Lost HorizonLost HorizonBackground and informationBackground and information

This novel offers us the chance to at least This novel offers us the chance to at least consider a completely different way of consider a completely different way of viewing the world.viewing the world.

It affords us the opportunity to open our It affords us the opportunity to open our minds to new perspectives and to consider minds to new perspectives and to consider the possibility that truth lies in that which the possibility that truth lies in that which we heretofore believed to be counter-we heretofore believed to be counter-intuitive. intuitive.

James HiltonJames HiltonJames Hilton - Author, 1900 – 1954, James Hilton - Author, 1900 – 1954, Born in Leigh, EnglandBorn in Leigh, EnglandSon ofJohn Hilton -headmaster of Chapel Son ofJohn Hilton -headmaster of Chapel End School in WalthamstowEnd School in WalthamstowCatherine HerselfCatherine Herself – Published by Hilton at – Published by Hilton at Age 20 – based on fatherAge 20 – based on fatherLost HorizonLost Horizon - Published 1933 – First - Published 1933 – First Paperback?? – Probably NotPaperback?? – Probably Not1942 – Academy Award for 1942 – Academy Award for Mrs. Miniver Mrs. Miniver ScreenplayScreenplayDied in Long Beach CaliforniaDied in Long Beach California

Shangri - LaShangri - LaTibetan Utopian SocietyTibetan Utopian Society

Deep in the Himalayas Deep in the Himalayas

Beautiful valley run by LamaseryBeautiful valley run by Lamasery

Joseph Rock – wrote articles about Joseph Rock – wrote articles about traveling in Tibet – Inspired Hiltontraveling in Tibet – Inspired Hilton

President Franklin D. Roosevelt – named President Franklin D. Roosevelt – named travel retreat “Shangri – La” – now Camp travel retreat “Shangri – La” – now Camp DavidDavid

Key Themes Key Themes Wisdom – “the exhaustion of passions”Wisdom – “the exhaustion of passions”

Desire – Letting go of one’s emotional Desire – Letting go of one’s emotional desires leads to peacefulness and blissdesires leads to peacefulness and bliss

World Self-Destruction - paradise and World Self-Destruction - paradise and wisdom can offer refuge and perhaps wisdom can offer refuge and perhaps salvationsalvation

Imagination – opening oneself to the Imagination – opening oneself to the possibilities beyond our understandingpossibilities beyond our understanding

Providence – what hand does fate play in Providence – what hand does fate play in our lives and our existence?our lives and our existence?