The Ghost Kings by H. Rider Haggard
The story revolves around a young man who becomes embroiled in a struggle between rival factions vying for control of a kingdom. He must navigate the complexities of court politics and confront his own destiny in order to claim the throne. Along the way, he discovers hidden strengths and faces formidable challenges that test his resolve and character.
By H. Rider Haggard · First published 1924 · Genre: Adventure, Fantasy, Romance · 24 chapters · 144,474 words
First lines
The afternoon was intensely, terribly hot. Looked at from the high ground where they were encamped above the river, the sea, a mile or two to her right-for this was the coast of Pondo-land-to little Rachel Dove staring at it with sad eyes, seemed an illimitable sheet of stagnant oil. Yet there was no sun, for a grey haze hung like a veil beneath the arch of the sky, so dense and thick that its rays were cut off from the earth which lay below silent and stifled. Tom, the Kaffir driver, had told her that a storm was coming, a father of storms, which would end the great drought. Therefore he had gone to a kloof in the mountains where the oxen were in charge of the other two native boys-since on this upland there was no pasturage to drive them back to the waggon. For, as he explained to her, in such tempests cattle are apt to take fright and rush away for miles, and without cattle their plight would be even worse than it was at present.
What this Textopian page supports
The Ghost Kings is listed on Textopian as a novel by H. Rider Haggard, dated 1924 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: 1924 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Adventure, Fantasy, Romance, Historical, Horror
- Length: 144,474 words
- Structure: 24 chapters, 2,259 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Ghost Kings 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 The Ghost Kings?
- 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
- The Wanderers Necklace by H. Rider Haggard
- The Virgin Of The Sun by H. Rider Haggard
- The Yellow God by H. Rider Haggard
- Ayesha by H. Rider Haggard
- Little Flower by H. Rider Haggard
- The Ancient Allan by H. Rider Haggard
Genres
- Adventure — The narrative is driven by exploration and thrilling quests.
- Fantasy — The story includes supernatural elements and mystical occurrences.
- Romance — Romantic relationships play a significant role in the plot.
- Historical — The setting and context are influenced by historical elements.
Tags
Adventure · Fantasy · Romance · Historical Fiction · African Setting · Colonialism · Imperialism · Magic Realism · Mythology · Supernatural Elements · Quest Narrative · Coming of Age
Contents
- The Girl
- The Boy
- Good-Bye
- Ishmael
- Noie
- The Casting of the Lots
- The Message of the King
- Mr. Dove Visits Ishmael
- The Taking of Noie
- The Omen of the Star
- Ishmael Visits the Inkosazana
- Rachel Sees a Vision
- Richard Comes
- What Chanced at Ramah
- Rachel Comes Home
- The Three Days
- Rachel Loses her Spirit
- The Curse of the Inkosazana
- Rachel Finds her Spirit
- The Mother of the Trees
- The City of the Dead
- In the Sanctuary
- The Dream in the North
- The End and the Beginning