Allan Quatermain first appears in the novel King Solomon's Mines as one of the greatest hunters of all time - a brilliant marksman and skilled in survival. He is the son of a missionary and grew up in South Africa, going on to discover the continent's hidden secrets. His appeal has not diminished over the years and he has reappeared in many films including in 2003 heading up "The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen" . The novels and short stories in this omnibus edition cover his life from the age of 18 to 68. They appear in the order in which Haggard wrote them, which was not chronological in terms of Quatermain's age. Allan had two wives, both of whom died soon after they married him and he had a child, Harry Quatermain who was a medical student but also eventually dies of Smallpox. Quatermain also has a companion from his youth, the servant Hans, who has sworn an oath to protect Quatermain, and does so on several occasions, acting with great courage and wisdom. The books often have a supernatural strand, featuring spirits and magic from time to time. Haggard created Quartermain after he had recently read Robert Louis Stephenson's Treasure Island, and was challenged by a friend to do better. So Allan Quatermain emerged, and with him the archetypal hunter, one of the great adventurers. A must read for anyone who loves adventure.