19th Century Adventure Fiction
Evolution: Neuron
Importance: 7
Confidence: 10
Lobe: Recommendation
19th Century Adventure Novels: A Neglected Genre that Needs Attention
If you haven't read 19th century adventure novels - you're missing out.
My favorite author in this genre is H. Rider Haggard [1], a prolific Victorian English master storyteller.
And one of my favorites of his is Red Eve - which is set in medieval England during the reign of Edward III and the Battle of Crecy. But alongside that, it tells the story of the Black Death with a supernatural figure that personifies the plague called Murgh.
The opening of the story is worthy to read on its own.
The story that put Haggard on the map was King Solomon's Mines. But he wrote dozens of stories set in exotic locales and times: ancient Egypt, the Renaissance, ancient Israel, and more.
There are other great writers in the genre. Here's a brief summary of them. Maybe you've heard of one or two, and if not, pick one and take a look:
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Robert Louis Stevenson: Known for "Treasure Island" and "Kidnapped", Stevenson was a Scottish author who wrote thrilling adventure novels often set in far-flung locales.
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Jules Verne: Verne is known for his adventure and science fiction works, such as "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea" and "Journey to the Center of the Earth". His novels often feature explorations of unfamiliar landscapes and elements of scientific discovery.
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Arthur Conan Doyle: While best known for his Sherlock Holmes detective stories, Doyle also wrote adventure novels like "The Lost World", which takes readers on a journey to a remote plateau in South America where dinosaurs still roam.
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Rudyard Kipling: This British author set many of his works in India, drawing on his own experiences growing up there. His stories, like "The Man Who Would Be King", are full of adventure and exotic locales.
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Edgar Rice Burroughs: Although his work falls into the early 20th century, Burroughs wrote adventure novels set in wild and unexplored regions. He is best known for his Tarzan and John Carter of Mars series.
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Jack London: Known for his tales of adventure in the wild, London's works such as "The Call of the Wild" and "White Fang" often center around survival in the wilderness of the Yukon.
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G. A. Henty: Henty was a prolific British novelist known for his historical adventure stories. His novels often featured a young male protagonist and were set against the backdrop of notable historical events.
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Wilkie Collins: A contemporary of Charles Dickens, Collins wrote complex narratives full of mystery and adventure. His works like "The Moonstone" and "The Woman in White" are considered precursors to the modern detective and suspense novels.
There are a few other lesser-known adventure fiction novelists from the 19th and early 20th centuries. Here are some of them:
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Talbot Mundy: Mundy was an English-born American writer of adventure fiction, often based on his own experiences in India and East Africa. His most famous work, "King of the Khyber Rifles", is set on the Northwest Frontier of British India.
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George Manville Fenn: Fenn was a prolific English novelist and journalist who wrote mainly adventure stories for young adults. His works often took place in exotic locations and were filled with danger and excitement.
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Gustave Aimard: A French author, Aimard wrote many novels about the American frontier and the wild west. His works are largely forgotten today, but they were quite popular during his time.
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A. E. W. Mason: While Mason is best known for his detective novels featuring Inspector Hanaud, he also wrote a number of adventure novels set in exotic locales. His most famous is probably "The Four Feathers", set in Sudan.
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Percy F. Westerman: Westerman was a British author of boys' adventure novels, many of which were set at sea or in colonial outposts of the British Empire.
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Gertrude Barrows Bennett: Writing under the pen name "Francis Stevens", Bennett was the author of a number of early fantasy and science fiction stories. Many of these featured exotic settings and thrilling adventures.
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Rafael Sabatini: An Italian-English writer of romance and adventure novels, Sabatini wrote "Scaramouche" and "Captain Blood". His works were hugely popular during his lifetime but are less well-known today.
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William Le Queux: A prolific British writer and journalist, Le Queux was known for his works of espionage and invasion literature, often filled with thrilling adventures.
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Henry Seton Merriman: This British novelist often wrote about the lives of foreign peoples and his books were full of adventure and intrigue.
These are storytellers that are neglected, but worthy to check out. Over time, I'll write more about each of these authors and their works.