Lost Horizon by James Hilton

Following a plane crash, Conway, a British consul; his deputy; a missionary; and an American financier find themselves in the enigmatic snow-capped mountains of uncharted Tibet. Here they discover a seemingly perfect hidden community where they are welcomed with gracious hospitality. Intrigued by its mystery, the travellers set about discovering the secret hidden at the shimmering heart of Shangri-La.

Good read. People are kidnapped to help populate a secret community in the Himalayas. Sounds like something [b:The Celestine Prophecy 13103 The Celestine Prophecy (Celestine Prophecy, #1) James Redfield https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1166542346l/13103.SX50.jpg 2603195] might have been influenced by.

I don't know how it took me until now to read this wonderful novel, and then only because I acquired an audiobook version of it (and found a paperback copy in my local library). Having been to Tibet and spent a little time in the Himalayas, I was enchanted by this story of a British consul who, along with 3 other foreigners, is skyjacked by a Tibetan pilot and taken to a remote valley and the lamasery called Shangri-la. The framing of the tale and the tale itself is brilliant.

Was engaging. But maybe should have been only 3 stars. Kind of a Wizard of Oz ending where we learn the omniscient narrator was unreliable.

This short book is regarded a classic, and I found it quite enjoyable.

Commencing in Persia, where a plane preparing for evacuation is hijacked and flown of route. Eventually, it is established by the abducted persons that they are in the Tibetan Himalaya, and the plane attempts to land, crashing and killing the pilot / kidnapper, leaving our main characters stranded. A British consul, his deputy, a (female) missionary, an American financier are ‘rescued' and taken to a Tibetan monastery (Shangri-La) and put up in some comfort, but as the story rolls out, strange details emerge about the circumstances of their kidnap, the occupants of the monastery, and their expectations around returning to ‘civilization'.

Not aiming to throw out any spoilers, so that is about the extent of the plot outline.

For a book written in 1933 it still stacks up pretty well - the themes and situation are relevant, and the writing while relatively simple makes the story interesting, and there are plenty of parts where I didn't want to put this down. Set after WW1 and before WW2 it has element so utopia and projected dystopia woven through, and is largely a roll-out mystery of thoughts rather than actions. The characters are written interestingly, have various revelations in their own stories, and are all effected by the situation differently.

Worth seeking out, to cross another classic off the list in relatively easy form.

4 stars