Long Odds

"Long Odds" by H. Rider Haggard is a thrilling adventure novel written during the late 19th century (Victorian era). The book follows Allan Quatermain, a seasoned hunter, as he recounts a harrowing tale of survival and peril during his expeditions in Africa. The story intertwines themes of exploration, danger, and the raw power of nature, highlighting Quatermain's encounters with lions and the harsh realities of life in the wild. In this gripping narrative, Quatermain shares a series of events that unfold during one of his hunting trips, where he navigates through the fever-stricken wilderness of Sikukuni's country. The tale recounts his encounters with deadly wildlife, particularly a pride of lions that lead to a fateful confrontation. After a series of precarious situations and attempts at bravery, Quatermain ultimately faces the lions directly, culminating in an intense battle that leaves him wounded. As he reflects on the odds stacked against him, he realizes the folly of taking on such formidable adversaries alone. The story captures both the excitement of adventure and the sobering consequences of underestimating nature's dangers. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Sir Henry Rider Haggard was an English writer of adventure fiction romances set in exotic locations, predominantly Africa, and a pioneer of the lost world literary genre. He was also involved in land reform throughout the British Empire. His stories, situated at the lighter end of Victorian literature and including the eighteen Allan Quatermain stories beginning with King Solomon's Mines, continue to be popular and influential.