- Mass Market Paperback: 231 pages
- Publisher: Atlantic Books; Reissue edition (31 Dec 1981)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0671664271
- ISBN-13: 978-0671664275
- Product Dimensions: 17 x 10.4 x 1.8 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (39 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 40,413 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Review
`Hilton's tale of a utopian Buddhist monastery evokes a tranquil landscape of green valleys, silver lotus ponds and blue mountains.'
--Lonely Planet Magazine, February 2010
`James Hilton's tale of a utopian Buddhist monastery evokes a tranquil landscape of green valleys, silver lotus ponds and blue mountains.' -- Lonely Planet Magazine, February 2010 --This text refers to the Paperback edition.
--Lonely Planet Magazine, February 2010
`James Hilton's tale of a utopian Buddhist monastery evokes a tranquil landscape of green valleys, silver lotus ponds and blue mountains.' -- Lonely Planet Magazine, February 2010 --This text refers to the Paperback edition.
Product Description
Lost Horizon is a novel by English writer James Hilton. It is best remembered as the origin of Shangri-La, a fictional utopian lamasery high in the mountains of Tibet.
--This text refers to the
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Mission; Henry D. Barnard, an American; Hugh Conway, H.M. Consul; and Captain Charles Mallinson, H.M. Vice-Consul. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Excerpt | Back Cover
Mission; Henry D. Barnard, an American; Hugh Conway, H.M. Consul; and Captain Charles Mallinson, H.M. Vice-Consul. Read the first page
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Front Cover | Copyright | Excerpt | Back Cover
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
25 of 25 people found the following review helpful
Format:Mass Market Paperback
When I was a teenager, I went to see the movie Lost Horizon seven times. During my 73 years, I read the book many times. After I retired, I made four trips to that part of the world, and spent many months each time searching for that wonderful Shangri-La dream. If you have never read Hilton's classic, and you are a person with an optimistic spiritual outlook, then The Lost Horizon is a must for you. If you read it and want to believe it, then you should visit Burma and the temples of the ancient city of Pagon, and then spend time in the three kingdoms of the Himalayas: Nepal, Ladakh and Bhutan, in that order. You will be moved to tell others, or write about your spiritual experience. I was so moved, and wrote Evolution To Sainthood. May your days be filled with the magic of life! Sirrom (Edward Morris)
27 of 28 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Rightly or wrongly I often feel that the English language was put to its best use both in writing and in speech up until the mid 20th century. Authors of the Victorian age through to the 1950's seem to have been able to write in a genuinely captivating manner without having to resort to cheap crudities and streams of foul language.
There is a time and a place for crudity and bad language but the strength of writers like James Hilton was that they could hold your attention without having to resort to them.
Lost Horizon is a prime example. The story quickly gets underway and the adventure starts immediately. The characters are strong with Conway and Barnard coming across as likeable, Miss Brinklow as a somewhat shrewish and repressed spinster and Mallinson as a frankly unlikeable neurotic.
The inhabitants of the Lamasery are as inscrutable as the people from that part of the world are reputed to be and the air of mystery remains throughout the book.
I saw the film many years ago and only recently decided to read the book. I found it impossible to put it down. Lost Horizon is perfectly paced, eminently readable and one of the most enjoyable books that I have picked up in a long time. While it is set in the 1930's and the use of language is reflected, I hope that should anyone ever attempt a remake of the film, that they'll make it a period piece and not attempt to bring it into the modern world. That would be a mistake.
In the meantime, watch the Ronald Coleman film and read the book. You won't regret either.
There is a time and a place for crudity and bad language but the strength of writers like James Hilton was that they could hold your attention without having to resort to them.
Lost Horizon is a prime example. The story quickly gets underway and the adventure starts immediately. The characters are strong with Conway and Barnard coming across as likeable, Miss Brinklow as a somewhat shrewish and repressed spinster and Mallinson as a frankly unlikeable neurotic.
The inhabitants of the Lamasery are as inscrutable as the people from that part of the world are reputed to be and the air of mystery remains throughout the book.
I saw the film many years ago and only recently decided to read the book. I found it impossible to put it down. Lost Horizon is perfectly paced, eminently readable and one of the most enjoyable books that I have picked up in a long time. While it is set in the 1930's and the use of language is reflected, I hope that should anyone ever attempt a remake of the film, that they'll make it a period piece and not attempt to bring it into the modern world. That would be a mistake.
In the meantime, watch the Ronald Coleman film and read the book. You won't regret either.
16 of 17 people found the following review helpful
Format:School & Library Binding
In the depths of the worldwide economic depression as the war drumbeats began in Germany, James Hilton wrote a quirky, imaginative book about the potential to escape the harsh reality. In so doing, he caused each reader since then to wonder what the right balance of tranquility and challenge really is. Like the best books about possible utopias, Lost Horizon leaves much to the reader's imagination. Undoubtedly, you will conjure up solutions to the riddles left open by the author that will be especially pleasing to you.
Although the book is clearly set in the 30's with a British perspective, many of the themes struck me as universal. As the book opens, there's an intriguing prologue that sets just the right tone for the story. You are to read a manuscript about the experiences of one Hugh "Glory" Conway, H.M. consul. The manuscript opens with airplane hijacking that seemed all too realistic. Quickly, the hijacking turns into a surprising adventure as the passengers unexpectedly arrive in a little known part of Tibet and are escorted to Shangri-La, a lamasery sitting atop a hidden valley of peace and tranquility. While there, they await an opportunity to arrange passage with the bearers who are bringing a shipment that is expected in 60 days. Conway, however, learns the secrets of Shangri-La and finds himself faced with an extraordinary set of choices.
To me, Shangri-La is a metaphor for the mental tranquility that many spiritual practices can bring. For anyone who has enjoyed these practices, you will know that it can be tempting to withdraw totally into them. To do so can be delicious, especially for the frazzled soul. At the same time, we are made of flesh, blood and boil with emotions that seek their venting through action. How can the two instincts be reconciled? You are left to come to your own conclusions, and that's one of the great beauties of this fine book.
The book has several weaknesses that will bother most readers. Except for Conway, the character development is minimal. The book is too conveniently filled with people in Tibet who speak perfect English. Morality is held a little bit too much in suspense for the book to be as spiritual as it had the potential to be. There's a heavy overlay of British Empire perspective that will seem remote to current readers as well.
The ideal reader for this book is someone who enjoyed Butler's Erewhon or H.G. Wells's The Time Machine.
I was left thinking that we each need our own personal Shangri-La today more than ever. May you find a way to carry it with you!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Haunting and thought provoking; a beautiful book.
This has been my favourite book for a couple of years now and I wanted to give it a positive rating in the hope that it might contribute in some small degree to more people reading... Read more
Published 12 days ago by Olly
Fantastic novel!!!
Having recently returned from Zhongdian (which was renamed Shangri-La in 2001 and considered to be the inspiration for Hilton's fictional town) in the Yunnanese Province of China,... Read more
Published 6 months ago by Tigerlilly
Enjoyable Jaunt through the Himalayas
I enjoyed this book and thought the characterization of the hero was excellent. One could understand and empathise with him. Read more
Published 6 months ago by Purplelotus
So magical
There's something about finding a book that invokes magic and wonder that has me on the edge of my seat. Read more
Published 8 months ago by SamiSunshine
A Classic Adventure Yarn
This is a classic adventure yarn that, despite having been written 78 years ago, has dated very well. Read more
Published 10 months ago by M. D. Jenkins
To the end of the world and back
I feel as if I have read this fantastic book in one breath. Beautiful journey that takes the imagination to a far and distant imaginary place. Read more
Published 15 months ago by Fairlight
A timeless classic
I first read this as a teenager and was instantly captivated by the idea of Shangri-La. I've read it many times since, and have got different things out of it at different stages... Read more
Published 16 months ago by Bookworm75
Lost Horizon--the Search for Shangri La
I first read this book as a teenager and was enthralled by it. The idea of a hidden Paradise where people were ageless was so appealing. Read more
Published 20 months ago by S. Minto
Tale of Shangri-La Book
Received the book very quickly and it arrived in good condition, I haven't started to read it yet, I am saving it for my holidays. Read more
Published on 19 April 2010 by L. Nasby
Lost Horizon
I am happy to tell you why I purchased the book "Lost Horizon" I was watching a programme on TV one evening about a lady called Sue Jonhson,she is an actress on British TV. Read more
Published on 20 Mar 2010 by Jeanne B
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