Arthur Conan Doyle – The Lost World
August 27th, 2010 by James Staynings
The novel that brought dinosaurs back to life way before Spielberg’s directed Jurassic Park…
First of all, I need to say sorry that it’s taken me a while to write a new review. I had a small creative breakdown and after a month’s hiatus I haven’t been able to stop writing since. Secondly, I’m going to stick to my promise and move away from the horror genre for the summer. I want to avoid associating the genre with topless hunky werewolves and Kelly Brook in a bikini, so instead I’m going to gradually move away with a series of reviews on some more classic books starting with…The Lost World, a novel which follows an adventure-hungry reporter who joins an expedition hoping to prove the existence of prehistoric life on a isolated plateau in the Amazon.
It’s a journey of pure adventure through well crafted storytelling…but if you want a novel that looks at things on a deeper level and with flowery poetics, this may not be your thing. In terms of his writing style, Doyle doesn’t deliver memorable metaphors in order to be a master of the English language. Imagination is really all that’s needed to visualize the sights and sounds of the plateau. Another negative aspect of the book is that his main characters are – unfortunately – either underdeveloped or caricatures.
The novel’s protagonist and narrator, Edward Malone is an ‘Everyman’, in the sense that his adventure is both to prove his worthiness to the woman he loves and to prove to himself he is a man, as well as…well actually, that’s the only side you see of him. One of the two scientists in the novel, Professor Challenger, is an angry but brilliant mind who at first seems to be completely hyperbolic but towards the end of the book is proved to be a scientific genius. He is probably the most developed character. His foil, and the second scientist however, Professor Summerlee, just appears to be a stereotype for which Doyle uses to empathise Challengers defiant nature. Finally, the way the physical leader of the group, Lord Roxton is described both in his actions and by Malone’s awe-inspired narrative of him portrays the man as an alpha male he-man with such passion and repetition that modern readers either see him as a Mary-Sue or begin to sense something a little more homoerotic.
Yet the lack of character development and poetic metaphor is more than made up for by the amazing world which Doyle crafts on the plateau. It shows that a writer doesn’t need to use much figurative language or poetic phrases to create a vivid picture of this lost world. Sometimes it’s better if you’re allowed to imagine how remarkable a landscape might be than simple having the author tell you exactly what’s there, down to the last detail. Another achievement which Doyle’s narrative somehow manages is keeping the story grounded and realistic to the point where although some of the book’s scientific reasoning is now outdated, it was perfectly believable to imagine these dinosaurs had survived, as well as the obstacles faced by the group.
Another thing which may seem hard to believe is that there are another set of inhabitants on the plateau, whose interaction with the explorers somehow manages to overshadow the pre-historic beasts they live with. There are two humanoid groups on the plateau, a tribe of native Indians and a kingdom of wild ape-men who have both been fighting to eliminate one other. The explorers are worshipped by the Indians as Gods and here it seems Doyle might be exploring the nature of man and showing how far we have come considering Britain’s Industrial Revolution, or maybe commenting on how man has always been able to tame nature for his purposes. (Cue critical theory hat – Ed). The latter for me this is best shown by how Malone notes the tar stuck on all members of a group of Iguanodon – who they later find out are used like cattle by the natives. It’s a clever idea and a small touch that really adds to the atmosphere of intelligence and wonder at this ancient and isolated culture of inhabitants.
I still question whether the novel’s popularity and influence are more to do with the way it is written or the ideas it holds, but either way I think it’s still a wonderful read, and Doyle is certainly an imaginative and confident writer. For me having watched numerous adaptations of this book, it seems you can only experience the true sense of adventure through the original text. The book may be purely an adventure novel, but someone with a keen eye might find it also compares two snapshots of human history, maybe even shows the resourcefulness and thrill-seeking nature of man…or you might just find it’s a book about men being men in the middle of a jungle with no women…
I’m not suggesting the book has homoerotic undertones between Roxton and Malone, like some believe exists with some of Doyle’s other famous characters *cough(Sherlock Holmes and Watson)cough* but who really knows.
Well, I suppose one man does, but since he’s dead it’s difficult to ask him.
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Oh, this book was such an exciting read way back when I first read it. Men were Men! Dinosaurs were Dinosaurs! And High Adventure was all you needed to spark a rainy afternoon.
Doyle did like to compare opposites, and the idea of would modern man survive in the world of yesterday is great food for thought.
As for Doyle does seem to have some “undertones” that we may never figure out. But it’s fun to speculate. 9-)
Thanks for the memory, I will have to go back and read this one again.