Before I begin my review I'll give the obligatory warning- as I did when reviewing Gunga Din- that this book was written in 1885 during the British colonial period, with all its associated attitudes. If you can't get past that and are shocked by the notion that Englishmen- or people from any other nation- in the 19th century didn't have the same multiculti sensibilities as 21st century wokesters, this book probably isn't for you. Also, the protagonist makes his living as a big game hunter, specializing in hunting elephants for ivory at a time when that was big business. Again, if you can't accept matter-of-fact descriptions of elephants being hunted and killed for profit, you might want to give this one a miss.
On the other hand, Haggard's book is rather, for the lack of a better word, progressive for the time period. For every instance when the main characters' attitudes are somewhat paternal, there are others- such as when they find themselves fighting side by side with African warriors- when they feel great respect and admiration for these people. Also, their wiliest enemy, who almost takes them all out, is not only African, but a woman. There's even an interracial romance woven into the plot... but I'm getting ahead of myself.