Lost Horizon
Summary
Lost Horizon is a classic work of fantasy that introduced the concept of Shangri-La to popular culture. In his 1933 novel, James Hilton tells the story of four Westerners who stumble upon a utopian lamasery hidden in the Himalayas. This tale of adventure and mysticism quickly became a bestseller and continues to inspire generations of readers with its vision of a peaceful paradise untouched by time.
Plot
Lost Horizon opens in May 1931, when four Westerners are evacuated from Baskul, India, due to a revolution. Their plane is hijacked and crashes in the Himalayas of Tibet. The survivors—British diplomat Hugh Conway, his vice-consul Charles Mallinson, American Henry Barnard, and missionary Roberta Brinklow—are led by a mysterious guide to a hidden lamasery called Shangri-La. There, they discover a peaceful utopia where people age very slowly and live extraordinarily long lives.
Conway meets with the High Lama, who reveals he is actually a 250-year-old Catholic monk who founded Shangri-La in the 18th century. The High Lama tells Conway he wants him to lead the lamasery after his imminent death. Meanwhile, Mallinson falls in love with a young-looking Manchu woman named Lo-Tsen and becomes determined to leave. When the High Lama dies, Mallinson convinces a reluctant Conway to help him escape with Lo-Tsen and some porters.
Lost Horizon is framed as a story recounted to the narrator by Conway's friend Rutherford, who found Conway in a hospital in China with amnesia after his disappearance. After regaining his memory and telling his fantastical tale, Conway vanished again, apparently seeking to return to Shangri-La. Rutherford's investigation revealed that Conway had been brought to the hospital by an elderly woman, implied to be the rapidly-aged Lo-Tsen.
Themes
• Utopian ideals and the search for paradise
• Clash between Eastern and Western philosophies
• Effects of isolation and seclusion on humanity
• Struggle between duty and personal desires
• Concept of time and aging
• Balance between modernization and tradition
• Quest for inner peace and enlightenment
Setting
The events of Lost Horizon unfold primarily in the early 1930s, during the twilight years of the British Raj in India. This era was marked by political unrest and the stirrings of rebellion against colonial rule, providing a backdrop of uncertainty and change that contrasts sharply with the timeless tranquility of Shangri-La.
The story's geographical scope spans from Afghanistan to the remote reaches of Tibet. The characters' journey begins in the fictional city of Baskul, likely located in Afghanistan or northern India, before their plane is hijacked and crashes in the Himalayas. The bulk of the narrative takes place in the hidden valley of Shangri-La, nestled high in the Tibetan mountains, possibly near the less-explored Kunlun range.
Shangri-La itself is a secluded lamasery, a monastic utopia shielded from the outside world by towering peaks. This idyllic setting is dominated by the fictional Mount Karakal, described as over 28,000 feet high. The lamasery combines ancient Tibetan architecture with modern Western amenities, symbolizing the blend of Eastern wisdom and Western progress at the heart of the novel's themes.
Characters
• Hugh Conway: The protagonist, a 37-year-old British consul who discovers Shangri-La. He is contemplative and finds the lamasery's scholarly lifestyle appealing.
• Charles Mallinson: Conway's young vice-consul, who is restless and eager to leave Shangri-La. He falls in love with Lo-Tsen and convinces Conway to help him escape.
• Henry D. Barnard: An American financier, later revealed to be Chalmers Bryant, wanted for stock fraud. He wishes to stay in Shangri-La to develop its gold mines.
• Miss Roberta Brinklow: A British missionary who wants to stay in Shangri-La to teach the inhabitants about sin.
• Chang: A postulant at the lamasery who speaks English and acts as a guide for the newcomers.
• Lo-Tsen: A seemingly young Manchu woman at the lamasery who plays the harpsichord. Both Conway and Mallinson fall in love with her.
• The High Lama: The leader of Shangri-La, revealed to be Father Perrault, a 250-year-old Catholic monk who founded the lamasery.
• Rutherford: Conway's friend who records his story in a manuscript.
• The Neurologist: The narrator of the prologue and epilogue, who receives Conway's story from Rutherford.
Quick facts
• James Hilton wrote Lost Horizon in just four weeks.
• Lost Horizon popularized the concept of Shangri-La, which has become synonymous with any earthly paradise.
• President Franklin D. Roosevelt named the presidential retreat now known as Camp David “Shangri-La” after the book.
• The USS Shangri-La aircraft carrier was named in reference to the novel and Roosevelt's use of the term.
• Lost Horizon was not an immediate success upon its release in 1933, gaining a following only after Hilton's Goodbye, Mr. Chips became a hit in 1934.
• The novel's rise in popularity led to a famous 1937 film adaptation directed by Frank Capra, starring Ronald Colman.
• In 1939, Lost Horizon was the first novel to be published as a mass-market paperback, released as Pocket Book #1.
• The novel was adapted into a musical called Shangri-La, which opened on Broadway at the Winter Garden Theatre in June of 1956. It closed after only 21 performances.
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• A 1973 musical film remake starred Peter Finch and Liv Ullmann.
• Lost Horizon has been adapted for radio multiple times, including versions starring Orson Welles and Derek Jacobi.
• The novel’s title refers to the hidden, utopian world of Shangri-La and also alludes to the idea of a lost or unattainable paradise.
• Along with its captivating blend of adventure, philosophy, and fantasy, Lost Horizon continues to resonate with readers for its exploration of utopian ideals and the universal search for purpose.
About the author
James Hilton
James Hilton (1900-1954) was an English novelist and screenwriter best known for his novels Lost Horizon and Goodbye, Mr. Chips. Born in Leigh, Lancashire, Hilton studied at Christ's College, Cambridge before embarking on a career in journalism. His breakthrough as an author came in the 1930s with the publication of his most famous works, which launched him to international acclaim.
Hilton's novels often explored themes of English virtues and societal flaws, blending sentimentality with darker undercurrents. Lost Horizon, which introduced the concept of Shangri-La, became a cultural touchstone and is credited with helping spark the “paperback revolution” when it was published as Pocket Books's first title in 1939.
Hilton moved to California in 1938, where he continued writing novels while becoming more involved in Hollywood. As a screenwriter, Hilton co-wrote several successful films, including Camille (1936) and the Academy Award-winning Mrs. Miniver (1942). He also hosted radio programs, including the prestigious Hallmark Playhouse from 1948 to 1952. Hilton became an American citizen in 1948, though he maintained connections to his English roots throughout his life.
Despite his fame, Hilton was described as modest and retiring. He enjoyed mountaineering and travel, interests that often influenced his writing. Hilton's personal life included two marriages, both ending in divorce. He passed away from liver cancer in Long Beach, California, leaving behind a legacy of beloved novels and films that continue to captivate audiences.