Lost World (version 2)

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (1859-1930) is best known as the creator of Sherlock Holmes, but he wrote across many genres, from historical novels to science fiction. The Lost World, published in 1912, introduced Professor George Edward Challenger, a scientist of formidable temper and enormous self-confidence, who became the hero of several further adventures. The novel is a landmark of early adventure fiction and has inspired books, films and television series for more than a century.

The story is narrated by a young journalist who, partly to impress the woman he admires, volunteers for a dangerous assignment. His account of the expedition takes in the preparations in London, the long journey up a South American river and the discoveries that await the party on the high plateau. Doyle's gift for pace and for vivid description is evident throughout, and his characters, especially the argumentative Professor Challenger, have a vitality that has kept them in the popular imagination.

The book was written at a time when many parts of the world still seemed unexplored, and it plays on the public fascination with new discoveries about prehistoric life. It also reflects the attitudes of its era, and some of its descriptions of people and places may seem dated to modern listeners. The sense of wonder, however, remains remarkable.

This is the second LibriVox version of the novel, read by Mark F. Smith. It lasts around eight hours and twenty-five minutes and is divided into sixteen files. Chapter titles such as There Are Heroisms All Round Us and Try Your Luck with Professor Challenger set a lively tone from the beginning.