Little Flower

by H. Rider Haggard

The Rev. Thomas Bull was a man of rock-like character with no more imagination than a rock. Of good birth, good abilities, good principles and good repute, really he ought to have been named not Thomas but John Bull, being as he was a typical representative of the British middle class. By nature a really religious man and, owing to the balance of his mind, not subject to most of the weaknesses which often afflict others, very early in his career he determined that things spiritual were of far greater importance than things temporal, and that as Eternity is much longer than Time, it was wise to devote himself to the spiritual and leave the temporal to look after itself. There are quite a number of good people, earnest believers in the doctrine of rewards and punishments, who take that practical view. With such "Repaid a thousand-fold shall be," is a favourite line of a favourite hymn.

Originally published in Smith and the Pharoahs, and Other Tales (1920).

84 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1920

About the author

Sir Henry Rider Haggard, KBE was an English writer of adventure novels set in exotic locations, predominantly Africa, and the creator of the Lost World literary genre. His stories, situated at the lighter end of the scale of Victorian literature, continue to be popular and influential. He was also involved in agricultural reform and improvement in the British Empire.

His breakout novel was King Solomon's Mines (1885), which was to be the first in a series telling of the multitudinous adventures of its protagonist, Allan Quatermain.

Haggard was made a Knight Bachelor in 1912 and a Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1919. He stood unsuccessfully for Parliament as a Conservative candidate for the Eastern division of Norfolk in 1895. The locality of Rider, British Columbia, was named in his memory.

Reviews

[Trounin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Согласно содержания, читатель знакомился с историей миссионера, отправившегося приобщать к христианству африканские племена. Миссия считалась трудной, так как миссионеров постоянно убивали. Что сможет противопоставить главный герой повествования? Ему предстоит доказывать веру во Христа необходимой, тогда как поклонение идолам следует опровергнуть. Проблема заключалась в местных верованиях, основанных на вере в могущество жрецов. Если колдун способен помочь действием, не призывая уповать в надежде на Бога, при этом действительно помогает избавиться от напасти, то на чью сторону продолжат склоняться африканцы?

(c) Trounin