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Cleopatra · Chapter
Dedication explained
H.
What happens
H. Rider Haggard dedicates his romance 'Cleopatra' to his mother, expressing hope that the work will bring her pleasure and convey a picture of ancient Egypt's lost glories.
Key passages
“I have for a long while hoped to be allowed to dedicate some book of mine to you, and now I bring you this work, because whatever its shortcomings, and whatever judgment may be passed upon it by yourself and others, it is yet the one I should wish you to accept.”
Haggard has long wished to dedicate a book to his mother and offers this one despite its possible flaws.
The author expresses personal affection and humility regarding his work.
“I trust that you will receive from my romance of 'Cleopatra' some such pleasure as lightened the labour of its building up; and that it may convey to your mind a picture, however imperfect, of the old and mysterious Egypt in whose lost glories you are so deeply interested.”
He hopes his mother will enjoy the novel as much as he enjoyed writing it, and that it will evoke the ancient Egypt she loves.
Haggard connects the book's theme to his mother's known interest in Egyptian history.