The Lost World – review of a classic

Author – Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

Publisher – Strand magazine

Date – 1912

Stars – 5/5

Review

Conan Doyle is well known for his detective novels featuring his hero Sherlock Holmes and chronicler Dr John Watson.  However, he is a little less known for his other works despite their literary prowess.  The Lost World is part of the Professor Challenger series which was published in series by Strand magazine, similarly to Sherlock Holmes.  Indeed, this served as the inspiration for the second Jurassic Park film (although the plot only loosely ties in).

The book is written from the perspective of a journalist called Malone.  He is asked to interview Professor Challenger who has made claims of prehistoric and wonderful fauna in a location in South America.  His claims were met with disbelief and his career was somewhat sabotaged by this.  The professor is aloof and pictured initially as short-fused and hot-headed.  He is a zoologist and polymath (somewhat similar to Holmes I would say).

Malone is nervous to approach Challenger for an interview but eventually the two make acquaintances and the plot unfolds.  These two are joined by Professor Summerlee, another zoologist, and Lord Roxton, an adventurer.  Together they venture to South America and explore the plateau where Challenger so believes his validation can be found.

Encounters with pterodactyls, iguanodons and ape-men are just some of the swashbuckling tales held within this text.  Each character has their own motives and personalities which makes the story flow with ease.  The adventurers return to London is met with a mixture of excitement and disbelief.  A meeting at the Zoological Society results in riotous behaviour and further excursions to the area are planned to bring back specimens.

I suppose reviewing a classic literary text is somewhat superfluous as it has already stood the test of time but for those who have not read it, I implore you to do so and go on an adventure to South America from your bedroom.