This book has been on my shelves for ten years. I'm hoping that by releasing it I will be persuaded by someone else to read it!

To be released at York Bookcrossers meeting, Ye Olde Starre Inn, York

Acquired at the York Bookcrossers meetup in March. To be released 8pm Tuesday 23rd April at the next meetup, Thomas's of York, Musuem Street, York.
I had mixed feelings about reading this. On the one hand, it's a genuine classic adventure story, and a hugely influential one- to the extent that most of the plot twists are spoilered by the fact they've been imitated so much. The prose style may be simple, but it's also clear and vivid: this is a bit of a page-turner.
On the other hand.... written in 1885, set in Africa. Troubling Attitudes guaranteed. To give Haggard at least some credit, the racism is condescending rather than rabidly contemptuous- see John Buchan's "Prester John" for an example of the latter. Haggard seems to genuinely admire many aspects of Zulu culture, but both white and black characters give little speeches that anticipate the idea of Apartheid. Plus, there's gratuitous elephant-hunting.
On the whole, I'm glad I read this, but really, really wouldn't recommend it for an impressionable child!

I don't think I count as an 'impressionable child' these days... so probably safe for me to read! Picked up at the April meet in new venue (Thomas's) - I felt the need of some page-turning gung-ho Victorian adventuring, so thought I'd give it a whirl. I'm sure we had a copy at my parents' home years ago, but if I ever read the whole thing, I've forgotten it - look forward to renewing the acquaintance! (Apart from the elephant hunting; casual racism I can cope with, you put it down to 'that's the way things were back then' - but elephant hunting is a different matter. I'll skim read that bit and file it in the same bit of my brain as several other things that I wish I hadn't seen...)