'Lost Horizon' by James Hilton follows the story of four passengers who are kidnapped and flown to a remote Tibetan lamasery called Shangri La. The novel explores the concept of a hidden utopia where inhabitants live in tranquility and where the main character, Hugh Conway, finds himself torn between the promise of immortality and the suppression of emotions. Set against the backdrop of the Great Depression and post-World War I disillusionment, the book delves into themes of paradise, lost innocence, and the conflict between worldly desires and spiritual fulfillment. The narrative unfolds as the characters uncover the mystical secrets of Shangri La and grapple with the decision of whether to embrace its idyllic existence.
The writing style of 'Lost Horizon' is described as engaging and thought-provoking, with a focus on creating a vivid atmospheric environment. Readers appreciate the way the author, James Hilton, weaves philosophical questions about life, moderation, and the pursuit of knowledge into the storyline. The novel presents a blend of differing philosophies within the lamasery, portraying a complex utopia that challenges conventional notions of perfection and immortality. Through the characters' reactions to the mysteries of Shangri La, Hilton crafts a narrative that invites readers to contemplate the trade-offs between contentment and personal growth.
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From The Publisher:
The gripping adventure that invented the mystery of Shangri-La.
Flying out of India, a light aircraft is hi-jacked and flown into the high Tibetan Himalayas. The few passengers on board anxiously await their fate, among them Conway, a talented British consul. But on landing they are unexpectedly conducted to a remote valley, a legendary paradise of peace and beauty, known as Shangri-La. Have they been kidnapped? Can they escape? And do they even want to?
From the author of Goodbye Mr Chips, this is the epic adventure story of literature's most entrancing utopia and one of our most enduring literary mysteries.
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Lost Horizon?
About the Author:
James Hilton was born in Lancashire in 1900, the son of a headmaster. His best known books, Lost Horizon and Goodbye Mr Chips, were written during the thirties, a period which afforded him great commercial success and enormous popularity. Lost Horizon was made into a blockbuster Hollywood film in 1937. For a time, Hilton was highest paid screen-writer in Hollywood and he won an Academy Award in 1942 for his work on the screenplay of Mrs. Miniver. Hilton continued to write novels throughout his career. He died in 1954.
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