The Mahatma and the Hare: A Dream Story

"The Mahatma and the Hare: A Dream Story" by H. Rider Haggard is a fantasy novel crafted during the late 19th century. The narrative explores profound themes of life, death, and reincarnation through the eyes of its central characters, particularly revolving around a Mahatma and a hare, who confront existential questions and the nature of suffering in a whimsically metaphysical realm. At the start of the story, the narrator reflects on the nature of life and death, having been influenced by the significant events surrounding a hare's life. With visions of a mystical Great White Road and the eerie Gates beyond, the conversation delves into the haunting memories of the hare, who shares its harrowing experiences with humanity, including hunting and suffering at the hands of men. Through vibrant storytelling, the hare articulates the anguish of its existence, juxtaposed against a backdrop of a world where it now inhabits—a place of peace, mortality, and the transcendence of the soul. The opening sets the stage for an exploration of the spiritual journey and the reflections upon one's past existence that resonate throughout the text. (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.