Lost Horizon by James Hilton Reviewed by Steve Rudd

This awesome tale of adventure and intrigue was first published in 1933 and still makes for a remarkable read, as four people are kidnapped in the Far-East and then somewhat inexplicably left stranded in a secluded Tibetan valley, an area that they soon come to know as Shangri-La (with La meaning mountain pass in Tibetan). Conway, who is a British consul, is one of the main characters who is stranded, and he is the only one of the four who grows to like the place. The other three people, to degrees, are freaked out by the place, given the sheer mystery that surrounds the fact that the small village in which they come to live in with the locals is equipped with modern-day heating, an extravagant library and other home comforts that would usually be never found in such a remote area.

It seems that the locals have been careful to keep their slice of Eden detached from the rest of civilisation, and in this respect the chilling drama movie The Village seems to play like a version of Lost Horizon, in that 'the outside world' is regarded as being an evil, dangerous and corrupt place that should be avoided at all costs. Any fans of Alex Garland's Beach story might also see similarities between his novel and this James Hilton masterpiece. The years will come and go, and you will pass from fleshy enjoyments into austere but no less satisfying realms; you may lose the keeness of muscle and appetite, but there will be gain to match your loss; you will achieve calmness and profundity, ripeness and wisdom, and the clear enchantment of memory. And most precious of all, you will have Time - that rare and lovely gift that your Western countries have lost the more they have pursued it.

All native Shangri-La folk look out for each other and the valley's metaphorical isolation at all times. One man who guarded the area's security went by the name of Henschell, who was careful that none of the porters bringing books and art treasures should ever approach too closely; he made them leave their burdens a day's journey outside. He even arranged for sentries to keep constant watch on the entrance to the defile. But it soon occurred to him that there was an easier and more final safeguard. You see there was no need to fear invasion by an army. That will never be possible, owing to the nature and distances of the country.

Still, for all the attributes of the place, the other three people who have been kidnapped and brought to Shangri-La - to add a little culture to the place - still dream of escape, and so they wait until the next batch of porters near the area with supplies so they can tag along with them back to civilisation of a more familiar nature. Conway, though, remains torn. He wants to stay, but then love gets in the way - and something of a sudden, surprise end rears out of the dark in unforgettable fashion, ensuring that Lost Horizon will forever be regarded as a classic piece of literature. Hilton really does vividly capture the essence of magic that surrounds the more cut-off yet naturally beautiful and enchanting areas of the world, as this clever fable sees the Westerners weighing up the so-called priorities in life. In the end, the reader has to ask himself or herself the same question as they do. Is money-based materialism a necessity that you cannot live without if you tried, or could a truly humble and modest life potentially be a practical alternative? Ask yourself, and then ask yourself again - for money, in my mind, really is the root of all evil.

ISBN 1-84024-353-8 (first published in 1933/ Summersdale) www.summersdale.com

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