africa. Along the way they meet a noble native who serves as their guide. When they reach the lost civilization they are perceived as God's coming down from heaven. Life is all fine and dandy until their story begins to unravel.

The book is somewhat entertaining, but there isn't a lot of depth to the story. This novel is well-known for its historical rather than literary significance. Everything is pretty typical for its genre: a few unsurprising plot twists, a few epic battles, a rather shallow love story, lost treasure, and one crazy old woman. If you're looking for a quick and fluffy adventure story from the 19th century, this is the book for you.