Sir Henry Rider Haggard was an English writer of adventure novels set mostly in Africa, and a founder of the Lost World literary genre. The Holy Flower is another story of Allan Quatermain. Brother John, who has been living in Africa for many years, gives Allan the largest orchid he has ever seen. Later, in England, he has a meeting with Mr. Somers, an orchid collector who is prepared to finance an expedition in search for the rare plant.