Scanned, proofed and corrected from the original edition for your reading pleasure.It is also searchable and contains hyper-links to chapters.
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This is H. Rider Haggard at his very best.
To give an adequate idea of the story of'Lysbeth' we would require much more space than our standard allocation to catalogue all the adventures, perils, fights, and escapes which make up one of the most vigorous and exciting tales ever written.
It is a thrilling tale of adventure and sacrifice, with a substantial love element and strong side lights upon the history of the people of the Netherlands during the period in which the masterly drawn characters move. It is told in a captivating style with never-flagging interest, and is by all odds the best story of it's kind, as it was one of his most popular during his lifetime.
'Lysbeth' reigns as one of the most complete romances that have ever been written;... it is one of the most interesting... for example, stories of the Spanish misrule in the Netherlands. It also includes all the elements for romantic narrative: affection, peril, bravery and villainy, and each delineated with impressiveness that moves the reader to alternate emotions of admiration and detestation.
... We may safely call "Lysbeth' the best story from this popular writer of historic adventures. His vivid and audacious style of picturing thrilling and improbable adventures is given full play. The historical background adds much to the interest of the story if one is not interested merely in adventures.... The illustrations of the book are numerous and excellent.
