Title Page: "The Virgin of the Sun" by H. Rider Haggard. Garden City: Doubleday, Page & Co., 1922. First American edition
Haggard blends Inca history and myth in this adventure tale. He explores the Inca myth surrounding the rise of one of the Americas greatest pre-Columbian leaders - Pachacuti. Today, Pachacuti is best known for one of the most recognizable icons in the world - Machu Picchu. "Virgin of the Sun" was published in 1922, a scant 11 years after explorer Hiram Bingham rediscovered the lost city nestled in the Peruvian mountains. Bingham hadn't yet connected Machu Picchu to Pachacuti, but myth had already surrounded the Inca ruler who is credited with expanding Inca rule to cover a huge swath of territory on South America's western coast.
Haggard's story unfolds as a "modern day" antique hound translates 400-year-old letters found in an ancient chest. The letters tell the tale of Hubert - a fisherman working and living in England. Following a few small adventures and misadventures, our hero, Hubert, meets and befriends a strange man from a foreign land. After Hubert's wife of less-than-24-hours commits suicide and Hubert kills her former lover, he and his friend, Kari, are off into the Atlantic Ocean. Kari acts as a physical and emotional guide to Hubert who's immediately declared a White God by the various natives they come across after finding landfall in South America.
In addition to the Victorian era-like romance that leads to his wife's death, Hubert also falls in love with a beautiful Indian princess, Quilla - daughter of the moon. Haggard uses this surprisingly touching romance to further Hubert and Kari's adventure. [Source: Jason Golomb at the Goodread website www.goodreads.com/book/show/6328821-the-virgin-of-the-sun]
Title Page: "The Virgin of the Sun" by H. Rider Haggard. Garden City: Doubleday, Page & Co., 1922. First American edition
Haggard blends Inca history and myth in this adventure tale. He explores the Inca myth surrounding the rise of one of the Americas greatest pre-Columbian leaders - Pachacuti. Today, Pachacuti is best known for one of the most recognizable icons in the world - Machu Picchu. "Virgin of the Sun" was published in 1922, a scant 11 years after explorer Hiram Bingham rediscovered the lost city nestled in the Peruvian mountains. Bingham hadn't yet connected Machu Picchu to Pachacuti, but myth had already surrounded the Inca ruler who is credited with expanding Inca rule to cover a huge swath of territory on South America's western coast.
Haggard's story unfolds as a "modern day" antique hound translates 400-year-old letters found in an ancient chest. The letters tell the tale of Hubert - a fisherman working and living in England. Following a few small adventures and misadventures, our hero, Hubert, meets and befriends a strange man from a foreign land. After Hubert's wife of less-than-24-hours commits suicide and Hubert kills her former lover, he and his friend, Kari, are off into the Atlantic Ocean. Kari acts as a physical and emotional guide to Hubert who's immediately declared a White God by the various natives they come across after finding landfall in South America.
In addition to the Victorian era-like romance that leads to his wife's death, Hubert also falls in love with a beautiful Indian princess, Quilla - daughter of the moon. Haggard uses this surprisingly touching romance to further Hubert and Kari's adventure. [Source: Jason Golomb at the Goodread website www.goodreads.com/book/show/6328821-the-virgin-of-the-sun]