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series Reading Order

Allan Quatermain Books in Order

16 Books
1885 – 2002 Published
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Reading order

Where to Start with Allan Quatermain

If you want to experience the thrill of the series the way it captured the Victorian world, start exactly where H. Rider Haggard did: with King Solomon’s Mines (1885). It introduces Allan, his companions Sir Henry Curtis and Captain John Good, and establishes the "Lost World" template that inspired generations of adventure fiction. Following this with the direct sequel, Allan Quatermain (1887), gives you a complete story arc that serves as a perfect introduction.

Publication Order vs. Chronological Order

Because H. Rider Haggard wrote prequels, midquels, and crossovers decades after his initial success, the order in which the books were published is vastly different from Allan Quatermain’s in-universe life story.

1. The Publication Order

Reading in publication order lets you see Haggard’s evolving style and avoids the narrative confusion of jumping between different phases of Allan's life. Here is the order of publication:

  • King Solomon’s Mines (1885)
  • Hunter Quatermain’s Story (Short story, 1885)
  • Long Odds (Short story, 1886)
  • Allan Quatermain (1887)
  • A Tale of Three Lions (Short story, 1887)
  • Maiwa’s Revenge (1888)
  • Allan’s Wife (1889)
  • Marie (1912)
  • Magepa the Buck (Short story, 1912)
  • Child of Storm (1913)
  • Allan and the Holy Flower (1915)
  • The Ivory Child (1916)
  • Finished (1917)
  • The Ancient Allan (1920)
  • She and Allan (1921)
  • Heu-Heu or The Monster (1924)
  • The Treasure of the Lake (1926)
  • Allan and the Ice Gods (1927)

2. The Chronological Order

If you want to trace Allan’s biography chronologically, beginning with his youth and early marriages, the timeline flows as follows. Note that reading this way can feel jarring because Haggard’s later, more polished writing will precede his earliest works:

  • Marie (Allan's early youth and first marriage)
  • Child of Storm (Allan's second marriage)
  • Allan’s Wife (Allan's third marriage)
  • A Tale of Three Lions (Short story)
  • Maiwa’s Revenge
  • Hunter Quatermain’s Story (Short story)
  • Long Odds (Short story)
  • Allan and the Holy Flower
  • Heu-Heu or The Monster
  • She and Allan (Crossover with Ayesha)
  • The Treasure of the Lake
  • The Ivory Child
  • Finished
  • Magepa the Buck (Short story)
  • King Solomon’s Mines (The classic adventure)
  • The Ancient Allan
  • Allan and the Ice Gods
  • Allan Quatermain (The final adventure chronological-wise)

Subseries and Crossovers

For readers who do not want to commit to the entire 18-book catalog, there are two distinct subseries within the saga:

The Zulu Trilogy

Comprising Marie (1912), Child of Storm (1913), and Finished (1917), this subseries focuses on the rise and fall of the Zulu nation and the manipulation of the witch doctor Zikali. It provides a historical and political backdrop to the colonial conflicts of the era.

The Ayesha / She Crossover

In She and Allan (1921), Haggard brought together Allan Quatermain and his other famous immortal character, Ayesha ("She-who-must-be-obeyed"). If you enjoy this book, you should also look into Haggard’s standalone novel Nada the Lily (1892), which does not feature Allan but details the backstories of the Zulu characters who accompany him in his journeys.

Frequently Asked

QWhere should I start reading the Allan Quatermain series?

We highly recommend starting with King Solomon’s Mines (1885). It is the book that introduced the character, defined the modern adventure genre, and serves as the perfect entry point.

QWhat is the difference between publication and chronological order?

Publication order tracks the books as they were released, whereas chronological order follows Allan Quatermain’s life story from his youth in Marie to his final days in Allan Quatermain. Because Haggard wrote many prequels, these two orders differ significantly.

QWhat books are in the Allan Quatermain Zulu Trilogy?

The Zulu Trilogy consists of three historical novels: Marie (1912), Child of Storm (1913), and Finished (1917). They trace the history of the Zulu Kingdom through Allan’s eyes.

QWhat is the crossover book with Ayesha?

The crossover book is She and Allan (1921). It brings together Allan Quatermain and Ayesha, the immortal queen from H. Rider Haggard's famous She novels.

QIs Nada the Lily part of the Allan Quatermain series?

No, Nada the Lily (1892) does not feature Allan Quatermain directly, but it shares characters (such as Umslopogaas and Zikali) and provides crucial background lore on the Zulu universe Haggard created.

QAre the short stories essential to the main plot?

No, the short stories like Hunter Quatermain’s Story, Long Odds, A Tale of Three Lions, and Magepa the Buck are standalone adventures. They add flavor to Allan's life but can be skipped without losing track of the main novels.