The Ultimate Fantasy Series Ranking

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H. Rider Haggard

1 universe Last reviewed 2026-08-26

Sir Henry Rider Haggard was born on June 22, 1856, in Bradenham, Norfolk, England, the eighth of ten children; his father was a barrister born in Russia to British parents, and his mother was an author and poet. Educated at Ipswich Grammar School and by private tutors in London, he spent formative years in South Africa from 1875 to 1882 in colonial administrative roles, witnessing the British annexation of the Transvaal in 1877. On returning to England he studied law and was called to the bar in 1884, but soon found novel-writing far more lucrative than legal practice. His 1885 novel King Solomon's Mines is widely credited with helping establish the 'lost world' adventure genre, and introduced the recurring hero Allan Quatermain, who went on to feature in a series of eighteen novels and stories. His 1887 novel She, a foundational work of the lost-race fantasy tradition centered on the immortal queen Ayesha, became one of the best-selling books in history, with an estimated 83 million copies sold by 1965. Other notable works include Ayesha, Nada the Lily, and Eric Brighteyes. Haggard was knighted in 1912 and made a Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1919. He died on May 14, 1925, in Marylebone, London, at the age of 68, and his ashes were interred at St. Mary's Church, Ditchingham, Norfolk.

Universe(s)

The Ayesha Series

  • Core Canon books: 4
  • Current rank: #838 in the official ranking
  • Weighted average: 3.59
  • Award recognitions: None recorded

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