The Lost EstateThe Lost Estate
Score Classic
What it's about
François, the shy son of a village schoolteacher in rural France, is fifteen when a tall, adventurous boy named Augustin Meaulnes arrives at the school. Meaulnes runs off one day, gets lost, and stumbles into a strange, magical party at a mysterious old estate, where he meets a beautiful girl, Yvonne. He spends years trying to find his way back.
Why it's worth reading
It's on Le Monde's list of the books of the century. It's a haunting, romantic novel about the end of childhood. Its author was killed in the First World War.
You'll love it if you liked
The Great Gatsby
I Capture the Castle
The Catcher in the RyeGood to know
It's short and dreamy. The later parts are sadder.
By the numbers
- Readers3 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics0 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Bestseller21 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #459 of the 459 fantasy books we rank
- #762 of the 762 classics we rank
- #2816 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Moving
If you like this, read next
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn
The Hobbit
The Bone People
Magician
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Quick answers
Is The Lost Estate worth reading?
Yes. It's on Le Monde's list of the books of the century. It ranks #2,816 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 50.0 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is The Lost Estate about?
François, the shy son of a village schoolteacher in rural France, is fifteen when a tall, adventurous boy named Augustin Meaulnes arrives at the school. Meaulnes runs off one day, gets lost, and stumbles into a strange, magical party at a mysterious old estate, where he meets a beautiful girl, Yvonne. He spends years trying to find his way back.
How long does it take to read The Lost Estate?
About 6 hours (227 pages), or about 2 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after The Lost Estate?
If you liked it, try The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith or The Catcher in the Rye by J. D. Salinger.