Sir Henry Rider HaggardH. Rider Haggard was born in Norfolk, England. After failing the Army entrance exam, he went to Natal in 1875 as secretary to Sir Henry Bulwer and the next year went to the Transvaal. He returned to England in 1881, married, and settled down t a literary life. His first novel, King Solomon's Mines, was published in 1885. He published thirty-four adventure novels during his lifetime. He was knighted in 1912. Read More Read Less