"She" was first published in book form in 1887. The story is an enduring classic, more than a century old. It's a fantasy adventure packed with action, mystery, wonder, supernatural marvels and beauty, along with violence and darkness. While it bears some of the now-discredited hallmarks of the era in which it was written, it remains an enthralling page-turner. Refreshingly, considering 19th century social attitudes, it features a strong woman with a complex personality as the central character. When he was growing up, JRR Tolkien greatly enjoyed reading all the works of H. Rider Haggard, the author of "She". In particular, he stated in a 1966 interview, "I suppose as a boy 'She' interested me as much as anything. . ." Many interesting parallels can be drawn between "The Lord of the Rings" and "She". Readers will find echoes of Galadriel and her mirror here, and even the literary progenitors of Frodo and The One Ring. Tolkien scholars have discussed how Ayesha - the regal, immortal protagonist - strongly influenced Tolkien's portrayal of the elf-queen Galadriel in "The Lord of the Rings". Like Galadriel, for example, Ayesha is beautiful and powerful. Like her, she gazes into a magical bowl of water to witness scenes from afar.This edition contains the original illustrations as enjoyed by JRR Tolkien.

H. Rider Haggard was born on 22 June, 1856 in Braden ham, situated in the English area of Norfolk. His father, Sir William Meybohm Rider Haggard, was a lawyer, while his mother, Ella Dove ton Haggard, was an author herself. The couple had ten children, out of which Henry was conceived as the eighth. Sir Henry Rider Haggard was an English author who was known for his African thriller novel, 'Lord Solomon's Mines'. His father was a Norfolk advocate but he was denied an honourable men's schooling compared to his siblings due to his physical bluntness. At 19 years old, he started his vocation at the command of his father as an unpaid guide to Lieutenant-Governor of the Colony of Natal. Rider Haggard was married to a Norfolk beneficiary Marianna Louisa Margitson. They had four children named Jack, who died at the age of 10 due to measles, and three girls named Angela, Dorothy, and Lilias. Rider Haggard died at the age of 68 in London. His remains were cremated at St Mary's Church, Ditchingham. A rail route point of the Canadian National Railway in British Columbia has been named after him.