[The] combination of straightforward adventure with the shadow of a dream is one which has often been tried in literature, with varying degrees of success. "Lost Horizon" is one of the most notable of the recent books of this type; "An Old Captivity" is less impressive, but is still an excellent example of what an imaginative author can do to satisfy some readers' predilection for swift-paced action, while he appeals at the same time to an audience fond of a more subtle and provocative narrative.

The one who likes adventure will perhaps be the better rewarded. Seldom has a story of an airplane flight been more vividly and expertly delineated. From the moment of the takeoff from Southampton, the vicissitudes of the strangely assorted crew provide a narrative of increasing suspense….

The coincident theme, dealing with the pilot's psychological adventure, so to speak, is a blend of fantasy...