Lost Horizon - mystery.

[Kablooie]

I just finished Lost Horizon. It was pretty good but there is a mystery I can't figure out at the end.
It was published in 1933 but at the end it mentions the German air raids of London, Japan attacking Shanghai and Americans training to fly against the "Japs".

How could these be mentioned in a 1933 book? Hitler was just made chancellor that year.
I couldn't find any reference of a rewrite and every edition I checked had the same text.

Anyone know how this came to be?

[TexasProgresive]

1. The answer may be that Hilton was an astute reader of the times

It was hoped that the "Great War" was the war to end all wars but the industrialization of Japan and the fears that Germany would once again attempt to dominate Europe clouded the minds of many. The advances in the development of aircraft as transport and weapon platforms could easily inspire a fertile imagination in their use in a new great war.

Now here's another book on my list- I should live so long! Thanks

[getting old in mke]

2. I love such things

I went looking and Wikipedia has an article on German air raids on London via zeppelin in World War I. Who knew? (Well, someone, obviously, but not me!)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_strategic_bombing_during_World_War_I

[Curmudgeoness]

3. Regarding Japan attacking Shanghai,

The January 28 Incident (January 28 – March 3, 1932) was a short war between the armies of the Republic of China and the Empire of Japan, before official hostilities of the Second Sino-Japanese War commenced in 1937.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Shanghai_Incident

It looks like the first attack occurred in 1932. I learned something new today, between this and the air raids on London during WWI.

[FSogol]

4. Awesome book. (Great movie by Frank Capra too.) n/t

[closeupready]

5. I read that book a few years ago, and enjoyed it.

I'm not sure I recall that part - I do recall references to ongoing warfare in 'the civilized world', and this was part of why Shangri-La's peacefulness was considered so special by those from countries who had been warring for many decades.