Classic adventure novel from H. Rider Haggard telling the story of an Immortal Queen in an unknown land in Africa, simply referred to as She-Who-Must-Be-Obeyed. It was serialised in 1886-87 as was the custom of the day.

The story is told in the style of most late 19th century novels, namely a narrator - in this case the author - tells the story as narrated to him. Mr. Holly is the protector of a young boy, Vincey and accompanies him in a voyage to Africa, to find the remains of an ancestor buried in a mysterious land. Vince is the descendant of Kallikrates, who is in love with Amenartas of the Royal House of the Pharaohs in Egypt. However they had to flee South and encountered this strange Queen who had her eyes on Kallikrates and kills him when he refuses to join her, Amenartas barely escaping and giving birth to her child in Athens, the child being the ancestor of Vincey.

They board a ship and travel to Africa, finally reaching the mysterious land and meeting the terrible Queen Ayesha, who claims to be still alive after 2000 years from the time of the story.

Haggard has a style similar to Edgar Rice Burroughs in his Tarzan or The Land that Time Forgot stories. The story is interesting, although the style might be a bit heavy for today's reader. Still, if you like 19th or early 20th century adventure novels, this could be one for you.