Nada the Lily

Gerald Monsman in his 2007 Valancourt Books printing of H. Rider Haggard's 1892 Nada the Lily provides notes and an insightful introduction. It also includes an appendix with excerpts from Haggard's autobiography showing that the novel's principle character, the Zulu Umslopogaas, was modeled on a real Zulu warrior of Haggard's acquaintance. Monsman is an expert in 19th century British and Anglo-African literature, so he knows what he is talking about. One striking point he makes is that there might have been an intended or unconscious connection between Haggard's loss to another man of his "true love" Lilly and the title character of this book. Indeed, his love of Lilly and what amounts to her spirit seemed to haunt and reverberate through Haggard's whole life and writing career. This is one of the three magnificent Haggard African romances that feature Umslopogaas, the other two being Allan Quatermain and She and Allan. This story is especially notable because it is entirely encompassed by the factual bloody rise and fall of Shaka (here called Chaka) and his astonishing Zulu empire. This Valancourt Books printing with Monsman's introduction is highly recommended. Some other notable reissues of Nada the Lily have been Macdonald, 1973; Newcastle's Forgotten Fantasy Library,1979; and Wildside Press, 2003).

The novel tells the tale of the hero Umslopogaas, the illegitimate son of the great Zulu king and general Chaka, and his love for "the most beautiful of Zulu women", Nada the Lily. Nada the Lily is unusual for a novel as its entire cast of characters is South African and black, a fact that shows Haggards great love and respect for Africa and its people. This is one of Haggard's less well-known novels, possibly ecause of racist attitudes of many readers who weren't interested in an all African novel, and yet it is one of his best. If you like any of Haggard's novels or Victorian adventure and romantic stories you should love this book. Other books I like by Haggard are Queen Sheba's Ring and The Virgin of the Sun.

There are three great characters that Haggard created - that is three great stars: Ayesha( She-Who-Must-Be-Obeyed), Allan Quartermain, and Umslopogaas of the Axe. This is the tale of Umslopogaas as a youth, a tale of his great love, his wandering as an outlaw under sentence of death, and of his alliance with Galazi the Wolf Brother, weilder of the great club Watcher of the Fords. Fabulous battle scenes, strong characters - what more does the reader want? And then the reader can advance to the only other two books to feature Umslopogaas: She and Allan and Allan Quartermain.

Sadly, Rider Haggard is no longer required reading in the school system. Nevertheless, this rip-roaring action story about the early life of Umslopogas, a character more usually found in a supporting role in the novel Alan Quartermain, is probably Haggard's most poetic and free-flowing yarn. A multiplicity of interesting characters is to be found in this tale, although the central theme is the moving love story of Umslopogas and Nada (a native girl of great beauty). If you have been moved by West Side Story or Romeo and Juliet, and also enjoy a rollicking action-packed adventure saga, this book is a must for you!

Almost everyone is familiar with King Solomon's Mines, She and Alan Quatermain etc but I have encountered relatively few readers of Nada the Lily. This is extraordinary since it is one of Haggard's greatest stories. Given the scenario of an adventure/love story spread out accross the South African landscape during the ruthless and absolute rule of the Zulu king Chaka, this is, as they say, a story that has everything. In this regard I have often wondered that whilst Haggard is one the most filmed if not over filmed authors, Nada the Lily has never made it to the cinema even though it reads as if it was written for the big sreen and the bigger the screen the better.