The Lost Horizon

'People make mistakes in life through believing too much, but they have a damned dull time if they believe too little.' First published in 1933 and adapted into a successful 1937 film of the same name, Lost Horizon remains one of the greatest adventure stories in English literature. When four travellers, fleeing a revolution during the British Raj, survive a plane crash in the remote Himalayas, they discover a mysterious monastery called Shangri-La. Situated in a hidden valley, with modern conveniences and ample food, Shrangri-La appears to be a utopia: a place where time decelerates, serenity reigns and its inhabitants curiously age at a slower rate. As the chaos of the outside world becomes increasingly distant, each visitor must decide what truly defines a meaningful life: ambition, love, freedom or peace. Who will stay, and who will attempt to escape? Profoundly philosophical and utterly captivating, Lost Horizon questions the unrelenting pace of modern living and the true definition of paradise. James Hilton (1900 – 1954) was a British–American screenwriter and novelist. Starting his career as a journalist reviewing fiction, Hilton soon turned his hand to writing novels. Many of his books became international bestsellers and inspired popular film adaptations.