H. Rider Haggard - The Yellow Gods: "Truly wealth, which men spend all their lives in acquiring, is a valueless thing at the last."

The author’s journey began with a failed military career and a brief stint with the British Foreign Office, leading to six transformative years in Southern Africa. These experiences inspired his fiction, starting with the successful King Solomon's Mines in 1886. Haggard's works often reflect and critique European imperialism, featuring memorable characters like Allan Quatermain and Ayesha. In his later years, he became involved in social reform and politics, leaving a lasting impact before his death in 1925.