She (1)

One of the classics of imaginative literature, first serialized in The Graphic magazine in 1886–1887, and an influence on writers from Atwood to Tolkien

When Leo Vincey's father dies, he is left in the care of his father's confidant Professor Horace Holly with one parting gift—a strange casket that he is to open on his 25th birthday. The years pass and when the day arrives to open it, Leo and Horace discover the ancient and mysterious "Sherd of Amenartas" detailing the history of Leo's ancestors. Following the instructions on the Sherd they journey to Eastern Africa to uncover hidden family secrets. Traveling across hazardous terrain, they make their way to the kingdom of K'r, where She awaits them. Ayesha is She—the white Queen of the Amahagger. Eternally beautiful and fiercely cruel, she can cast her spell upon any man and ensnare them. But she is only after one. For 2,000 years she has been waiting for the return of the man she once loved, a man she herself killed in a fit of jealous rage, and she believes that Leo Vincey is that man.

Henry Rider Haggard (1856–1925) was an English writer of adventure novels set in exotic locations, predominantly Africa, and a founder of the Lost World literary genre. His stories continue to be popular and influential, including the much-loved Allan Quatermain and King Solomon's Mines.