Books with title Lost Horizon

Macmillan's "Stories to Remember" series introduces new readers to famous stories whose quality and entertainment value have stood the test of time. The books are abridged and simplified, but as much as possible of the author's original style and storyline have been retained. They are suitable for non-native speakers of English from lower intermediate level upwards, as well as providing an easy introduction to the great storytellers for young native speakers. The series is divided into Junior and Senior titles; the former are rather shorter and set in a larger typeface. This title - "Lost Horizon" - is from the Junior Series. It can be used as a supplementary reader in the higher forms of secondary schools, particularly where English is taught as a second language. The story has been written within a vocabulary of two thousand words, and difficult sentence structures have been avoided. Certain descriptive passages and incidents from the original book have been omitted, and there has necessarily been considerable simplification of expression and phrasing; but the mystic story of Shangri-la has been carefully followed, and Mr. Hilton's literary style retained as closely as possible. [Abridged and simplified by E. F. Dodd]

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. It is here, in Shangri-La, where destinies will be discovered and the meaning of paradise will be unveiled.

From a review: "By Gary F. Taylor HALL OF FAMETOP 500 REVIEWERVINE VOICE The story of a group of people who survive an airplane crash in Tibet and find shelter at a mysterious monastery. Written as it was on eve of World War II, their thoughts and ideas center upon developing a way of life that preserves, rather than destroys, that which is finest in both humanity and the world in general. The novel is elegantly and simply written and possesses tremendous atmosphere. Although enjoyable as a purely "fun" read, it is also thought provoking, and the thoughts it provokes linger long after the book is laid aside. Although James Hilton wrote a number of worthy novels, Lost Horizon is the novel for which he is best remembered, a great popular success when first published and a genuine masterpiece of 20th Century literature.

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. A veteran member of the British diplomatic service, finds inner peace, love, and a sense of purpose in Shangri-La, whose inhabitants enjoy supernatural longevity. The idea of Shangri-La is based on the concept of Shambhala, a mystical city in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition.