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The Lost World (Book Center) Kindle Edition

4.3 out of 5 stars 11,886 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.

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 11,886 ratings

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Customer reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars
11,886 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.

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.

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

"...Overall, it is a very good and useful learning tool for the classroom or for a confident reader to tackle by themselves." Read more

"...few chapters, always allowing for the long-winded but often elegant style of writing one can expect from 1912 when it was written...." 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

141 customers mention ‘Story quality’138 positive3 negative

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

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

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

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

"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

"...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.

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

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

"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

"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

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

  • Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 9 October 2011
    The Lost World is an exciting, well written story with beautifully drawn characters and touches of humour and philosophy which raise it to the highest level of literature. I particularly enjoyed the dynamic between the two professors. As well as being a classic story of adventure and discovery - and presumably an inspiration behind the film Jurassic Park 2 [DVD], there is a strong personal story of self-discovery for the central character and narrator, Edward Malone. The only thing that caused me to raise my eyebrows at times was the degree of intervention the scientists and explorers allowed themselves in the lost world they visit - but this was written in the early twentieth century when a different ethos prevailed. I was also mildly distracted by the use of American spelling in places in a book written by a Scottish author; but without another version to compare, I cannot tell if this was a modification made for the Kindle version. All in all, highly recommended.
    6 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 11 July 2015
    Conan Doyle was most famous for Sherlock Holmes but this sees him create another character, Professor Challenger. Challenger claims to have found a remarkable land in South America where prehistoric creatures still live. The only trouble is, no-one believes him. That is until our narrator, journalist Malone, gets involved. Soon Malone finds himself on an expedition with Challenger to prove the story, along with rival Professor Summerlee and a soldier.

    Oddly I thought the set-up was better than the Lost World portion. Challenger is a great character, a genius who knows it and hates all other human life. He's like an academic Scrooge.

    Much of the story sees the expedition visiting the Lost World and it is fairly enjoyable, if a little descriptive. A great deal of time is spent describing the landscape and its inhabitants which is enjoyable but as a reader I was keen for something to happen. Eventually it does as the team are pit against a colony of proto-humans, the "missing link" as they say.

    Its interesting reading this from a modern perspective. Considering its age the science here isn't too bad. Its a fiction story after all and actually whilst a lost world is now unlikely it is not implausible that some form of early humans still exist in a remote part of the world.

    There was very much of an imperialistic feel to the book and the characters attitudes to the 'ape-men'. They pretty much want to destroy them whilst a modern scientist would strive to preserve them. Whilst I felt a little uncomfortable about the characters actions it is important to remember the context of when the book was written.

    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. There was also a great sense of fun with some amusing moments which doesn't happen so much in Sherlock Holmes. A good story from an author who deserves to be remembered for more than Sherlock Holmes.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 31 October 2013
    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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  • Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 28 March 2024
    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. It doesn't try to shock or need to be incredibly complex. Fantastic
    2 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • blue-eyed
    5.0 out of 5 stars "The Lost World" - Arthur Conan Doyle
    Reviewed in Germany on 9 February 2014
    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
    "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.
  • Carol
    5.0 out of 5 stars good simple read
    Reviewed in France on 22 December 2013
    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.
  • Jan
    5.0 out of 5 stars Good book
    Reviewed in Australia on 8 November 2024
    This is a classic.
  • Thomas Fabelo
    5.0 out of 5 stars The Lost World: A Timeless Journey of Imagination
    Reviewed in Brazil on 20 May 2025
    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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