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3.61 AVERAGE
3.61 AVERAGE
Is this a well-paced novel brimming with bracing action and adventure sequences and vivid descriptions of unusual flora and fauna? Certainly. But I'm sure you can also find those things in plenty of other books that are just as entertaining and exciting but not nearly so blatantly sexist and racist.
First of all, the four main characters are miserable assholes. The narrator, Edward, is the least offensive, but he's still a whiny doormat and says some pretty awful things about women. I don't have a problem with unlikable characters in general because they're often interesting and complex in ways that wholly likable ones are not. But I wanted all of these guys dead by the time the book ended (spoiler alert: they are not).
There are two named women, and they are both depicted horribly. The first chapter opens with Edward complaining about being friend-zoned by his longtime acquaintance, Gladys. I can't say that I blame her when he believes that "the bent head, the averted eye, the faltering voice, the wincing figure" are "the true signals of passion" in a woman. Doyle depicts Gladys as a shallow, selfish caricature who is reserving her love for a big, strong adventurer so that his glories "would be reflected upon [her]" and she would "be envied for him." The other female character, Professor Challenger's wife, Jessie, tells Edward that she knows how to keep her violent, hot-tempered husband in check. Yet, a chapter later, she chastises Challenger, and he proceeds to, literally, pick her up and place her, like a child, upon a pedestal he calls the "stool of penance," where he leaves her until she is forced to submit and beg for forgiveness. After this, women literally disappear until page 157 when Edward decides he wants to name a lake after Gladys. Despite her name barely crossing his mind in all the pages between. Despite hardly a single acknowledgment until then that women even exist. You could excise each and every reference to women without altering the book's story in any significant way.
And, oh boy, the racism. It's there from the start, but it ramps up the moment our heroes arrive in South America. They never listen to the advice of their indigenous companions because, as Challenger grumbles, it would be foolish "to trust the fallacious instincts of undeveloped savages rather than the highest product of modern European culture." All native peoples either fall into the vengeful and evil stereotype or the "noble savage" stereotype with absolutely no room for nuance.
Later, everyone but Edward iscaptured by "ape-men" (who feel kind of like Doyle just threw them in for the hell of it - and, oh yeah, to allow for more racism). When he helps his friends escape by means of violence, there's a nauseating passage wherein Edward waxes philosophical about his "tender heart" in order to justify his blood lust. They also save a group of captured natives, and, of course, are hailed as white saviors for it: "The whole tribe lay down upon the ground before us in homage." In a quote that actually made me want to die, here is what our white heroes lead the tribe in doing to the ape-men: "The males were exterminated, Ape Town was destroyed, the females and young were driven away to live in bondage." So the literal extermination and enslavement of an entire race. How noble and civilized of them.
It's hard to enjoy the book for the lighthearted adventure romp that it's supposed to be when it perpetuates such vile stereotypes. I've considered the possibility that the book is satirical or ironic or that it's simply a product of its times, but, if satire, it's way too heavily-veiled, and just because such ideas may have been predominant at the time it was written doesn't mean we have to accept the book at face value now.
First of all, the four main characters are miserable assholes. The narrator, Edward, is the least offensive, but he's still a whiny doormat and says some pretty awful things about women. I don't have a problem with unlikable characters in general because they're often interesting and complex in ways that wholly likable ones are not. But I wanted all of these guys dead by the time the book ended (spoiler alert: they are not).
There are two named women, and they are both depicted horribly. The first chapter opens with Edward complaining about being friend-zoned by his longtime acquaintance, Gladys. I can't say that I blame her when he believes that "the bent head, the averted eye, the faltering voice, the wincing figure" are "the true signals of passion" in a woman. Doyle depicts Gladys as a shallow, selfish caricature who is reserving her love for a big, strong adventurer so that his glories "would be reflected upon [her]" and she would "be envied for him." The other female character, Professor Challenger's wife, Jessie, tells Edward that she knows how to keep her violent, hot-tempered husband in check. Yet, a chapter later, she chastises Challenger, and he proceeds to, literally, pick her up and place her, like a child, upon a pedestal he calls the "stool of penance," where he leaves her until she is forced to submit and beg for forgiveness. After this, women literally disappear until page 157 when Edward decides he wants to name a lake after Gladys. Despite her name barely crossing his mind in all the pages between. Despite hardly a single acknowledgment until then that women even exist. You could excise each and every reference to women without altering the book's story in any significant way.
And, oh boy, the racism. It's there from the start, but it ramps up the moment our heroes arrive in South America. They never listen to the advice of their indigenous companions because, as Challenger grumbles, it would be foolish "to trust the fallacious instincts of undeveloped savages rather than the highest product of modern European culture." All native peoples either fall into the vengeful and evil stereotype or the "noble savage" stereotype with absolutely no room for nuance.
Later, everyone but Edward is
It's hard to enjoy the book for the lighthearted adventure romp that it's supposed to be when it perpetuates such vile stereotypes. I've considered the possibility that the book is satirical or ironic or that it's simply a product of its times, but, if satire, it's way too heavily-veiled, and just because such ideas may have been predominant at the time it was written doesn't mean we have to accept the book at face value now.
adventurous
challenging
inspiring
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
One of the most pleasant aspects about reading adventures like those of Doyle, Wells, Kipling, and Haggard is the particular presence of the characters, their little joys and quarrels and concerns. There's this humorous self-awareness throughout the story that makes the whole thing read as if its being told, given over to the reader in a particular voice.
Certainly, this can be carried too far and made condescending, as with C.S. Lewis, but it goes to show what a winking authorial presence can lend to a work, especially to a melodrama adventure. Too often among the lesser class of 'thrilling' books, we get flat characters who are so profoundly competent and neutral that they lose any chance of possessing a personality.
It just goes to show that a good story, be it action or horror or what have you, still requires some humor, some wryness to inject suitable depth and humanity, just as a good comedy can profit from a bit of pathos and tension. Of course there are some rather insensitive colonial notions woven into it, which some readers are quick to forgive as being a 'symptom of the time', but a perusal of Wells shows that it was not an inextricable part of the Victorian man's mind.
The story's notions are delightful, made up of the sort of thing that can still fire up a young man's imagination today, and it's hardly surprising to see that they were picked up and elaborated upon by numerous later authors, most prominently in Burroughs' 'Tarzan' and 'The Land That Time Forgot'.
The latter book I actually read as a child and mistook for Doyle's work, and it was only recently that I realized and rectified my error, and I'm glad I did.
Certainly, this can be carried too far and made condescending, as with C.S. Lewis, but it goes to show what a winking authorial presence can lend to a work, especially to a melodrama adventure. Too often among the lesser class of 'thrilling' books, we get flat characters who are so profoundly competent and neutral that they lose any chance of possessing a personality.
It just goes to show that a good story, be it action or horror or what have you, still requires some humor, some wryness to inject suitable depth and humanity, just as a good comedy can profit from a bit of pathos and tension. Of course there are some rather insensitive colonial notions woven into it, which some readers are quick to forgive as being a 'symptom of the time', but a perusal of Wells shows that it was not an inextricable part of the Victorian man's mind.
The story's notions are delightful, made up of the sort of thing that can still fire up a young man's imagination today, and it's hardly surprising to see that they were picked up and elaborated upon by numerous later authors, most prominently in Burroughs' 'Tarzan' and 'The Land That Time Forgot'.
The latter book I actually read as a child and mistook for Doyle's work, and it was only recently that I realized and rectified my error, and I'm glad I did.
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
First sentence: "Mr. Hungerton, her father, really was the most tactless person upon earth, - a fluffy, feathery, untidy cockatoo of a man, perfectly good-natured, but absolutely centered upon his own silly self."
P. 99: "Indeed, they are children both, - the one wizened and cantankerous, the other formidable and overbearing, yet each with a brain which has put him in the front rank of his scientific age."
Last sentence: "Lord Roxton said nothing, but a brown hand was stretched out to me across the table."
Plot Summary (Wikipedia):
Edward Malone, a reporter for the Daily Gazette, goes to his news editor, McArdle, to get a dangerous and adventurous mission to impress the woman he loves, Gladys Hungerton. He is sent to interview Professor George Edward Challenger, who has assaulted four or five other journalists, to determine if his claims about his trip to South America are true. After assaulting Malone, Challenger reveals his discovery of dinosaurs in South America. After having been ridiculed for years, he invites Malone on a trip to prove his story, along with Professor Summerlee, another scientist qualified to examine any evidence, and Lord John Roxton, an adventurer who knows the Amazon and several years prior to the events of the book helped end slavery by robber barons in South America. They reach the plateau with the aid of Indian guides, who are superstitiously scared of the area. One of these Indians, Gomez, is the brother of a man that Roxton killed the last time he was in South America. When the expedition manages to get onto the plateau, Gomez destroys their bridge, trapping them. Their "devoted negro" Zambo remains at the base, but is unable to prevent the rest of the Indians from leaving.
Deciding to investigate the lost world, they are attacked by pterodactyls at a swamp, and Roxton finds some blue clay in which he takes a great degree of interest. After exploring the terrain and having a few misadventures in which the expedition narrowly misses being killed by dinosaurs, Challenger, Summerlee, and Roxton are captured by a race of ape-men . While in their village, they find out there is also a tribe of humans (calling themselves Accala) inhabiting the other side of the plateau with whom the ape-men (called Doda by the Accala) are constantly at war. Roxton manages to escape and team up with Malone to mount to a rescue. They arrive just in time to prevent the executions of the Professors and several other humans, who take them to the human tribe. With their help, they defeat the ape-men, taking control of the whole plateau.
After witnessing the power of their guns, the human tribe does not want the expedition to leave, and tries to keep them there. However, the team finally discovers a tunnel that leads to the outside, where they meet up with Zambo and a large rescue party. Upon returning to England, they present their report which include pictures and a newspaper report by Edward, which many dismiss like they did Challenger's original story. Having planned ahead, Challenger shows them a live pterodactyl as proof, which then escapes and flies out into the ocean. When the four of them have dinner, Roxton shows them why he was so interested in the blue clay. It contains diamonds, about £200,000 worth, to be split between them. Challenger opens a private museum, Summerlee retires to categorize fossils, and Roxton plans to go back to the lost world. Malone returns to his love, Gladys, only to find out that she married a clerk while he was away. With nothing keeping him in London, he volunteers to be part of Roxton's second trip.
I had never read anything else by Conan Doyle except for his Sherlock Holmes books, so to stumble upon this series of his about a professor Challenger was a nice surprise. The Lost World is the first in this series. Although completely fantasized the story was somehow believable and I enjoyed it very much.
P. 99: "Indeed, they are children both, - the one wizened and cantankerous, the other formidable and overbearing, yet each with a brain which has put him in the front rank of his scientific age."
Last sentence: "Lord Roxton said nothing, but a brown hand was stretched out to me across the table."
Plot Summary (Wikipedia):
Edward Malone, a reporter for the Daily Gazette, goes to his news editor, McArdle, to get a dangerous and adventurous mission to impress the woman he loves, Gladys Hungerton. He is sent to interview Professor George Edward Challenger, who has assaulted four or five other journalists, to determine if his claims about his trip to South America are true. After assaulting Malone, Challenger reveals his discovery of dinosaurs in South America. After having been ridiculed for years, he invites Malone on a trip to prove his story, along with Professor Summerlee, another scientist qualified to examine any evidence, and Lord John Roxton, an adventurer who knows the Amazon and several years prior to the events of the book helped end slavery by robber barons in South America. They reach the plateau with the aid of Indian guides, who are superstitiously scared of the area. One of these Indians, Gomez, is the brother of a man that Roxton killed the last time he was in South America. When the expedition manages to get onto the plateau, Gomez destroys their bridge, trapping them. Their "devoted negro" Zambo remains at the base, but is unable to prevent the rest of the Indians from leaving.
Deciding to investigate the lost world, they are attacked by pterodactyls at a swamp, and Roxton finds some blue clay in which he takes a great degree of interest. After exploring the terrain and having a few misadventures in which the expedition narrowly misses being killed by dinosaurs, Challenger, Summerlee, and Roxton are captured by a race of ape-men . While in their village, they find out there is also a tribe of humans (calling themselves Accala) inhabiting the other side of the plateau with whom the ape-men (called Doda by the Accala) are constantly at war. Roxton manages to escape and team up with Malone to mount to a rescue. They arrive just in time to prevent the executions of the Professors and several other humans, who take them to the human tribe. With their help, they defeat the ape-men, taking control of the whole plateau.
After witnessing the power of their guns, the human tribe does not want the expedition to leave, and tries to keep them there. However, the team finally discovers a tunnel that leads to the outside, where they meet up with Zambo and a large rescue party. Upon returning to England, they present their report which include pictures and a newspaper report by Edward, which many dismiss like they did Challenger's original story. Having planned ahead, Challenger shows them a live pterodactyl as proof, which then escapes and flies out into the ocean. When the four of them have dinner, Roxton shows them why he was so interested in the blue clay. It contains diamonds, about £200,000 worth, to be split between them. Challenger opens a private museum, Summerlee retires to categorize fossils, and Roxton plans to go back to the lost world. Malone returns to his love, Gladys, only to find out that she married a clerk while he was away. With nothing keeping him in London, he volunteers to be part of Roxton's second trip.
I had never read anything else by Conan Doyle except for his Sherlock Holmes books, so to stumble upon this series of his about a professor Challenger was a nice surprise. The Lost World is the first in this series. Although completely fantasized the story was somehow believable and I enjoyed it very much.
https://superfluousreading.wordpress.com/2019/04/17/the-lost-world-by-arthur-conan-doyle/
I listened to the audiobook narrated by Glen McCready--he was a fantastic narrator for this story. This book was written in 1912, and is still an enjoyable journey.
This was my choice for the category “Adventure Classic” in the 2016 Back to the Classic Challenge hosted by Karen on the blog Books and Chocolate. I am not a huge Holmes fan, but I thought this title looked like it would be fun. Unfortunately, I think I came to The Lost World a little too late to be able to suspend my disbelief and appreciate it; I recall feeling similarly about Dracula and Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. I think I sometimes channel my father who, while watching the movie Speed kept shouting at the TV “But a bus can’t do that!”. On the plus side, Michael Crichton wrote the introduction in the Modern Library edition that I read…who better to introduce a science fiction novel from the early 20th century about adventurers who discover an isolated spot in the amazon forest where dinosaurs still roam? However, back on the minus side, The Lost World is chock full of great white hunter, manifest destiny bull-hickey that maybe isn’t surprising in a book published in 1912, but still, it can be disconcerting for the modern reader.
adventurous
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
You know what? There was this moment towards the end, with the pterodactyl, where that little evil person inside of me chuckled out loud with happiness.
It was only for a moment, but it sure made me happy :)
It was only for a moment, but it sure made me happy :)