The World's Desire

Name: The World's Desire
Author: H. Rider Haggard

The story revolves around a young woman who is the daughter of an Egyptian king and a Greek princess. She possesses magical powers that are tied to her emotions. The narrative explores themes of love, power, and identity as she navigates her complex heritage and confronts various challenges.

By H. Rider Haggard · First published 1910 · Genre: Fantasy, Adventure, Historical Fiction · 27 chapters · 100,923 words

First lines

Come with us, ye whose hearts are set On this, the Present to forget; Come read the things whereof ye know _They were not, and could not be so! _ The murmur of the fallen creeds, Like winds among wind-shaken reeds Along the banks of holy Nile, Shall echo in your ears the while; The fables of the North and South Shall mingle in a modern mouth; The fancies of the West and East Shall flock and flit about the feast Like doves that cooled, with waving wing, The banquets of the Cyprian king. Old shapes of song that do not die Shall haunt the halls of memory, And though the Bow shall prelude clear Shrill as the song of Gunnar's spear, There answer sobs from lute and lyre That murmured of The World's Desire.

What this Textopian page supports

The World's Desire is listed on Textopian as a novel by H. Rider Haggard, dated 1910 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: 1910 CE
Language: English
Genres: Fantasy, Adventure, Historical Fiction, Romance, Mythology
Length: 100,923 words
Structure: 27 chapters, 1,476 paragraphs
Reading fit: Very Easy (5th Grade or below)

Good citation fit

Work identity for The World's Desire 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 World's Desire?
How does this novel by H. Rider Haggard fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
Where does Fantasy first become important in the reading?

Similar titles

Genres

Fantasy — The book incorporates mythical elements and fantastical settings, central to its plot and themes.
Adventure — The narrative is driven by a quest and exploration, typical of adventure stories.
Historical Fiction — The story is set in a historical context, blending real historical elements with fiction.
Romance — Romantic elements are significant to the character motivations and plot development.