Description
The idea of a hidden refuge, a paradise far from the stresses of modern life, has universal appeal. In 1932 the writer James Hilton coined the word 'Shangri-La' to describe such a place, when he gave that name to a hidden valley in the Himalayas in his novel LOST HORIZON.
In THE SEARCH FOR SHANGRI-LA acclaimed traveller and writer Charles Allen explores the myth behind the story. He tracks down the sources that Hilton drew upon in writing his popular romance, and then sets out to discover what lies behind the legend that inspired him. In the course of a lively and amusing account of his four journeys into Tibet, Allen also gives us a controversial new reading of the country's early history, shattering our notions of Tibet as a Buddhist paradise and restoring the mysterious pre-Buddhist religion of Bon to its rightful place in Tibetan culture. He also locates the lost kingdom of Shang-shung and, in doing so, the original Shangri-La itself: in an astounding gorge beyond the Himalayas, full of extraordinary ruins.
About the Author
Charles Allen is an oral and military historian, and the author of several bestselling books on colonial themes. He lives in Hampstead.
Reviews
A thought-provoking work, filled with unusual links and ideas that deserve to be explored -- Patrick French * The Sunday Times *
Retells the adventures of kings and seers, shamans and deities, handling the tales of war, triumph and defeat with mastery -- Tahir Shah * The Literary Review *
Book Information
ISBN 9780349111421
Author Charles Allen
Format Paperback
Page Count 320
Imprint Abacus
Publisher Little, Brown Book Group
Weight(grams) 402g
Dimensions(mm) 203mm * 127mm * 19mm
