A romance set in the Transvaal at the time of the first British annexation and then the Boer reaction to it. Haggard clearly felt that the renunciation of the first annexation was dishonorable and unwise, and takes a negative attitude toward the Boers; the villain Frank Muller is a Boer. Overall the story is more a tragic romance than the kind of action adventure typical of the Quartermain series. ( )

Had never heard of this novel before reading it. That was my loss. Went in expecting just another Victorian Era adventure or travel tale. I was wrong. This is an adventurous 1st Beor War period piece containing a philosophical love story used to relate an intense character study. H. Rider Haggard leaves us with book full of memorable characters. The angel of light type villain is balanced thru out by the title character of Jess. The two being glued together via a tight plot and a host of fully realized multidimensional minor characters. Like a better Humphrey Bogart movie, this is story of tight action and an intense love. ( )