When young Allan Quatermain, a boy who would later be known for his heroic adventures, saves a young girl named Stella from a fire, they become quick friends. However, when Stella’s mother leaves her daughter and husband for a new life, Stella’s father is so ashamed that he moves them away into the wilderness. Upset, but too young to contest it, Stella and Allan move on and lose touch. Growing up in both England and South Africa, Allan experiences a myriad of adventures, including duel witch doctors, challenging hunts, and tragic deaths. One day, after a serious accident leaves Allan badly wounded, he and Stella are serendipitously reunited. Able to return the favor from childhood, Stella saves Allan, nursing him back to health and fostering a new relationship. Unwilling to lose touch again, Allan and Stella stay together, their relationship evolving and adapting as they grow together and go on adventures. However, as they remain in a region of unpredictable danger, the couple’s life and relationship are tested by fate, causing conflicts bigger than anything they had ever faced before.
The origins and backstory of H. Rider Haggard’s reoccurring character, Allan Quatermain, is explored and revealed in Allan’s Wife. Elaborating on details mentioned in other novels featuring Quatermain, Allan’s Wife explores Quatermain’s early life, the fate of his parents, and the love story between he and Stella. Featuring heart-pounding action, sweet sentiment, and wonderful adventures, Allan’s Wife is a compelling work of short fiction. Written in imaginative and simple prose, this H. Rider Haggard novel is accessible to all ages. First published in 1889, Allan’s Wife has remained fresh and exciting, appealing to readers’ sense of adventure and sentiment.
This edition of Allan’s Wife by H. Rider Haggard features a striking new cover design and is printed in a font that is both modern and readable. With these accommodations, Allan’s Wife caters to a contemporary audience while preserving the original innovation and adventure of H. Rider Haggard’s work.
