The Lost World is a thrilling adventure tale featuring delightfully quirky characters who venture into the depths of the Amazon jungle to unravel a significant scientific mystery. The novel is one of the last works written before World War I within the niche literary category known as "boys' books," which were specifically crafted for young adults. These "boys' books" aimed to provide young men with role models of bravery and integrity as they transitioned into adulthood.

While this literary subgenre might seem uninteresting, many "boys' books" like H. Rider Haggard's She (1887) are, in fact, highly entertaining. Conan Doyle, finding the conventions of "boys' books" unrealistic, filled The Lost World with characters who frequently argue and display various weaknesses and imperfections. The narrative never slows down; when high adventure is not taking center stage, a rich vein of comedy keeps readers engaged.