Dating The Lost World
Dating The Lost World is an article written by Dana Martin Batory published in the A.C.D. - The Journal of The Arthur Conan Doyle Society (Vol. 10, may 2000).
This article determines the most likely dating of The Lost World by analyzing internal clues in the novel against external historical references. It concludes that the main expedition took place in 1908 and provides a detailed reconstructed timeline of the events in the story.
Dating The Lost World
This article was one of the few things I managed to salvage from my Annotated Lost World, a massive, definitive edition, which was to have been published by Jack Tracy of Gaslight Publications. until his untimely death in a traffic accident in 1996 ended the project. Unfortunately, the camera-ready manuscript and photographs, though a diligent search was made, were never found among his effects, and are probably lost for ever. All that remains is a carbon copy of the very first draft.
When I began work on that annotated version of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's classic science fiction novel, The Lost World (1912), one of the first and biggest problems I faced was determining a date for the story.
Conan Doyle was fairly straightforward in supplying scattered clues but, even so, some remain in a fog of uncertainty. But then, one should not expect precise clockwork accuracy from an author writing an exciting adventure novel. Conan Doyle indicated such a state of affairs in an interview he granted to A. St. John Adcock for The Bookman (November 1912):
- I have had the one humble idea to have a story to tell, to tell it as clearly as I could, never to be redundant or to wander from the line, and to interest others by trying so far as possible to write about the things which interest myself. It is a simple rule of life, and I have had no other. I have been an omnivorous and rapid. reader all my life, with a fairly retentive memory for general facts, though not a very good one for accurate detail.
A sound basis for solving any mystery is to follow the deductive method, working backwards from the known to the unknown, step by step. Constructing a chronology of the events involved three stages: determining the year, the month, and the first day. Naturally, all these dove-tailed into one another and required a constant shifting of dates until all the facts fitted as well as possible. A lot of logical analysis and a bit of plain guesswork was necessary to make sense out of the welter of information given by Conan Doyle.
In preparing any chronology, one key date has to be identified and selected; that can then be used as a reference point from which to work backwards and forwards. The pivotal date is given in Chapter VII, 'The Outlying Pickets of the New World'. This chapter gives month, day, and date the only such combination in the entire novel. From this, the year of the George Edward Challenger Expedition can be calculated. 'By the afternoon of that day', writes reporter Edward Dunn Malone, my pocket diary shows me that it was Tuesday, August 18th at least six or seven drums were throbbing from various points.'
August 18th fell on a Tuesday in 1896 and 1908, the only years reasonable for the facts given, or implied, by the characters. The former is a little too early for at least three reasons: Malone, though he had promised Professor Challenger to delay publication, would hardly have waited until 1912 (some sixteen years) to have his account published; Lord John Roxton mentions he had already tried his hand at piloting airplanes (the Wright Brothers flew in 1903); and the book Extinct Animals written by Sir Edwin Ray Lankester, and shown to Malone by Challenger in his London study, was published in 1906.
Therefore, 1908 seems the best, for it follows two of these. conditions, and only four years separate the year of the expedition from the date of publication. These four years would have given Malone and Challenger ample time to edit the reporter's notes and attempt to eliminate, or confuse, any clues as to where prehistoric Maple White Land was actually located.
There have been at least two previous attempts to date The Lost World. T. S. Blakeney, in 'Some Disjecta Membra' (The Sherlock Holmes Journal 4:3 (Winter 1959), 101-2), dated it as 1906; he arrived at his choice following his disagreement with an earlier dating, that by Ray Kierman in 'A Shocking Affair' (The Baker Street Journal 2:2 (April 1952), 103-7), which had attempted to link The Lost World with the affair of the Dutch Steamship Friesland, and the chronology of 'The Adventure of the Norwood Builder' (his argument being based on the sighting of the pterodactyl by the Dutch-American liner S.S. Friesland, as mentioned in the final chapter of The Lost World). [See W. S. Baring-Gould. The Annotated Sherlock Holmes, II:415n.]
Malone's momentous meeting with Gladys Hungerton — which drives him to seek adventure, he tells us took place on a 'foggy November evening'. That same evening, Malone sends a letter to Challenger, asking for an interview the day after tomorrow [Wednesday] morning'. Later, we are told that the expedition finally left England for South America in late spring.
A careful examination of The Times of London for November 1907 describes Monday 11 November as being foggy with a calm wind. The high for the day was 46 degrees, dropping to 37 degrees by evening. Given these two key dates, one can go through the methodical process of assigning a day-by-day chronology.
There are only three places where the chronology conflicts with a strict reading of the data given by Conan Doyle. These can be suitably reconciled:
According to Malone: 'On the third day out', after leaving an Indian village, they hear drums threatening to kill them. This would be Sunday, 9 August 1908; but a few paragraphs later Malone informs us with dead certainty that it is Tuesday, 18 August. It would seem more likely that it was on their eleventh day out (18 August) that the drums began. In the author's opinion this was a deliberate mistake made to confuse possible back-trackers, and would throw out anyone proposing to follow by over a week.
Lord John, during his first meeting with Malone, tells him about his self-declared war against 'the Peruvian slave-drivers three years ago' and his killing of Pedro Lopez, 'the king of them all'. By Lord John's reckoning it was 1904, yet later Gomez Lopez says to Lord John: ""As you lie dying, think of Lopez, whom you shot five years ago on the Putomayo River." By Gomez's calculation, Lopez was killed in 1903. It is safe to say that the revenge-filled Gomez would not mistake the year of his brother's 'murder'. Obviously what has happened is that Lord John killed Lopez in late November or December 1903, and he has subsequently rounded the date off to the next year. Lord John would hardly bother his mind over exactly when he had exterminated a swine like Lopez.
Once on the summit of the plateau, the expedition observes a group of dinosaurs. "August the twenty-eighth", says Challenger, "the day we saw five live iguanodons in a glade of Maple White Land. Put it down in your diary, my young friend, and send it to your rag."
But Challenger is wrong. The date cannot be 28 August. On the 28th the expedition had only just finished a six-mile hike from their canoes, with almost six more days of marching ahead of them. The date is 11 September, the day after reaching the summit. Another deliberate miscalculation, meant to confuse.
Besides these conflicts, there are several mysterious gaps in the chronology, about which little or nothing is said. These blanks tease the imagination, but speculations about them are beyond the present article.
Chronology of The Lost World
1842
Professor Summerlee born.
1862
Lord John Roxton born.
1863
Professor George Edward Challenger born.
1884
Edward Dunn Malone born.
1892
Professor Challenger becomes British Museum Assistant.
1893
Professor Challenger becomes Assistant-Keeper of Comparative Anthropology; resigns after acrimonious correspondence.
1902
Lord John declares war against villainous Peruvian slave-drivers and arms private army of runaway slaves.
1903
Lord John ends war by killing the notorious half-breed Pedro Lopez, king of the slavers, in a backwater of the Putomayo River.
1904
American poet, artist, and explorer, Maple White, and friend James. Colver, visit Rosario, Brazil. White lunches with Fra Cristofero.
1905
Professor Challenger makes solo expedition to South America. White and Colver discover lost prehistoric world. Colver is captured and murdered by ape-men. White escapes. Very late that year, Challenger is asked to tend a dying White at an Indian village. White dies. The contents of his sketch-book send Challenger back into the jungle. Challenger and two guides reach the isolated plateau discovered by White and Colver. Challenger photographs and shoots a pterodactyl. His evidence is almost totally destroyed in rapids.
1906
Challenger returns to London and begins to tell of his discovery. He is disbelieved and becomes so touchy that he assaults anyone who asks questions.
1907
Earthquake destroys tunnel leading up to the lost world.
Wednesday, 23 October
Lord John returns from big-game hunting in Uganda and takes a lease on a place in Scotland. The same month, Malone reports Wigan coal explosion and helps in rescue efforts. Professor Challenger attacks a visitor.
Monday, 11 November
Malone proposes to Gladys Hungerton: she encourages him to attempt some great deed worthy of her love. McArdle, News-Editor of The Daily Gazette, assigns him to interview Professor Challenger. Malone meets Tarp Henry at the Savage Club; mails request for interview.
Tuesday, 12 November
Lord John's upstairs neighbour and friend, Sir John Ballinger, gentleman jockey, becomes dangerously delirious from a drinking binge.
Wednesday, 13 November
Lord John overpowers Sir John and packs him off to hospital. Malone visits Professor Challenger. After a brief street brawl, Challenger invites Malone back inside the house and tells him of his South American discovery. Malone agrees to attend Percival Waldron's lecture at the Zoological Institute. That evening Challenger relates his story and volunteers are requested from the audience to put his claims. to the test. Malone, Lord John, and Professor Summerlee agree to travel to South America. Afterwards, Malone visits Lord John at the Albany. That night Malone informs McArdle of his decision. Thursday, 14 November
Sir George Beaumont, Chief Editor of The Daily Gazette agrees to Malone being their representative. The paper tries three times to contact Professor Challenger. The third is the last time: he shatters the receiver.
1908
May
Professor Summerlee, Lord John, and Malone sail from Southampton aboard the Booth Liner Francisca bound for Para, Brazil, after receiving sealed orders from Professor Challenger. Sunday, 28 June
Professor Summerlee, Lord John, and Malone arrive in Para. During their week's stay, Pereira da Pinta helps them collect equipment and supplies. Zambo, Gomez, and Manuel are hired as servants, as well as three Mojo Indians.
Saturday, 4 July
The expedition leaves Para and begins the four day journey up the Amazon to Manaos, Brazil, on the Rio Negro.
Wednesday, 8 July
The expedition arrives in Manaos. Here they are the guests of Mr Shortman, representative of the British and Brazlian Trading Co. During the next few days, Lord John charters the steam launch Esmeralda.
Wednesday, 15 July
Lord John opens Professor Challenger's sealed instructions. Challenger arrives unexpectedly to lead the expedition personally. Thursday, 16 July
The expedition leaves Manaos and travels further up the Rio Negro. Monday, 20 July
The expedition turns into the Rio Branco, a tributary of the Rio Negro.
Wednesday, 22 July
The expedition reaches an Indian village on the Rio Branco and Challenger swears the party to secrecy.
Sunday, 2 August
The Esmeralda is sent back to Manaos. During the next few days, two large canoes are hired and loaded with equipment. Professor Challenger's two former guides, Ataca and Ipetu, are employed.
Thursday, 6 August
Gomez is caught spying on the Englishmen and tries to knife Zambo. They are forced to shake hands.
Friday, 7 August
The expedition leaves the Indian village and continues up the Rio. Branco.
Tuesday, 18 August
Continuing up the Rio Branco, the expedition hears native signal drums threatening their lives. They spend the night moored in mid-stream.
Wednesday, 19 August
The expedition encounters the rapids that destroyed Challenger's evidence, and makes a dangerous portage. They again moor in mid-stream for the night.
Thursday, 20 August
The expedition leaves the Rio Branco and enters the secret stream leading towards the lost world.
Sunday, 23 August
Lord John and Malone scout ahead and find they can take the canoes. no further. The canoes are hidden and the expedition starts off overland. A quarrel over the carrying of an aneroid barometer almost ends the expedition.
Tuesday, 25 August
The expedition finds the woods becoming thinner.
Wednesday, 26 August
The expedition encounters signs of Challenger's old campsite.
Thursday, 27 August
The expedition begins crossing a rock-studded slope.
Friday, 28 August
The expedition finishes crossing the slope and continues onwards and upward.
Tuesday, 1 September
Malone reckons the expedition has now hiked some 120 miles since. leaving the canoes. They encounter an immense thicket of bamboo, taking all day to pass through.
Wednesday, 2 September
The expedition begins hiking across an open plain and sights what Professor Challenger claims to be a pterodactyl. The strange plateau is glimpsed for the first time. Jose is injured and sent back with a letter and rough map prepared by Malone.
Thursday, 3 September
The expedition pitches camp directly beneath the plateau cliffs. Friday, 4 September
They decide to explore along the cliff base westwards. Evidence of White's camp is found and trail blazes. The skeleton of Colver is discovered in a bamboo thicket. They locate the tunnel used by White and Colver, but it is blocked. Gomez and Manuel attempt to kill Lord. John with boulder. The expedition marches 22 miles. Their evening meal is stolen by a pterodactyl.
Saturday, 5 September
The expedition continues westward. The country alternates between stony desert and desolate swamp.
Wednesday, 9 September
The expedition completes its circuit of the cliffs. They are lost for a solution for reaching the summit.
Thursday, 10 September
Professor Challenger directs that a beech tree be felled on a nearby pinnacle, creating a bridge. He is first across, followed by Professor Summerlee, Malone, and Lord John. Gomez and Manuel destroy the bridge, stranding the expedition. Lord John shoots and kills Gomez. Zambo breaks Manuel's neck.
Friday, 11 September
The expedition makes its first venture into the strange land. A new species of tick is discovered. The Indians abandon the expedition. Zambo promises to remain. Fort Challenger is built. Professor Challenger renames the lost world Maple White Lane. In a glade they see five live Iguanodons. A rookery of pterodactyls is discovered, and they are attacked and nearly killed when Challenger disturbs the birds. They discover that Fort Challenger has been invaded. Lord John ponders the blue clay found at the rookery.
Saturday, 12 September
An infection from the bites and stabs of the pterodactyls keeps the expedition in camp. Fort Challenger is strengthened. Malone has the impression they are being watched. That night a battle between two dinosaurs takes place in a glade. A toad-like dinosaur attacks Fort Challenger and is driven off by Lord John. A nightly watch is set. Sunday, 13 September
The expedition examines the carnage about the glade. They map a small portion of Maple White Land. They observe a small herd of Iguanodons and an Irish Elk. Malone climbs gingko tree to make chart of the land. While climbing he is startled by an ape-man. The first map of Maple White Land is drawn up. Malone names central lake 'Lake Gladys'. Malone makes late solo noctural journal to lake. He discovers bubbling tar-pit, and also sights the caves of the Accala Indians.
Monday, 14 September
Malone begins his journey back to camp at half-past two in the morning. He is stalked and nearly killed by one of the toad-like dinosaurs. An old animal trap saves his life. He later hears a rifle. shot. Lord John shoots an ape-man, but he and the others are taken. prisoner. Malone contacts Zambo. One of the Indians has returned and will carry a message. The ape-men capture a dozen Accala Indians. Professors Challenger and Summerlee and Lord John watch the ritual execution of the Indians. Malone spends day preparing message. The Indian leaves with it. Malone spends night in Fort Challenger.
Tuesday, 15 September
Lord John overpowers ape-man guard and escapes to Fort Challenger. Malone is awakened, and they flee with guns, ammo, and food. Ape-men search parties are out. Lord John and Malone make their way to the ape-man village and lay siege to it, killing several, including their king. The Professors are rescued. They return to Fort Challenger, where they are joined by surviving Accalas, including Maretas, the chief's son. They abandon Fort Challenger and retreat to brushwood thicket. They decide to head for the Indian caves. Wednesday, 16 September
The ape-men locate their hiding-place. An Indian is killed while filling a water tin. Malone is nearly strangled by an ape-man lying in ambush. Lord John saves him. They march to Lake Gladys and meet a rescue/revenge party sent out by the Indians. A war council is held. Maretas asks for a deciding battle. The expedition agrees to help. A bivouac is made. Challenger discovers a gaseous geyser. The expedition explores the shoreline. The Professors discover a freshwater plesiosaur. Reinforcements arrive during the night.
Thursday, 17 September
At dawn the military expedition sets out, and is soon attacked. The Indians hold their own in the open, but are nearly defeated among the woods. Professor Summerlee is almost killed. The Englishmen's rifles turn the tide and the ape-men panic. The Indians are left to mop up. The expedition rejoins them at the ape-man village, just in time to see the remaining adult males executed. The expedition returns to Fort Challenger for supplies, and calms a terrified Zambo. The surviving ape-folk are established as slaves near the Indian caves.
Saturday, 19 September
The expedition moves its camp to below the Indian caves.
Tuesday, 22 September
Two of the toad-like dinosaurs are disturbed in their lair and attack the Indian caves. Several Indians are killed. Lord John's and Malone's rifles are useless. Poisoned Indian arrows do the job. That night the bodies are cut up and removed to prevent pestilence. The hearts are left behind and continue to beat.
Friday, 25 September
The dinosaur hearts stop beating
Friday, 9 October
Malone visits the old camp for the second time in three weeks. Zambo assures him that help will arrive soon.
Saturday, 10 October
Malone discovers Lord John wandering about with a wooden cage. Lord John captures a pterodactyl chick for Professor Challenger, and digs up several rough diamonds, unbeknownst to the others.
Mid-October
Challenger experiments with home-made gas balloon. That night Maretas reveals the only remaining exit from Maple White Land. The next evening the expedition escapes, arriving early the following morning at Zambo's camp, to discover the arrival of a relief expedition. They begin the journey home.
Thursday, 5 November
The expedition arrives back in Southampton. That evening Lord John takes the diamonds to Spink's to be rough cut and appraised.
Friday, 6 November
Malone visits Gladys and discovers that she has married. Lake Gladys becomes 'Central Lake'.
Saturday, 7 November
The expedition's report is given at Queen's Hall. Professor Challenger unveils his pterodactyl and it subsequently escapes. The expedition members are given a hero's parade through the London streets. Private Miles is frightened from his guard post by a flying 'devil'.
Sunday, 8 November
The parade breaks up shortly after midnight, and the four are deposited at Lord John's quarters. At 9 a.m. the S.S. Friesland sights the pterodactyl heading for South America and home.
Thursday, 12 November
Professors Challenger and Summerlee and Malone have a late dinner at Lord John's. He shows them the diamonds he collected, worth £200,000. Each is given an equal share. Lord John and Malone plan another expedition to Maple White Land.
- Article courtesy Christopher Roden, founder of The Arthur Conan Doyle Society (1989-2003).
