Henderson the Rain KingHenderson the Rain King
Score Classic
What it's about
Eugene Henderson is a huge, loud, restless American millionaire in his fifties, tormented by a voice inside him saying 'I want, I want, I want'. To find out what he wants, he goes to Africa, where he blunders into disaster with one tribe, then becomes the friend of a philosophical king of another, who makes him their rainmaker and teaches him to be more like a lion.
Why it's worth reading
It's on the Modern Library list of the best novels. It's Bellow's most exuberant comic novel, a quest for meaning.
You'll love it if you liked
The Adventures of Augie March
Herzog
A Confederacy of DuncesGood to know
Its imaginary Africa is a fantasy, and some readers find it dated or offensive.
By the numbers
- Readers6 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics59 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Bestseller6 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
Why it made the list
Reads as
Adventurous
More by Saul Bellow
The Adventures of Augie MarchHerzog
Humboldt's GiftIf you like this, read next
To Kill a Mockingbird
The Power Broker: Robert Moses and the Fall of New York
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1984
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A Brief History of TimeExplore the best-of lists
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Quick answers
Is Henderson the Rain King worth reading?
Yes. It's on the Modern Library list of the best novels. It ranks #2,467 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 58.9 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is Henderson the Rain King about?
Eugene Henderson is a huge, loud, restless American millionaire in his fifties, tormented by a voice inside him saying 'I want, I want, I want'. To find out what he wants, he goes to Africa, where he blunders into disaster with one tribe, then becomes the friend of a philosophical king of another, who makes him their rainmaker and teaches him to be more like a lion.
How long does it take to read Henderson the Rain King?
About 9 hours (354 pages), or about 3 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after Henderson the Rain King?
If you liked it, try The Adventures of Augie March by Saul Bellow, Herzog by Saul Bellow or A Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole.