Long Odds by H. Rider Haggard (1888)
The story revolves around a young man who becomes embroiled in a plot to steal a valuable treasure from a wealthy and influential family. The protagonist's involvement stems from his acquaintance with the family's daughter, whom he has fallen in love with. As the narrative unfolds, it becomes clear that the family is not what they seem, and their true intentions are far more sinister than initially apparent. The young man finds himself caught up in a complex web of deceit and betrayal, with the treasure serving as the central object of desire. Throughout the story, themes of love, loyalty, and redemption are explored, as the protagonist navigates the treacherous landscape of his own morality. Ultimately, he must confront the harsh realities of his situation and make a choice that will determine the course of his life forever.
By H. Rider Haggard · First published 1888 · Genre: Adventure, Historical Fiction, Action · 7,365 words
First lines
The story which is narrated in the following pages came to me from the lips of my old friend Allan Quatermain, or Hunter Quatermain, as we used to call him in South Africa. He told it to me one evening when I was stopping with him at the place he bought in Yorkshire. Shortly after that, the death of his only son so unsettled him that he immediately left England, accompanied by two companions, his old fellow-voyagers, Sir Henry Curtis and Captain Good, and has now utterly vanished into the dark heart of Africa. He is persuaded that a white people, of which he has heard rumours all his life, exists somewhere on the highlands in the vast, still unexplored interior, and his great ambition is to find them before he dies. This is the wild quest upon which he and his companions have departed, and from which I shrewdly suspect they never will return.
What this Textopian page supports
Long Odds is listed on Textopian as a novel by H. Rider Haggard, dated 1888 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Novel
- Author: H. Rider Haggard
- Date: 1888 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Adventure, Historical Fiction, Action, Colonial Literature, Drama
- Length: 7,365 words
- Structure: 1 section, 64 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Long Odds by H. Rider Haggard
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
- Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph
Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering Long Odds?
- How does this novel by H. Rider Haggard fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Adventure first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- Hunter Quatermains Story by H. Rider Haggard
- Allan Quatermain by H. Rider Haggard
- Morning Star by H. Rider Haggard
- Benita by H. Rider Haggard
- King Solomons Mines by H. Rider Haggard
- Marie by H. Rider Haggard
Genres
- Adventure — The narrative centers on a perilous journey and encounters with wild animals, typical of adventure stories.
- Historical Fiction — Set in a specific historical period with references to real locations and events, blending fact with fiction.
- Action — Features intense sequences of action, including hunting and survival against dangerous wildlife.
- Colonial Literature — Reflects themes and settings related to colonial Africa, common in literature from the colonial period.
Tags
Adventure · Fantasy · Romance · Historical Fiction · Action · Thriller · Mystery · Colonialism · Imperialism · Africa · Exploration · Quest