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Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
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The Lost World (Book Center) Kindle Edition

by Arthur Conan Doyle (Author), Book Center (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.3 out of 5 stars 11,884 ratings

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The Lost World is a novel released in 1912 by Arthur Conan Doyle concerning an expedition to a plateau in South America where prehistoric animals (dinosaurs and other extinct creatures) still survive. The character of Professor Challenger was introduced in this book. Interestingly, for a seminal work of dinosaur-related fiction, the animals only occupy a small portion of the narrative. Much more time is devoted to a war between early human hominids and a vicious tribe of ape-like creatures.
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  1. Reading age
    12 - 14 years
  2. Book 1 of 3
    The Professor Challenger Stories
  3. Print length
    205 pages
  4. Language
    English
  5. Grade level
    7 - 9
  6. Publisher
    CDED
  7. Accessibility
    Learn more
  8. Publication date
    4 Aug. 2017
  9. Page Flip
    Enabled
  10. Word Wise
    Enabled
  11. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
  12. ISBN-13
    978-2377932788
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Product description

About the Author

Sir Arthur Ignatius Conan Doyle DL (22 May 1859 – 7 July 1930) was a Scottish physician and writer, most noted for his stories about the detective Sherlock Holmes, generally considered milestones in the field of crime fiction, and for the adventures of Professor Challenger. He was a prolific writer whose other works include science fiction stories, plays, romances, poetry, non-fiction and historical novels.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B074M98JXM
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ CDED
  • Accessibility ‏ : ‎ Learn more
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ 4 Aug. 2017
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 1.0 MB
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 205 pages
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-2377932788
  • Page Flip ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Grade level ‏ : ‎ 7 - 9
  • Book 1 of 3 ‏ : ‎ The Professor Challenger Stories
  • Reading age ‏ : ‎ 12 - 14 years
  • Customer reviews:
    4.3 out of 5 stars 11,884 ratings

About the authors

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  1. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

    Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

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    Sir Arthur Conan Doyle was born in Edinburgh in 1859 and died in 1930. Within those years was crowded a variety of activity and creative work that made him an international figure and inspired the French to give him the epithet 'the good giant'. He was the nephew of 'Dickie Doyle' the artist, and was educated at Stonyhurst, and later studied medicine at Edinburgh University, where the methods of diagnosis of one of the professors provided the idea for the methods of deduction used by Sherlock Holmes.

    He set up as a doctor at Southsea and it was while waiting for patients that he began to write. His growing success as an author enabled him to give up his practice and turn his attention to other subjects. He was a passionate advocate of many causes, ranging from divorce law reform and the Channel Tunnel to the issuing of inflatable life-jackets to sailors. He also campaigned to prove the innocence of individuals, and his work on the Edjalji case was instrumental in the introduction of the Court of Criminal Appeal. He was a volunteer physician in the Boer War and later in life became a convert to spiritualism.

    His greatest achievement was, of course, his creation of Sherlock Holmes, who soon attained international status and constantly distracted him from his other work; at one time Conan Doyle killed him but was obliged by public protest to restore him to life. And in his creation of Dr Watson, Holmes's companion in adventure and chronicler, Conan Doyle produced not only a perfect foil for Holmes but also one of the most famous narrators in fiction. Penguin publish all the books about the great detective, A Study in Scarlet, The Sign of Four, The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, The Hound of the Baskervilles, The Return of Sherlock Holmes, The Valley of Fear, His Last Bow, The Casebook of Sherlock Holmes, The Uncollected Sherlock Holmes and The Penguin Complete Sherlock Holmes.

    Photo by Walter Benington (RR Auction) [US Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons.

    See more on the author's page
  2. Sarah Matthews

    Sarah Matthews

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    Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

    Sarah Matthews has been a professional writer ever since the age of 9, when she wrote the class Christmas play (she was paid in chocolates). Since then she has gone on to be a writer and translator of books about history and the history of ideas, as well as non-fiction books for young children. She has also written educational text books for the teaching of English literature in schools, and has edited a number of literary classics, including Conan Doyle's short stories and Mark Twain's Huckleberry Finn.

    A few years ago, Sarah's writing career took a new turn, when her passion for crime fiction writing led to her being commissioned by publishers Little, Brown to write How to Write Crime Fiction, which she published under the name of Sarah Williams.

    See more on the author's page
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Customer reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars
11,884 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find this book highly readable and entertaining, with one describing it as a riveting read from cover to cover. Moreover, the story receives praise for its masterful storytelling and ability to capture the spirit of exploration of the unknown, while the characters are beautifully drawn. Additionally, the book is fast-paced and easy to read, with one customer noting its surprising amount of wit, and customers appreciate its value as a free download. However, opinions about the difficulty to read are mixed, with some finding it easy while others say it's hard to get into.

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ReadabilityStory qualityEnthrallingCharacter developmentValue for moneyPaceHumorDifficulty to read
258 customers mention ‘Readability’238 positive20 negative

Customers find the book highly readable, describing it as a finely written tale that is entertaining enough for leisure reading.

"The Lost World is an exciting, well written story with beautifully drawn characters and touches of humour and philosophy which raise it to the..." Read more

"...All in all, very enjoyable. It has the great narration of the Sherlock Holmes story but is more of a fantasy story & more character-driven...." Read more

"...and South America, and is simpler, better founded on science and more believable than any subsequent film writer cared to remember...." Read more

"This is, without doubt, one of the most enjoyable books I've ever read. It just unfolds in front of you, the imagery and detail is fantastic...." Read more

137 customers mention ‘Story quality’137 positive0 negative

Customers praise the book's masterful storytelling, describing it as a fantastical tale with an exciting plot.

"...As well as being a classic story of adventure and discovery - and presumably an inspiration behind the film Jurassic Park 2 [DVD]..." Read more

"...All in all, very enjoyable. It has the great narration of the Sherlock Holmes story but is more of a fantasy story & more character-driven...." Read more

"...of the blatant racism and read on then there is a fascinating story to enjoy with real dinosaurs!..." Read more

"...the unknown wilds, recalling the days of human exploration with a fantastical tale...." Read more

40 customers mention ‘Enthralling’36 positive4 negative

Customers find the book captivating, particularly appreciating its adventure and exploration themes, with one customer noting how it captures the spirit of discovering the unknown.

"...character is Lord John Roxton, a famous adventurer, explorer and big game hunter...." Read more

"...was to select a statement for my uni course, but I found the beginning so interesting and inviting I felt the urge to read on, and I did not regret..." Read more

"...This book hade me enthralled from the first page and on the edge of my seat for the rest...." Read more

"...Great adventures to hidden parts of the world, along with giant lizards that will eat you whole!..." Read more

23 customers mention ‘Character development’20 positive3 negative

Customers appreciate the character development in the book, noting that the story is rich with descriptions and the characters are beautifully drawn.

"The Lost World is an exciting, well written story with beautifully drawn characters and touches of humour and philosophy which raise it to the..." Read more

"...Challenger is a great character, a genius who knows it and hates all other human life. He's like an academic Scrooge...." Read more

"...and despite a bit of stereotyping, most of the characters were written sympathetically, especially for 1912...." Read more

"...I really came to like the main characters in the book, in particular Professor Challenger who is fiery and opinionated but I couldn't help but love..." Read more

13 customers mention ‘Value for money’13 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate that the book is available for free.

"...Not quite a polished as Audible products, but cheaper and does the job very well...." Read more

"...Particularly enjoyable given that the book is available free on kindle." Read more

"...Well worth the small price good value." Read more

"Good price" Read more

12 customers mention ‘Pace’12 positive0 negative

Customers find the book fast-paced and engaging, with one describing it as a page-turner.

"I found this a page turning read...." Read more

"...was actually the first Conan Doyle book I have read, and I found it fast-paced, easy, and exciting to read...." Read more

"...This is an instantly engaging and highly readable romp exploring social mores and the spirit of adventure in the wilds of Latin America and London..." Read more

"This moved along at a nice pace, I was always wanting to know what will happen next. A very enjoyable read." Read more

9 customers mention ‘Humor’9 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book's humor, with one noting its surprising amount of wit.

"...well written story with beautifully drawn characters and touches of humour and philosophy which raise it to the highest level of literature...." Read more

"...There was also a great sense of fun with some amusing moments which doesn't happen so much in Sherlock Holmes...." Read more

"...Crichton prehistoric animals, superb social stereotypes and a surprising amount of wit...." Read more

"...Adventure and exploration this book has lovable and brilliant characters in it, it teaches us about friendships, enduring hard ships, and about..." Read more

12 customers mention ‘Difficulty to read’8 positive4 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the book's readability, with some finding it easy to read while others say it's a little hard to get into.

"...Oddly I thought the set-up was better than the Lost World portion...." Read more

"A really good read and, although, very far fetched was difficult to put down. I must read more of Conan Doyle apart from Sherlock Holmes." Read more

"This tale takes place in London and South America, and is simpler, better founded on science and more believable than any subsequent film writer..." Read more

"...Not at all hard going, the story is a throwback to when men were men and everyone who was British was a hero and those who were not British were..." Read more

Right cover, wrong book
1 out of 5 stars
Right cover, wrong book
Was sitting down to read this tonight only to discover that although the hardback front cover is The lost world. The contents are "12 Years a slave" Word of warning to Che k books you order immediately, not leave them on the shelf for 2 months before you plan to read them.
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Top reviews from United Kingdom

  • I bought this book hoping it would explain what the heck happened in Tenet. (It didn't.) However, it's still a good book, nonetheless.
    5.0 out of 5 stars This is the pinnacle of dinosaur fiction, not Jurassic Park.
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 12 June 2025
    Verified Purchase
    Michael Crichton said this wasn't a very good book.

    Well, Michael, you know what I say to that (not that you'd care much, since you are, you know, dead)?: Timeline wasn't a good book.

    At least Conan Doyle knew how to write likable characters and keep only relevant stuff in the story.
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  • Scrooge McDuck
    4.0 out of 5 stars Dino-might
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 28 July 2019
    Verified Purchase
    Though there have been numerous movie adaptations of this novel I don't believe I have seen a single one so the story has been unfamiliar to me up until this point, though I can definitely see how it has influenced adventure fiction since it was first published. Sherlock Holmes will always be Conan Doyle's most famous creation (whether he likes it or not) but few people seem to be aware that with the Lost World, written after he was done with Holmes for good, he introduced a new leading man - the pugnacious Professor Challenger (a rather on-the-nose moniker).

    Opening in 1900s London (not too soon after the discovery of dinosaurs when you think about it) Professor Challenger is mocked by his peers for his insistence that an undiscovered plateau in South America is home to prehistoric creatures and plant life. Narrator and reporter Edward Malone, hungry for adventure, joins Challenger along with Lord John Roxton and Professor Summerlee and sets off to find this mythical place and the novel takes the form of his letters to his newspaper editor.

    For a man who, I assume, never ventured deep into the South American jungle, Conan Doyle densely describes the journey in a way that makes you believe and he mixes science and fiction deftly. One can really tell how this influenced later writers such as Michael Crichton (who writes the introduction in this Modern Library edition) and his love for adventure in Jurassic Park and Congo. Even King Kong seems to have taken a lot from this work.

    Professor Challenger went on to appear in a few more, much less successful novels, though Conan Doyle proved he was no one-trick pony with the Lost World, which still stands tall among adventure fiction of the modern era.

    I must point out that although a T-Rex skull appears on the cover, at no point does said dinosaur appear in the novel, and I should address the plot hole of the pterodactyl pit and why could they not just fly away to the rest of the world instead of staying up on the plateau.
    5 people found this helpful
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  • Lacey Green
    5.0 out of 5 stars Up
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 31 October 2013
    Verified Purchase
    This tale takes place in London and South America, and is simpler, better founded on science and more believable than any subsequent film writer cared to remember. I like the films, but the book has a conviction that they don't, pertly because of the narrative structure, in which Malone tells us the story, either in a retrospective journal or 'live'. Poor Malone's ideals take a bashing when he gets home, and the sign of it is that Lake Gladys become Central Lake.

    One can see why the directors introduce a fanatical clergyman, (and his New Woman niece). The novels does have discussion of the clergy's unease with fossils and queries about the age of the earth, and Doyle does show us different sorts of women, even the brave and loyal Mrs Challenger. Other differences are the terrain and the 'war'. On the way to the plateau the geography is varied and vicious in the novel, and the fauna of mixed dinosaurs and mammals improbable in the extreme. The 'war' between the primitive 'apemen' and the more advanced 'Indians' is hard to swallow but, given these improbabilities, the fantasy is logically handled.

    Admittedly, the ending of the novel doesn't involve leaving a member of the party behind to set up home with a beautiful princess and start to enlighten and educate', (or possibly corrupt and disillusion), the tribe. Instead, the party has reconciled its differences and returned home bearing unusual evidence and a degree of wisdom and brotherhood. What a pity the sequel was marred by 'spiritualist' baloney. One sympathises with Doyle the man, while one deplores the writer's self-indulgence.
    One person found this helpful
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  • RoslynP
    5.0 out of 5 stars Reviewing "The Lost World" (Thornes Classic Novels)
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 17 June 2014
    Verified Purchase
    Amazon seem to have mixed up Chrichton's Lost World reviews with this book. I am reviewing the Thornes Classic Novel version by Arthur Conan Doyle.

    Having been an avid Sherlock Holmes follower, I thought I would give Mr Doyle's other novels a go. As I tutor children, I bought this book to read and also to tutor by. This particular version, is an unabridged version but editored for older children. There is a glossary at the bottom of every page for difficult/non-familiar words. There is also a commentary as to what has happened for a quick recap before starting to read again. At the beginning of each chapter, there is a "Look out for..." sometimes with leading questions and/or good discussion points. The introduction is packed with facts about the author, when the book was written, Darwin, explorers and dinosaurs. There is also a useful map to pin-point the setting in South America. Overall, it is a very good and useful learning tool for the classroom or for a confident reader to tackle by themselves.
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Top reviews from other countries

Translate all reviews to English
  • blue-eyed
    5.0 out of 5 stars "The Lost World" - Arthur Conan Doyle
    Reviewed in Germany on 9 February 2014
    Verified Purchase
    Der berühmte Zoologe Prof. Challenger wird von der Fachgemeinde nicht mehr Ernst genommen. Er behauptet prähistorische lebende Tiere auf einer Südamerika-Expedition entdeckt zu haben. Dort hat er ein Skizzenbuch von einem Mann gefunden, welcher einen Stegosaurus in seinem Tagebuch gezeichnet hat. Er ist seiner Spur auf die Plateaus gefolgt und konnte dort auch eine Fotografie von einem Pterodactylus machen. Doch keiner seiner Kollegen schenkt ihm Glauben.

    Prof. Challenger: „When great facts are laid before you, you have not the intuition, the imagination which would help you to understand them. You can only throw mud at the men who have risked their lives to open new fields of science.”

    Um das alles also vor seinen Kollegen zu beweisen, plant er eine Expedition bei dem ihm sein erbitterter Gegner Prof. Summerlee, der expeditionserfahrene Jäger Lord John Roxton und der Journalist Mr. Malone begleiten werden.
    Als sie auf schwierigen Wegen endlich das Plateau erreichen, sind sie auf das, was sie antreffen, überhaupt nicht vorbereitet. Es scheint zudem auch keinen Weg mehr zurück zu geben.

    Lord John Roxton: „…they are – Missin’ Links, and I wish they had stayed missin’.”

    Arthur Conan Doyle hat einen großartigen Roman geschaffen, der voller Spannung und Humor steckt. Aber auch die Wissenschaft kommt hier nicht zu kurz. Dieser Roman ist für die damalige Zeit (1912) auf dem aktuellsten Stand der Wissenschaft, aber natürlich ist es legitim, wenn der Autor auch etwas seine Fantasie spielen lässt.
    “The Lost World” ist ein wirklich spannender Abenteuer-Klassiker, den man unbedingt einmal gelesen haben sollte.
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  • tanusree
    5.0 out of 5 stars Prehistoric Adventure
    Reviewed in India on 27 July 2024
    Verified Purchase
    "The Lost World" by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle is a thrilling novel that transports readers to an uncharted plateau in the Amazon basin, where prehistoric creatures still roam. The story follows a diverse group of explorers, led by the eccentric Professor Challenger, as they embark on a daring expedition to prove the existence of dinosaurs. Doyle's vivid descriptions and fast-paced narrative make for an engaging read, capturing the wonder and danger of this forgotten world. Though written over a century ago, the novel's sense of adventure and scientific curiosity remain timeless, offering a captivating glimpse into a land where time stands still.
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  • Carol
    5.0 out of 5 stars good simple read
    Reviewed in France on 22 December 2013
    Verified Purchase
    I have never been a Sherlock Holmes fan but I was told this was a good book.
    I enjoyed it but I do find that Arthur Conan Doyle very long winded.
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  • Jan
    5.0 out of 5 stars Good book
    Reviewed in Australia on 8 November 2024
    Verified Purchase
    This is a classic.
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  • Thomas Fabelo
    5.0 out of 5 stars The Lost World: A Timeless Journey of Imagination
    Reviewed in Brazil on 20 May 2025
    Verified Purchase
    The Lost World, by Arthur Conan Doyle, is a classic adventure novel that continues to captivate readers more than a century after its publication. Known primarily as the creator of Sherlock Holmes, Doyle proves with this work that his talent extended far beyond detective fiction.

    Imaginative and Groundbreaking

    Set in a mysterious plateau in the Amazon basin, the novel follows Professor Challenger and his team on an expedition to prove the existence of prehistoric life. The imagination Doyle poured into this narrative is nothing short of brilliant. Dinosaurs, strange landscapes, and lost tribes are brought to life with a vividness that feels cinematic—even by today's standards.

    Engaging Narrative and Subtle Humor

    The story is told through the perspective of journalist Edward Malone, whose voice brings both clarity and charm to the unfolding events. The writing is fluid, energetic, and at times even humorous—showing Doyle’s capacity to balance action with lightheartedness. The dynamic between the characters, especially the eccentric Professor Challenger, adds a delightful human dimension to the fantastical elements.

    A Vision Ahead of Its Time

    What makes The Lost World stand out is how visionary it was for its time. Published in 1912, it laid the groundwork for the entire genre of “lost world” fiction and inspired countless works that followed, including modern cinematic adventures. The themes of exploration, scientific curiosity, and the unknown remain universally appealing.

    Conclusion

    A thoroughly enjoyable read with bursts of humor and boundless creativity, The Lost World showcases Doyle’s masterful storytelling and foresight. It’s an adventure that has stood the test of time and continues to fuel the imagination of readers young and old. A true timeless classic.
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