She

H. Rider Haggard
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An Unfortunate Classic

charlesdee
11/6/2011
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I haven't read this book in years, but while I was a bookseller I often carried it and King Solomon's Mines in editions aimed at kids. When I read them I was amazed at the unmitigated violent celelbration of British Imperialism. They seemed to go beyond being merely "of their time." The word farrago comes to mind.

Unness communities want to raise young neo-colonialists, I can't image why they are bound up as children's classics. (Actuallu I do know how this happens. The people who put out cheap editions of classics never read the books, see it as an adventure story, and figure that boys today will enjoy it as much as boys did at the turn of the 20th century.)

I reccommend the several fim adaptions. They know they are ridiculous and can be fun to watch.

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