Wordsworth Classics covers a huge list of beloved works of literature in English and translations. This growing series is rigorously updated, with ...
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Dec 07, 2011
Graham
rated it: 
Filmed many times – although I have yet to see a version that is perfectly true to the novel (with the BBC’s Christmas edition being particularly unfaithful in its addition of a female member of the exploration party, not to mention Peter Falk) – The Lost World is a classic piece of writing that is in many respects even more entertaining than the famous Sherlock Holmes stories that Doyle was so celebrated for.
Once again, Doyle deals with the extravagent subject matter in his usual de More...
Once again, Doyle deals with the extravagent subject matter in his usual de More...
Dec 07, 2011
First line:
Mr. Hungerton, her father, really was the most tactless person upon earth,—a fluffy, feathery, untidy cockatoo of a man, perfectly good-natured, but absolutely centered upon his own silly self. If anything could have driven me from Gladys, it would have been the thought of such a father-in-law. I am convinced that he really believed in his heart that I came round to the Chestnuts three days a week for the pleasure of his company, and very especially to hear his views upon More...
Mr. Hungerton, her father, really was the most tactless person upon earth,—a fluffy, feathery, untidy cockatoo of a man, perfectly good-natured, but absolutely centered upon his own silly self. If anything could have driven me from Gladys, it would have been the thought of such a father-in-law. I am convinced that he really believed in his heart that I came round to the Chestnuts three days a week for the pleasure of his company, and very especially to hear his views upon More...
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Dec 07, 2011
Angel
rated it: 
I went between giving this two and three stars. I settled for three, for in the end I like the concept. It turns out I had read this before years ago; I was probably a teenager when I did it, so remembering back to those days was interesting.
This particular edition collects the Professor Challenger stories written by Conan Doyle. The Lost World is likely the most well-known, and it has been the basis (loosely or otherwise) of other works from Indiana Jones to Crichton's Jurassic Par More...
This particular edition collects the Professor Challenger stories written by Conan Doyle. The Lost World is likely the most well-known, and it has been the basis (loosely or otherwise) of other works from Indiana Jones to Crichton's Jurassic Par More...
Feb 22, 2012
procrastin8or
rated it: 
This is an interesting collection of novels and short stories featuring Conan Doyle's infamous Professor G.E. Challenger.
I had always wanted to read "The Lost World" having loved thsoe sorts of films as a child and I'm pleased to say the novel did not disappoint.
"The Poision Belt", though interesting, I found a little predictable. I could see the end coming a mile off but that doesn't detract from what was a fascinating story.
I wasn't entirely en More...
I had always wanted to read "The Lost World" having loved thsoe sorts of films as a child and I'm pleased to say the novel did not disappoint.
"The Poision Belt", though interesting, I found a little predictable. I could see the end coming a mile off but that doesn't detract from what was a fascinating story.
I wasn't entirely en More...
Dec 07, 2011
Christopher
rated it:
I'm not remotely interested in Sherlock Holmes per se, but I love Victorian science fiction, so I found these stories, especially the character of Professor Challenger, very fun to read. But the last Challenger story, the novel “The Land of Mist,” is execrable. It has the same defect as many a novel which turns out to be just an ideological tract (such as “The Jungle,” “Looking Backward,” etc.), lacking all character development and, in this case, for all of the sort of fair points it makes, ma
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Jan 21, 2012
Stef
rated it:
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
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Dec 07, 2011
Mizumi
rated it:
I must confess I bought this book initially because I went 'Lost World = dinosaurs = little fangirl in me screaming'. Yes, I can be very shallow. However, after reading Sherlock Holmes, I discovered a) I really enjoy Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's writing and b) this book is also by him. The choice of what to read next was very easily made.
Since these are five stories in one volume, I'll comment on each story, because I feel like it.
'The Lost World' was probably my favourite, as it w More...
Since these are five stories in one volume, I'll comment on each story, because I feel like it.
'The Lost World' was probably my favourite, as it w More...
Dec 07, 2011
Silvana
rated it:
Whoa, five stories in one book. The Lost World is surely the best story of them all. Professor George Edward Challenger, the main character besides the narrator, is probably literature's most egoistical, megalomaniac, boisterous, conceited, passionate, pompous character I've ever read about, yet also very brilliant. Taking an eager young journalist, a world-famous explorer and a fellow academician who does not believe in his statement regarding a "lost world" hidden in South America, h
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Dec 07, 2011
Scurra
rated it:
Conan Doyle believed that it would be his historical novels that he would be remembered for; he considered them to be the pinnacle of his writing achievement.
Instead, he is remembered for a drug-addict detective and (to a lesser extent) a proto-Indiana Jones, and no-one remembers anything else. How he must be snarling - or laughing :)
The Professor Challenger stories are essentially Doyle's answer to Jules Verne's tales of fantastical adventures. In a Victorian world th More...
Instead, he is remembered for a drug-addict detective and (to a lesser extent) a proto-Indiana Jones, and no-one remembers anything else. How he must be snarling - or laughing :)
The Professor Challenger stories are essentially Doyle's answer to Jules Verne's tales of fantastical adventures. In a Victorian world th More...
Dec 07, 2011
Jules
rated it:
3.5 stars.
I found it extremely fascinating to read these short stories about Professor Challenger et al. The prose was easy-going, just as I know it from this author, the morale very straight-forward; Arthur Conan Doyle was not, I think, a literary genius. That doesn't mean his story are any less enjoyable, of course.
The narrative was at times a bit slow, but of course the imagination of these tales is breath-taking. The author does a wonderful job of packing up science i More...
I found it extremely fascinating to read these short stories about Professor Challenger et al. The prose was easy-going, just as I know it from this author, the morale very straight-forward; Arthur Conan Doyle was not, I think, a literary genius. That doesn't mean his story are any less enjoyable, of course.
The narrative was at times a bit slow, but of course the imagination of these tales is breath-taking. The author does a wonderful job of packing up science i More...
Dec 07, 2011
Catrine
rated it:
Personally I think I'll always like Doyle's Sherlock Holmes books more than the stories in this book. I didn't particularly like any of them, due to an overwhelming amount of description and the fact that the ending was painfully obvious for some of them. They all, possibly with one or two exceptions, felt too long. Still The Lost World had its moments, and The Disintegration Machine was neatly executed.
Dec 07, 2011
John
rated it:
Fantastic Edwardian science fiction yarns, featuring the wonderful Professor George Edward Challenger. All these tales are entertaining— the best being the title story about an expedition to a volcanic plateau high above the Amazon rainforest, where prehistoric life still roams. Amusing, exciting stuff with great dialogue and descriptions.
Dec 07, 2011
Jennifer
rated it:
Wildly varying in quality. The Lost World is a fun novella, although very much of its time (very White Man's Burden style of story telling). The Land of Mists is not, as it is imbued with all Conan Doyle's zealotry on the subject of Spritualism. The others are decent, considering the very small time investment needed to read them.
Dec 07, 2011
B.K.
rated it:
Sir Arthur is a master of mysteries, but he is as magnificent as a Sci Fi writer as well. I devoured these short stories (Well, some were short). His character development is brilliant - the more despicable the better!!
Dec 07, 2011
Ronya
rated it:
I'd wanted to read this for a long time but the library copy was always missing! It turned out to be a really good classic adventure story. Nice to cozy up with. I look forward to finding and reading the sequel.
Dec 07, 2011
Graeme
rated it: 
Some of the stories in this book are rather silly, and most of them are quiet racist in places. At least Sherlock Holmes was mostly just sexist.
Dec 07, 2011
Rae
rated it:
This is the original...not Michael Crichton or Steven Spielberg but Arthur Conan Doyle! A marvelous adventure.
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