Benita, An African Romance

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

—

Title

Benita, An African Romance

Language

en

Book source

Global Grey

Description max 80 words

Set in colonial South Africa, this thrilling adventure follows Benita Beatrix Clifford as she returns to her father's homeland to claim a legendary Portuguese treasure. Blending romance, supernatural mystery, and colonial intrigue, the story explores themes of greed, faith, and redemption against a backdrop of ancient legends and dangerous landscapes.

Summary up to 500 words

In H. Rider Haggard's *Benita, An African Romance*, a tale of greed, superstition, and redemption, Benita Beatrix Clifford sails from England to Natal to reconcile with her estranged father, Andreas Ferreira. Once a wealthy trader, Andreas has fallen into poverty and alcoholism, obsessed with a local legend of a vast Portuguese treasure buried in a cave at Bambatse. Accompanied by the ruthless German gold-seeker Jacob Meyer, who intends to claim the wealth for himself, Benita and her father arrive to find the site guarded by the local chief, Mambo, who declares the location sacred. The narrative quickly escalates as Meyer, driven by an insatiable desire for riches, disregards warnings and attempts to breach the cave. The group faces hostility from the Matabele and the treacherous schemes of Meyer, whose obsession grows into madness. As the search intensifies, supernatural elements become undeniable; Meyer is haunted by visions of the dead and eventually dies in the treasure chamber, overwhelmed by the spiritual weight of the site and the sheer magnitude of the gold. Throughout the trials, Benita is guided by a mysterious spirit that protects her, helping her father recover his dignity. The story culminates with Benita and Robert Seymour, a fellow passenger and protector who has become her lover, leaving the cave behind. They find peace and happiness, having learned that the true treasure lies not in gold, but in love, mercy, and the restoration of their souls. The novel serves as a cautionary tale about the destructive power of greed and the enduring presence of the supernatural in the African landscape, contrasting material wealth with the spiritual riches of a life lived with integrity.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

Download URL

https://www.globalgreyebooks.com/ebooks/h-rider-haggard-books_benita.epub

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data/epubs/url-c4b1d671a9545d6b.epub

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Downloaded at

2026-07-01 01:00 UTC

Categories

• Adventure
• Romance
• Fiction