Lost Laysen [Hardcover]

Margaret Mitchell (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1, 1996

The only piece of fiction written by Margaret Mitchell other than Gone With The Wind, the most successful novel published this century.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Until 1995, Gone with the Wind--the 1937 Pulitzer Prize winner and perhaps the bestselling novel of all time--was the only published work of fiction credited to Margaret Mitchell. But 45 years after her death, the Road to Tara Museum unveiled what amounts to a national treasure--a novella written by America's most beloved storyteller. Lost Laysen is an exciting tale of love and honor on a South Pacific island. A rough-edged Irish boatsman is smitten with the feisty and independent Courtenay Ross. "Charley boy, I sure did love that little woman, I couldn't help it, tho I knew I never had a chance--she wasn't my kind. I wonder why it's always the little women that appeal to us big fellows?" Courtenay is engaged to a dapper young American who loves her so much, he follows her to the remote island of Laysen to persuade her to come home. What's so remarkable about this story is that Mitchell was just 16 when she put pen to paper and wrote the entire piece in less than a month's time.

Henry Love Angel, a close friend and likely admirer, was the recipient of the two notebooks in which the manuscript for Lost Laysen was written. It was Angel's grandson who discovered the amazing treasure that had been passed down to him--a box of photographs, negatives, correspondence from Mitchell to Angel, and the manuscript. "My dear--" begins one letter. "I was so proud of you, last time I saw you--proud of your love, your courage and resignation and most of all your self confidence. Don't let it drop my dear. I have prayed so hard that you would have it because without it you can never amount to much. With it and work, the world lies ahead. If ever you begin to get discouraged and lose confidence in your self--draw on my supply for I believe in you. Just set your mark and go to it." The never-before-seen photographs show Mitchell and a variety of friends goofing for the camera. This book provides charming insight into a brief period of Mitchell's life--one full of youthful folly, exuberance, and obvious joy. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

This recently discovered tale of love in the South Pacific, published to coincide with the 60th anniversary of Gone with the Wind, was written when Mitchell was 16.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 127 pages
• Publisher: Orion; 1ST edition (May 1, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0752804820
• ISBN-13: 978-0752804828
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 5.5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,694,295 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Cannot compare to "Gone with the wind", February 27, 2006

By 

Dolly - See all my reviews

This review is from: Lost Laysen (Paperback)

Having read and re-read "Gone with the Wind", I desperately wanted to read other books by Margaret Mitchell, and was thoroughly disappointed to learn that it was the only work by the author, until I discovered "Lost Laysen".

But after having read it, which, didn't take me more than a half hour, I was disappointed even more. The book contains a few letters between Margaret Mitchell and her Beau, Henry Love Angel, and several pictures. In the correspondence, Margaret comes across as a somewhat selfish lover with almost no feelings for Henry and in almost every letter, asks Henry to run some or the other errand for her. The pictures are interesting, though. Apart from the letters and pictures is a story written by Margaret when she was sixteen, which she later presented to Henry. The story ends almost before it begins. It's about a "Miss Ross", and her experiences on board a small ship called "Caliban".

Margaret Mitchell has an astounding number of fans throughout the world and I feel, this book is NOT AT ALL something they'd like associating their much-loved writer with. It almost spoils her image, if I may say so.

The overwhelming emotion you are left with, after having finished the book is, disappointment, in capital letters.

I will not recommend the book to anyone, let alone Margaret Mitchell lovers.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Sad but Wonderful, July 19, 2001

By 

sam (West Jordan, UT USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Lost Laysen (Paperback)

I found this book quite by accident. I was so excited I read it all through my favorite class, art. Later on a school bus, I was a freshman, I read the story itself in a half hour. By the end of the story I was crying so hard my shop teacher wondered what was wrong. I loved it! It was great the way the heroine chose to keep what she held precious even in the face of danger. I also loved the letters between Mitchell and Henry Love Angel that compose the first half of the book. Especially the letter about the train ride and the soldier's coffin. That is probably one of the best forms of symbolism I have ever read.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars good first effort from a very young writer, August 3, 2009

By 

M. Jurmain (Wisconsin) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Lost Laysen (Paperback)

When judged against Gone With The Wind, this book (really more of a short story) fares badly, but you have to keep in mind the youth and inexperience of the author. I found the plot trite, the main character more annoying than inspiring, and the ending unbelievable. And yes, there's an obvious racist slant. If the story weren't written by Margaret Mitchell, I doubt it would ever have seen the light of day. However, it's worth a read to see how even the best writers start with amateurish efforts. If nothing else, it shows aspiring writers that there's hope if they persevere. GWTW is a magnificant achievement, and this book can't take away from that.