A much needed break and escape from reality. Enjoyed it thoroughly. 7 out of 10

2022-02-14 I was triggered to write this review by seeing it on the list of books read by a new GR acquaintance. I don't remember too much about or from the book, but I remember the circumstances of reading it pretty well. It was just after I had graduated from High School, on a trip I was taking to with my cousin. We were backpacking in some back country semi-mountainous area near the Pacific coast. I read most of or all the book in our tent, one day when it was pouring rain, so we just stayed in the tent all day to ride it out. He read Papillion and/or The Double Helix and this is the book I read. He was a much faster reader than me. I may have read part of the Double Helix too.

I remember enjoying the book but being puzzled by the mysticism and sense of life and circumstances that the book talked about.

I also remember last year about this time, coming across a book (Lost in Shangri La) that was my mother's, which I read to her aloud, since she was not able to read herself and she loved being read to in her final months. It referred to this book, since they both dealt with this Shangri La myth.

I've known of this book was so long as the work that gave us the mysterious Shangri La. Reading this was an utter delight. Hilton is a terrific writer, his descriptions are vivid and his characters are so well developed and fleshed out. Conway, in particular, has become of my my favorite fictional characters now. And Shangri La itself, what a marvelous concept, a quiet serene utopia to espace the loud turbulent world. I loved the way Hilton compares perspectives of the place from the view points of very different characters who enter this mystical land. The whole juxtaposition of the western values and view of the world to eastern, I thought was very interesting and well executed. This small book was very thought provoking and left a very strong impression on me, particularly with the way the author has left it open to personal interpretation. The book deals with subjects that are timeless (and works well for these crazy tumultuous times we live in) and therefore doesn't read as dated, despite being published in 1933. A peace of mind, afterall, is a priceless ageless thing of beauty. I highly recommend this book.
My edition of this book is a Reader's Enrichment Series copy from 1960's. An absolutely lovely edition, it includes bio info, notes on the book, select vocabulary and even a spelling improvement exercise, this, of course, being decades before computers and spellchecks. It cost $.60 back when it was published.

Có một câu chuyện kì bí mà lại khơi gợi đến thế:((
Nhắc đến Shangrila là người ta lại nhắc đến "Đường chân trời đã mất", sau khi đã biết thế nào là Shangrila đến gần 1 năm thì mới biết thế nào là ĐCTĐM. Huhu đọc mà thấy nhớ quá, nhớ những núi tuyết hùng vĩ, nhớ Trăng Xanh với bầu trời xanh ngắt và những cụm bông lơ lửng trên đầu, nhớ cả tu viện kỳ bí:((

Il romanzo di Hilton racconta la storia di quattro esploratori occidentali che, per una serie di circostanze apparentemente fortuite, si ritrovano in un luogo sconosciuto al resto del mondo, un mondo perduto ai confini dell'altopiano tibetano, dominato da un monastero, chiamato Shangri-La. Qui i suoi adepti, incredibilmente longevi e moderati in ogni aspetto, provenienti da ogni parte del globo, si dedicano, mediante lo studio e la meditazione, alla ricerca della felicità e della pace interiore. Ai protagonisti spetterà la difficile scelta: accettare di rimanere in questo mondo e comprenderne i segreti, oppure tentare una fuga e tornare alla vita precedente.
La narrazione di Hilton è godibile, si nota con facilità l'adattabilità cinematografica, e l'ambientazione esotica è fortemente evocativa. Non è un caso che questo romanzo, insieme al film da cui venne tratto, ha contribuito a dare nuova linfa al mito della città perduta, in un'epoca (gli anni Trenta del secolo scorso) in cui il precedente colonialismo e le passate esplorazioni geografiche avevano dato all'Occidente l'illusione di conoscere ogni angolo del pianeta. Inoltre, Hilton ha donato nuovo slancio all'interesse per l'Oriente da parte degli occidentali, creando anche dei luoghi comuni e degli stereotipi che ci trasciniamo ancora oggi nell'immaginario collettivo.
In definitiva, non è un romanzo che lascia il segno, ma nella lettura si percepisce come in qualche modo abbia influenzato le generazioni successive in ambito letterario e cinematografico (per alcuni aspetti positivamente, per altri meno).

Снаружи это по-английски уютный «британский колониальный роман» на фоне экзотического задника, где все только и делают, что разговаривают, мудаки ведут себя как му��аки, и это никого не раздражает, кроме читателя, а герои не какают, только иногда моются. При этом, мы знаем, что примерно с него в западной культуре ХХ века началась массовая одержимость Тибетом (трогать эзотерическую традицию мы не будем, она была все ж элитарна; до рего был всего один роман в цикле, с Тибетом не связанном). И нужно понимать, что даже экранизация Капры была достаточно скверной и не пойми о чем, но, по известному присловью, «смонтировали все так быстро и умело, что никто ничего не заметил», и некоторое обаяние идеологии книги фильм все ж передает. Дальнейших версий я не смотрел.
Так что ж такое этот самый «Горизонт» и где и почему его потеряли? Ответить нетрудно. Это, конечно, никакая не утопия и даже не политико-приключенческий роман о Большой игре, хотя все действие происходит на ее фоне, а собственно приключений в нем не сказать что много. Это типичная книга о межвоенном «потерянном поколении» и в первую очередь — духовный роман о поисках истинного мировоззрения одним таким травмированным (если не сказать искалеченным) Великой войной «лишним человеком» — и неугасимом и неотвратимом стремлении к нему. Метафорой Срединного пути здесь служит вера «лам» Шангри-Ла в «умеренность во всем»: такую вот аналогию подобрал автор, который никаким буддистом, конечно, не был, но какой-то «макулатуры» начитался. Показательно, конечно, насколько подробно изображаются его мысленные и духовные метания (уйти-остаться-уйти-остаться) и показателен тот поворот сюжета, что он все же уходит (и причины, по каким он уходит) из Шангри-Ла, т.е. от истинного учения, а потом всячески стремится к нему вернуться. Удается ему это или нет — вопрос открытый. Для контуженного войной впечатлительного юноши с тонкой душевной организацией такая дорожка метаний нормальна, я бы решил, да и автор у нас не мог, что называется, иначе, потому что сам не буддист и даже, в общем, не эзотер. В этом для нас сквозит некая большая и правильная правда.
И вот именно потому, что он не он, в основе всей идеологии Шангри-Ла у него лежит пыльная христианская доктрина, а само прибежище устраивает люксембургский монах, который когда-то забрел в Западный Тибет искать несториан. И вот тут уже у Хилтона в самой середке царит «большой горшок тухлого ячьего масла» (с). Но попытка, несомненно, засчитывается.

What a beautiful and wondrous book! I was completely captivated by the mysteries of Shangri-la. Our hero Conway's adventure was an awe-inspiring tale of a monastery hidden deep in a Tibetan mountain range, where the lamas lead extraordinary existences. Theirs are privileged lives steeped in wisdom and secrecy. Their isolation and longevity allows them a unique position in the world and very few outsiders are privy to their secrets. Hilton's use of the high lama's telepathy is certainly prophetic, considering the book was written prior to World War II.

Lost Horizon was a great adventure story as well as a picture of an ideal society. Hilton's dream on utopia was brilliantly written and enchanting.

In 1931, four people, including Glory Conway, escape the political unrest in Baskul, China by boarding a plane, bound for Peshawar. The plane, however, much to their dismay, has been hijacked and eventually crash lands deep in the far reaches of the Tibetan Himalayas. Seeking shelter, the group soon finds themselves in the valley of the blue moon, guests at a lamasery, called Shangri-La.


Reading this is like stepping slowly into a hot, fragrant bath while strains of your own audio preferences delight; lapping against your tired muscles as you immerse yourself deep within its hypnotic scent. Even silence has a melody.

Though I have no specific memory of having read this before or having seen the movie, Hilton’s story is very familiar to me. More legend really, it transcends its medium, provoking deep, meaningful thought on spirituality, love and life’s purpose.

The water is just warm now; I have long since found my sweet spot and I tarry, reluctant to leave this precious paradise.

Be sure and read what gave birth to this legendary utopia.

A British group leaves India in the 1930s by plane, the plane goes down, and thereafter they find themselves in the fabled Shangri-La. In this valley of warmth and beauty in the midst of the Himalayan mountains, they find a people with astounding longevity leading lives of simplicity and wisdom and peace. They eventually find their way out of Shangri-La and back home, but Conway (the main character), consumed by regret for the peace that he left behind, returns in the end.

For me, the power of this novel was in the sense of potential peace that is evoked, and that is available to all of us. Metaphorically, I think of the journey each of us travels in search of our own Shangri-La. Toward that end, I am reminded of Nathaniel Hawthorne who said, “Happiness is like a butterfly which, when pursued, is always beyond our grasp, but, if you will sit down quietly, may alight upon you.” Perhaps the same is true of our own Shangri-La...

Δεύτερο βιβλίο του Τζέιμς Χίλτον που διαβάζω, μετά το πολύ ωραίο και ιδιαίτερο "Αντίο, κύριε Τσιπς", που διάβασα τον Νοέμβριο του 2017. Εδώ έχουμε να κάνουμε με κάτι τελείως διαφορετικό, τόσο από άποψη θεματολογίας, όσο και από άποψη γραφής, μιας και πρόκειται για μια κλασική δραματική περιπέτεια με κάποιες μεταφυσικές προεκτάσεις, που ταξιδεύει τον αναγνώστη σε μέρη εξωτικά και φανταστικά, χαρίζοντας του ορισμένες πολύ όμορφες εικόνες, αλλά ίσως και λίγη τροφή για σκέψη. Η αλήθεια είναι ότι ήθελα να διαβάσω κάτι... ταξιδιάρικο, κάτι εξωτικό και κλασικό, και το συγκεκριμένο βιβλίο ήταν ακριβώς αυτό που ήθελα με βάση τη διάθεσή μου. Η γραφή μου φάνηκε πάρα πολύ καλή, οξυδερκής και ευκολοδιάβαστη, με ωραίες περιγραφές τοπίων και γεγονότων, αλλά και με κάποιες βαθύτερες σκέψεις. Ο συγγραφέας αγγίζει ορισμένα θέματα με φιλοσοφικές και μεταφυσικές προεκτάσεις, χωρίς βέβαια να μπαίνει σε πολύ βαθιά νερά. Υποθέτω ότι βασικός στόχος του συγγραφέα ήταν να ψυχαγωγήσει και να ταξιδέψει τους αναγνώστες του, αλλά συνάμα να τους δείξει και μια διαφορετική οπτική για τον τρόπο που μπορεί ένας άνθρωπος να ζει και να βλέπει τα πράγματα. Σίγουρα σαν μυθιστόρημα δείχνει τα χρόνια του, όμως αξίζει να διαβαστεί, και πιστεύω ότι έχει πράγματα να προσφέρει και στους σύγχρονους αναγνώστες. Τώρα, το μόνο που μένει είναι να βρω σε καλή ποιότητα την ομότιτλη ταινία του 1937, για την οποία έχω ακούσει εξαιρετικά λόγια.

Orizzonte perduto, 1935. Un bestseller da cui Frank Capra trasse un film da oscar nel 1937.

Si racconta di come quattro uomini arrivarono fortunosamente (e karmicamente) nella favolosa città dei saggi: Shangri-La, un luogo mitologico, un meraviglioso rifugio, il più evoluto prodotto dello spirito umano, dove regnano la moderazione e il sincretismo religioso.

Si racconta di una società agonizzante e moribonda, quella occidentale, sulla soglia di un’altra devastante guerra (un vaticinio tragicamente esatto) e di una sola speranza di salvezza: quella offerta dalla sapienza orientale, con i suoi ideali di bellezza e raccoglimento.

"Staremo qui con i nostri libri, con la nostra musica, con le nostre meditazioni a custodire le fragili eleganze di un’età moribonda, cercando quella saggezza di cui gli uomini avranno tanto bisogno quando le loro passioni si saranno consumate.”

Si racconta di una natura maestosa e incontaminata, magicamente protetta dall’istinto predatorio umano. Un paradiso nascosto tra le cime inaccessibili del Tibet, un luogo che nessuna mappa ha mai memorizzato, nessuna rotta aerea ha mai avvistato.

Ma si racconta anche di come ogni utopia, ogni progetto di purezza, incontri inevitabilmente il proprio fallimento, deposto come un seme avvelenato dentro il cuore dell’uomo.

James Hilton's Lost Horizon (1933) is one of those classic novels that survives the passage of time and remains relevant and full of wonder some 80 years on.

It is a thin volume, but there is plenty of substance to fully engage the reader in this tale of adventure and mystery set in the remote mountains of Tibet.

Four travellers, three men and a woman, are effectively kidnapped and flown to a remote valley deep in the mountains. The mystery pilot dies from injuries sustained in a less than perfect landing.

The passengers are not injured and, after spending a cold night in the damaged plane, are rescued by a party of locals the next day.

They are taken, via a difficult route, to a lamasery, or monastery, which is known as Shangri-La.

There the travellers are made welcome, offered food and other comforts, and are able to avail themselves of the full hospitality of the lamasery.

But, despite the perfectly polite and graceful manners of the residents they are able to interact with, not all of their many questions are answered with full frankness.

The acknowledged leader of the group in Conway, a British diplomat who served in the British Army in WWI. That experience has shaped Conway's persona and his sense of calm acceptance of the situation in which he finds himself.

Mallinson is a young and brash Englishman, Conway's assistant, who is impatient to arrange porters so they can leave and return to civilization as quickly as possible. His enthusiasm and restlessness cannot be abated.

The American, Barnard, is not who he initially pretends, and is really a man on the run from authorities for stock market investment irregularities.

The only woman is Miss Brinklow, and enthusiastic evangelist, who is determined to bring Christian missionaries to what she perceives to be a hotbed of paganism.

Conway is ultimately given privileged audience with the head lama, who rarely receives visitors, and the two soon become regular conversationalists. During these conversations and the sharing of tea, Conway is rewarded with the secrets of Shangri-La, and the rationale for the presence of the new arrivals is revealed.

The conversations between these men are serious and philosophical, often deeply meditative in nature, and they cross the boundaries between Eastern and Western religion and values.

Conway does not share all he knows with his companions, but after a while Barnard and Miss Brinklow reveal that they are not anxious to leave and would prefer to stay at Shangri-La a while longer. Only Mallinson remains impatient to be off.

There are many elements to this fine novel. There is adventure, mystery, philosophy and contrasting world views, which unfold skillfully and deftly, all written in elegant and measured prose.

This is mainly Conway's story, but it is book-ended by the reflections of others who knew him, who seem determined to understand whether the tale he has told them can possibly be true.

This is a magical read, partly fantasy and illusion, which leaves the reader also wondering whether Shangri-La may be real or a figment of a vivid imagination.