Lost Horizon by James Hilton serves as the genesis of the legendary Shangri-La, a beautiful utopian oasis sequestered from the earthly horrors of poverty, war, and dissipation. For those in a war-torn world full of fear and strife, the Shangri-La might seem like an alluring escape and a true paradise. However, would such an oasis really be a utopia, or would it be a prison? The answer to this question lies within the narrative.

The story begins with three friends having dinner in Berlin when o...