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102nd out of 1,147 books
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Lost Horizon
by
James Hilton
While attempting to escape a civil war, four people are kidnapped and transported to the Tibetan mountains. After their plane crashes, they are found by a mysterious Chinese man. He leads them to a monastery hidden in "the valley of the blue moon" -- a land of mystery and matchless beauty where life is lived in tranquil wonder, beyond the grasp of a doomed world.
...morePaperback, 241 pages
Published
June 15th 2004
by Harper Perennial
(first published 1933)
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Tiffany
rated it
Recommends it for:
Explorers/adventurers of any kind, anyone who wants to hear a damn good story
Shelves:
must-read-again
The last time I loved a book as much as I loved this one was when I read Dune. Even though Dune is considered one of the masterworks of science fiction, I'm not really a sci-fi kind of girl, per se, I just love places that are so well-imagined by the author that you can't believe they're not real SOMEWHERE. Lost Horizon presents Shangri-La as such a place.
More personally, though, I read this book at the precise right moment in my life. Conway, the main character, has a sort of d...more
More personally, though, I read this book at the precise right moment in my life. Conway, the main character, has a sort of d...more
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A beautiful story set deep with in the Himalayans, sits a mysterious place known only to a few as Shangri-La.
Four people are kidnapped in a plane and land in the unknown regions of Tibet. There they embark on a physical and spiritual journey to a Utopian society of Lamas living deep within the beautiful mountains of the east. Here they are learning about transcending their lives to something wonderous and more meaningful.
Our story opens when our lead character, Conway,...more
Four people are kidnapped in a plane and land in the unknown regions of Tibet. There they embark on a physical and spiritual journey to a Utopian society of Lamas living deep within the beautiful mountains of the east. Here they are learning about transcending their lives to something wonderous and more meaningful.
Our story opens when our lead character, Conway,...more
This was part of a book recommendation swap between myself and my brother-in-law. I recommended Ender's Game and he recommended Lost Horizon. I wasn't sure at first if either of us anticipated our tastes in literature very well, but I at least read Lost Horizon with interest.
There is no doubt that it is well written. Hilton is able to tap into the deeper philosophies of life in a non-intrusive yet succinct way that avoids most of the heaviness that accompany philosophical reads. In ...more
There is no doubt that it is well written. Hilton is able to tap into the deeper philosophies of life in a non-intrusive yet succinct way that avoids most of the heaviness that accompany philosophical reads. In ...more
A British group leaves India in the 1930s by plane, the plane goes down, and thereafter they find themselves in the fabled Shangri-La. In this valley of warmth and beauty in the midst of the Himalayan mountains, they find a people with astounding longevity leading lives of simplicity and wisdom and peace. They eventually find their way out of Shangri-La and back home, but Conway (the main character), consumed by regret for the peace that he left behind, returns in the end.
For me, th...more
For me, th...more
What a beautiful and wondrous book! I was completely captivated by the mysteries of Shangri-la. Our hero Conway's adventure was an awe-inspiring tale of a monastery hidden deep in a Tibetan mountain range, where the lamas lead extraordinary existences. Theirs are privileged lives steeped in wisdom and secrecy. Their isolation and longevity allows them a unique position in the world and very few outsiders are privy to their secrets. Hilton's use of the high lama's telepathy is certainly prophetic...more
The plane that launched a thousand derivatives...
Before there was the ABC juggernaut that is LOST, there was James Hilton's afternoon read Lost Horizon. This fantastical tale, billed as the first paperback, introduced four characters, and a world audience, to Shangri-La, a time capsule of knowledge and wisdom hidden in the crevasses of the Himalayas.
The conceit: a plane crashes and the motley crew of survivors (two British officials, and American, and a missionary) are l...more
Before there was the ABC juggernaut that is LOST, there was James Hilton's afternoon read Lost Horizon. This fantastical tale, billed as the first paperback, introduced four characters, and a world audience, to Shangri-La, a time capsule of knowledge and wisdom hidden in the crevasses of the Himalayas.
The conceit: a plane crashes and the motley crew of survivors (two British officials, and American, and a missionary) are l...more
Two British military men, an American tycoon and a missionary have caught a plane out of India to flee from the impending revolution, but their escape suddenly becomes more complicated when they realize that their plane has been hijacked and they have been kidnapped. At first, they suppose that it is a plot perpetrated by ordinary rogues interested in ransom money, but it soon becomes clear that something much more mysterious is happening. When the plane crashes high in the Tibetan mountains, th...more
This follows 4 people who, while trying to escape a revolution, get kidnapped and transported to Tibet. There they find themselves in a place called Shangri-La. In this place, most of the newcomers are happy, but some are not. An escape plan is hatched, and along with a girl of 20 (supposedly), they leave. However, a few days out, the "girl of 20"'s face turns wrinkly and it is apparent that she is around 90 years old. The thing about Shangri-La is that you do not age at a normal rate....more
Lost Horizon is the story of four airplane passengers who are kidnapped amid civil strife in post-World War I Afghanistan and flown into a mysterious mountain range near Tibet. When they crash land on a high plateau and are almost instantly met by a caravan of porters carrying a monk, they realize that their kidnapping was not by chance or a random incident.
They are taken to the mysterious Shangri La, a monastery that sits above a bustling town nestled secretly in a valley. The monast...more
They are taken to the mysterious Shangri La, a monastery that sits above a bustling town nestled secretly in a valley. The monast...more
Lost Horizon is one of the most remarkable books I have ever read. It is a discussion of a delightful philosophy and an examination of the inner workings of an exceptional man all framed in the pretence of an adventure novel.
The real triumph of Lost Horizon, though, is in the way that Hilton weaves the spell of Shangri-La on the reader even as he is detailing the very spell that he is conjuring. The Lamasery in the book is the most relaxing place on the planet and the passages set the...more
The real triumph of Lost Horizon, though, is in the way that Hilton weaves the spell of Shangri-La on the reader even as he is detailing the very spell that he is conjuring. The Lamasery in the book is the most relaxing place on the planet and the passages set the...more
Cudahy Main Stacks: PR 6015 .I53 .L6 1934.
I haven't read a lot of fiction from the 1930s, but I have seen a lot of films from that era, which share stylistic similarities with Lost Horizon. While the language and action are straight-forward, much is left to the imagination, and the reader must draw his own conclusions at the close of the story.
This book is a story within a story within a story, and the layers of narration add to the mystery surrounding Shangri-La, a Tibe...more
I haven't read a lot of fiction from the 1930s, but I have seen a lot of films from that era, which share stylistic similarities with Lost Horizon. While the language and action are straight-forward, much is left to the imagination, and the reader must draw his own conclusions at the close of the story.
This book is a story within a story within a story, and the layers of narration add to the mystery surrounding Shangri-La, a Tibe...more
Finished reading Lost Horizon (1933, 1936) by James Hilton last night. I enjoyed it a great deal. Skimming through the reviews on barnesandnoble.com and amazon.com it’s obvious that some people love it (the majority) and some people hate it.
It’s a relatively short book (< 250 pages), and it leaves much of the story (especially the ending) to the reader’s imagination. There’s not a lot of action; no exploding cars, no gun or sword fights. But there is a lot of talk and character i...more
It’s a relatively short book (< 250 pages), and it leaves much of the story (especially the ending) to the reader’s imagination. There’s not a lot of action; no exploding cars, no gun or sword fights. But there is a lot of talk and character i...more
A fantasy about four people who crash land in the Tibetan mountains and journeyed to Shangri-La. I thought the author did a fantastic job of pulling the reader into the story, and I found myself intrigued throughout by the mystery that surrounded the main characters. The ending was especially powerful: The internal conflict that swept through Conway (the protagonist) was illustrated superbly!
A recurring idea presented in the book is the state of being "passionless." This is a...more
A recurring idea presented in the book is the state of being "passionless." This is a...more
Very close to the movie with only a few alterations in character. Pretty much a late Empire character sketch...reminded me of Boethius and Roman Christians after the fall of Rome...withdrawal from the world.
I think there was something unwholesome about Shangri-La. Instead of staying and fighting for a better world the monks and Conway decide to runaway from it to supposedly save the best of it for after the end of the coming dark age...and they imprison anyone who wants to leave (Conwa...more
I think there was something unwholesome about Shangri-La. Instead of staying and fighting for a better world the monks and Conway decide to runaway from it to supposedly save the best of it for after the end of the coming dark age...and they imprison anyone who wants to leave (Conwa...more
A little-known classic from the 1930's, this is the original story of “Shangri-La.” Four people in a small plane are hijacked and taken to a mysterious valley in the mountains of Tibet, where people learn to slow down and do less. There’s lots of mysticism and meditation and marveling at all the beauty around them. Many of them are able to stretch out their lives up to 200 years, just by moving more slowly. This would be a great book club selection, because you could endlessly discuss ...more
I first read this book in my early teens and was entranced by it. It's odd to read it again now. It's very much a novel of its time. Shangri-la is the emotional healing place for the horrors of WW1 - but we can't stay in the dreamland, we have to return to normal life, even if we spend the rest of our lives longing to return to the dreamland.
Hilton used the clumsy device of having the story retold by someone who had heard the tale from Conway, the main character - we're supposed to b...more
Hilton used the clumsy device of having the story retold by someone who had heard the tale from Conway, the main character - we're supposed to b...more
The last time I touched this one was probably in the eighth grade. Picked it up at a used-book sale for the daughter, who thus far has shown zero interest. So I decided to read it again myself.
I enjoyed it rather more than I expected, despite the rather overdrawn characters. Hilton apparently indulges in a dislike of Americans by making his American character a cheerful knave with no sense of right or wrong and an inability to speak grammatically to boot. Much attention is given to a...more
I enjoyed it rather more than I expected, despite the rather overdrawn characters. Hilton apparently indulges in a dislike of Americans by making his American character a cheerful knave with no sense of right or wrong and an inability to speak grammatically to boot. Much attention is given to a...more
Wow...I'm impressed. It was a fast and fascinating read - and maybe the idea of doing everything(!) moderately has ever so much appeal to me.
Shangri La, the thought of an almost unnaturally prolonged life where your mind and memory is sharpened with every year you life and your body becomes more and more only the shell of your mind - it has fascinated people forever, for various reasons I suppose.
Conway, the main character, who is so passionless about anything is the perfect d...more
Shangri La, the thought of an almost unnaturally prolonged life where your mind and memory is sharpened with every year you life and your body becomes more and more only the shell of your mind - it has fascinated people forever, for various reasons I suppose.
Conway, the main character, who is so passionless about anything is the perfect d...more
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I found "Lost Horizon" on a list of fantasy novels that, apart from Tolkien and Lewis, everyone who is interested in the genre should read. The one thing everyone remembers from this novel is Shangri-La, but what should really be remembered is the meditation on the post-WWI state of young men. The reason the protagonist, Conway, is open to the moderate unhurried ways of Shangri-La is because the War burned all the passion out of him. If you read this as a Lost generation book, it's jus...more
I wanted to like this book more than I did. I thought it was interesting to read it as an origin myth of Shangri-La,and to see how the possibility of such a place worked its way into the minds of society. Stranely enough, I thought the idea of Shangri-La Hilton describes comes across more creepy and foreboding than ideal. While there is a green fertile valley and a beautiful mountain, the actual lamasery itself seemed to be rather cold and charmless to me, despite its ginormous library and mu...more
Not a fast paced action adventure but I've loved this book since I first read it almost 15 years ago. I can't fully explain why, but it spoke to me. I felt, and feel, a connection with the main character. I identify with him more that any character in any other book I've read. I have underlined numerous passages in my copy that simply captured my being. (thats so sappy! but I just don't know how else to describe it).
Wow - what a book! I can't believe I never had to read this in school. This was one of those few great books that has exceptional writing, good characters, and a timeless story. Although it was published in 1933, aside from some British historical references, it is a very current, thought-provoking story. I'm looking forward to discussing this at our book group. This is the story of Conway - who, along with three others, is "hijacked" to Shangri-La. Shangri-La is a place ...more
This was a beautiful book. I picked it up several years ago thinking this was one of those books you "should" read. I was right. I don't know why I left it on the shelf so long.
I can see why they used Ronald Colman in the movie - the description of Conway fits the image of him to a T, at least to me - “He was tall and extremely good looking, and not only excelled at games but walked off with every conceivable kind of school prize….There was something rather Elizabethan abo...more
I can see why they used Ronald Colman in the movie - the description of Conway fits the image of him to a T, at least to me - “He was tall and extremely good looking, and not only excelled at games but walked off with every conceivable kind of school prize….There was something rather Elizabethan abo...more
First and foremost, I can see why it's a classic. The plot is fed to you in bite-sized pieces to keep you turning the pages and the story is not one page too long. If anything, it's not long enough. These are LOST HORIZON's predominant strengths.
Of the four characters initially focused on, Hugh Conway is the primary protagonist and the best developed. He's a man who, made passionless by his experiences in WWI, now works as a British consul in Baksul (which may be Afghanistan. Or Ind...more
Of the four characters initially focused on, Hugh Conway is the primary protagonist and the best developed. He's a man who, made passionless by his experiences in WWI, now works as a British consul in Baksul (which may be Afghanistan. Or Ind...more
Love this book. I read it as a kid in my Reader's Digest Condensed Books for Young Readers series (I still have it) and was always attracted by the illustrations. I needed some more escape reading this fall as the presidential election was going on and this fit the bill. A wonderful story about what society could be and individual choice within that society.
This is one of my favorite books of all time...I first read it when I was a teenager, but I reread it every few years. In fact, I'm about due for another reading of it. It's the classic story of Shangri-La--a must read for people who love great fiction that's referenced often in daily life. There was a movie of it, but I've never seen it.
Stellar example of a brilliant concept, well-timed to the Zeitgeist (as history careened toward WWII) that manages to carry a really mediocre book. Takes a quarter of the book to get to Shangri-La, then we learn almost nothing about the place and barely glimpse the valley or the people below the monastary who keep the place going. LOTS of talking, very little action. Static characters, although we're told of a few largely unexplained and barely credible changes of heart. The writing has its mome...more
One of my favorite books by one of my favorite authors. I rarely re-read books, and this is a re-read for me. I'm not sure exactly why it's one of my favorites, but I seem to get lost in it in a pleasant way each time I read it. I'm something of a language junky, and James Hilton's writing fulfills this longing in me.
This book was not exactly what I was expecting, though I don't know why I should be surprised since I know James Hilton likes to explore the fragile minds of returning WWI soldiers. In some ways I liked the mystery of it: was Conway sane or mad? Did Shangri-La really exist or was it imagined? Was it what it purported to be or just a giant hoax? These conflicting questions are important to the overall theme of the book, and I think it would have been much less satisfying if Hilton had answere...more
| topics | posts | views | last activity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flawed freedom or blissful imprisonment? | 7 | 26 | Sep 05, 2011 05:15pm | |
| What happened to Mallinson? | 2 | 27 | Jul 25, 2011 08:16pm |
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