The Lost Steps

by Alejo Carpentier
The Lost Steps cover
Good Books rating 3.17
Literary Fiction
Technical:
  • ID: 1735
  • Added: 2025-10-08
  • Updated: 2025-10-08
  • ISBN: 9780525505686
  • Publisher: Penguin
  • Published: 2023-09-12
  • Formats: 1
  • Reviews: 3
Buy online
Waterstones
Paperback • £14.00

Dissatisfied with his unfulfilling life in New York City, a cultured aspiring composer abandons his corporate job to join a university-sponsored expedition to South America. His mission is to find indigenous musical instruments in one of the last untouched areas of the world. As he retreats from modernity, he embarks on a voyage of self-discovery, searching for the essence of what it means to be human. This novel, by Cuba's most important twentieth-century novelist, is a profound exploration of the tension between civilization and primitivism, art and life. It is presented here in a new English translation, reintroducing readers to a giant of Latin American fiction.

Reviews
The StoryGraph · 2025-10-08
phenomenal 2.50

The writing and translation are phenomenal, but the story itself feels lackluster. The reviewer appreciates the wordplay and beauty of the language.

The reviewer on The StoryGraph praises the writing and translation of The Lost Steps, giving it high marks for its literary merit. However, they feel that the story itself falls short, with only a 2.5-star rating for the narrative. The reviewer particularly enjoys the wordplay and the beauty of the language, which they describe as phenomenal. Despite the weaknesses in the plot, the reviewer finds the writing to be a standout feature of the book. It's a book that might appeal more to those who appreciate the art of writing over a tightly woven plot.

Quick quotes

    5 stars for the writing but 2.5 stars for the story.

    Carpentier's wordplay, and equally West's beautiful translation, were phenomenal.

    My personal favourite aspect was the language and the way it was translated.

Complete Review · 2024-03-06
beautiful 4.00

The novel is beautifully written, with lush prose that enhances its themes, despite some obvious lessons. The reviewer appreciates Carpentier's literary and musical references.

The reviewer from Complete Review highlights the lush writing and the beautiful prose of The Lost Steps. They note that while some of the lessons in the novel might be a bit obvious, the way Carpentier weaves literary and musical references into the story makes it a compelling read. The reviewer seems to enjoy the depth and richness of the narrative, even if the themes are not particularly subtle. It's clear that the writing style is a major strength of the book, making it a worthwhile read for those who appreciate intricate and descriptive storytelling.

Quick quotes

    Yes, The Lost Steps is a bit obvious in its lessons, but it's still beautifully done -- not least thanks to Carpentier's lush writing and ...

    The novel is replete with literary and musical references.

    The lush writing and the beautiful prose make it a compelling read.

Occasional Review · 2007-07-24
good 3.00

The story is good but feels clichéd by today's standards, and the ending is abrupt. The reviewer finds the journey of self-discovery engaging.

The reviewer from Occasional Review finds The Lost Steps to be a good story overall, though they note that some elements might feel clichéd by modern standards. The journey of self-discovery and the imaginative descriptions are highlights for the reviewer. However, they criticize the abrupt ending, which they find jarring. Despite this, the reviewer appreciates the depth of the narrative and the meditations on history and culture. It's a book that offers a lot to think about, even if it doesn't always execute its ideas perfectly.

Quick quotes

    Good story that may seem full of clichés (by today's standards, but doubt they were when written).

    The ending was abrupt and left me wanting more.

    The journey of self-discovery and realisation filled with fanciful, highly imaginative descriptions.

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