A somewhat humble autobiography until the end, The Days of My Life for the most part consists of letters from Rider Haggard to various luminaries and the return correspondence. It's not a bad way to see his life. And it beats having to go to the source material--even if it's available--in order to get the true context of these commentaries. Contained therein, also, are many passages explaining the origins of names used throughout Haggard's works and where they apply. Too, he explains how life events provided for descriptive passages in his works. Therefore, it's best if readers have a considerable number of Haggard novels in their finished reading list.

A couple of things. I always thought Haggard much influenced by Theosophy. Yet at the end of this volume, in his chapter on religion, he discounts it, along with reincarnation in general, as superfluous to the Christian beliefs he maintains. Additionally, in another appendix, Haggard, writing in 1912--some 13 years before his death--explains his fear of China and its domination of not only Asia but the Pacific and the rest of the world within 100 years. Interesting. ( )