I found this book interesting in many ways. It was easy to read since it touched many subjects that are familiar to me. The book covers historic facts of the Victorian age and its influence in the world but specially South America and the countries of Bolivia and Brazil whose Amazonian region was and is difficult to explore or study. It is well balanced since the book covers many areas that help understand different points of view of previous times compared to present times. I found answers to questions that come up as you read this book. For instance, to refer to the tribes that populate the Amazonian forests as savages, made me question who is anyone to judge, specially after the atrocities of WWI, described in the book as well as all the inhuman spectacle of WW2. Also, it explains what was happening in the areas related to the fields he got to be involved in like archeology and the discovery of Machu Pichu which may have influenced him.
Fawcett’s motivations could have been banal if they were glory or becoming famous but he showed an ethical position not usual in his time which was to approach the indigenous people in a non violent way, trying not to use arms and ordering to drop arms even if danger was felt. He would raise his hands and confront the Indians which gave him good results since he got to be treated as a sort of friend. This respectful behavior, considering the times, was something positive to take in account when trying to define Fawcett's personality which could show his humanity, something to learn from him. Now, consider that Indiana Jones is partly based in the real life of Percy Fawcett and P.F. is one of the characters of one of his movies; however, Indiana Jones had no problem in shooting for entertainment.
Having lived in Bolivia and having done some exploration myself I may have a different take to this adventure. To start, one of Fawcett's motivation was as normal as to answer why people climb mountains, the answer is,” because it's there". I have done hiking going from La Paz at 12000 ft. above sea level to about 15000 ft. and then down to the tropics of Yungas which is the start of the Amazonian jungle all along an Inca road which was partly well preserved considering hundreds of years of use. After getting familiar with this subtropical region, it happened that I read The mines of King Salomon and this book, cited in Grann's book as well, inspired me to go farther. My plan was to go to an uncharted area in the forest called Madidi, which is a national park now. My motivation was just to see what no one else has seen. I was able to enlist two university friends who seemed interested but who back down at the last minute. Next year I tried again but I had a sudden back ache problem. Going back to the book, Fawcett's intentions may have been to attain fame by finding not El Dorado but something like Machu Pichu which was “found” in 1911. He visited Cusco and Tiahuanacu and was able to marvel at the achievements of these civilizations. But destiny put him in the Bolivian jungle with the aid of the British government, it wasn't something that he was looking for but that opened his eyes and his innate explorer spirit.
Before I even finished reading this book I was compelled to read about the original source, Percy Fawcett's own words, compiled in a book “Lost trail, lost cities” by Brian Fawcett, his son. By reading it, I found out that in his first trip he was hired by the Bolivian government, P. Fawcett does not mention Brazil in the first expedition which was actually work. Now, there are historical details that are not clear. The border problem between Bolivia and Brazil was already established in 1903 after a short war between these two countries and the result was the annexation of the Acre, an area of 190,000 square Kilometers (75,000 sq mls), more than ¾ the size of UK. By the way, something that this book could have in next edition is a better map, the map of Bolivia is not clear.
There are details in the Fawcett's book that could have been part of Grann's book or even the movie, like the moment when, after departing La Paz, one of many mules P.F. had, runs away and that was the mule that had the $£1000 in gold he received as part of the payment from the Bolivian government, an interesting historical detail, a “jingling treasure” in the saddle bags. However, Fawcett explains that the mule was brought back by local people who he rewarded. P .F. describes foreigners by name but there is no mention of Bolivian dignitaries with the exception of the president of Bolivia who was taking matters with his own hands and who knew these lands very well. The region next to the Brazilian border bears his name, Pando.
“All who have lived in these lands and learned to know them fell captive to their irresistible charm”, Fawcett writes as part of his reflexions. Is this one of the motives he kept coming back?
The Lost City of Z: A Tale of Deadly Obsession in the Amazon
4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars | 11,048 ratings
Price: 15.75
Last update: 01-11-2025
About this item
A grand mystery reaching back centuries. A sensational disappearance that made headlines around the world. A quest for truth that leads to death, madness or disappearance for those who seek to solve it. The Lost City of Z is a blockbuster adventure narrative about what lies beneath the impenetrable jungle canopy of the Amazon.
After stumbling upon a hidden trove of diaries, acclaimed New Yorker writer David Grann set out to solve "the greatest exploration mystery of the 20th century": What happened to the British explorer Percy Fawcett and his quest for the Lost City of Z?
In 1925 Fawcett ventured into the Amazon to find an ancient civilization, hoping to make one of the most important discoveries in history.
For centuries Europeans believed the world's largest jungle concealed the glittering kingdom of El Dorado. Thousands had died looking for it, leaving many scientists convinced that the Amazon was truly inimical to humankind. But Fawcett, whose daring expeditions helped inspire Conan Doyle's The Lost World, had spent years building his scientific case. Captivating the imagination of millions, Fawcett embarked with his 21-year-old son, determined to prove that this ancient civilization, which he dubbed "Z", existed. Then he and his expedition vanished.
Fawcett's fate, and the tantalizing clues he left behind about "Z", became an obsession for hundreds who followed him into the uncharted wilderness. For decades scientists and adventurers have searched for evidence of Fawcett's party and the lost City of Z. As David Grann delved ever deeper into the mystery surrounding Fawcett's quest, and the greater mystery of what lies within the Amazon, he found himself, like the generations who preceded him, being irresistibly drawn into the jungle's "green hell". His quest for the truth and his stunning discoveries about Fawcett's fate and "Z" form the heart of this complex, enthralling narrative.
Top reviews from the United States
MG5.0 out of 5 stars Good reading for explorers
J. Puckett4.0 out of 5 stars Definitely a good read.
I'll keep this short and sweet, since most other reviews have covered everything. This book was a great read, steeped in mystery and intrigue. I had never heard of Percy Harrison Fawcett before I started reading this book, and now I'll never forget his story.
Overall, the book was well written. The style accentuates the material, and what could become boring tales of endless hacking through the jungle, doesn't. Luckily for us, PHF was trained in the art of notation, and luckily again, the author's research was well traveled. All the detail you could want is here, and even in a jungle that is thick and barely passable, you can see everything clearly.
I gave this book four stars instead of five for two reasons. The first is that the ending seemed a little too abrupt for me. It could be because I was reading it on the Kindle, and the book literally ends with around 70-75% left on the progress bar. The rest is references and pictures at the end. I also had read some reviews here that proclaim a "surprise" ending, one that I personally did not happen upon. It seemed the final conclusion was merely another man's guess, however intriguing. My second grievance with this book is that I did not care for the boring dialog about PHF's early life. This took up the first few chapters, and was immensely boring to me.
But overall, great book. Doesn't take long to read, and if you like adventure/mystery books, definitely pick it up.
Overall, the book was well written. The style accentuates the material, and what could become boring tales of endless hacking through the jungle, doesn't. Luckily for us, PHF was trained in the art of notation, and luckily again, the author's research was well traveled. All the detail you could want is here, and even in a jungle that is thick and barely passable, you can see everything clearly.
I gave this book four stars instead of five for two reasons. The first is that the ending seemed a little too abrupt for me. It could be because I was reading it on the Kindle, and the book literally ends with around 70-75% left on the progress bar. The rest is references and pictures at the end. I also had read some reviews here that proclaim a "surprise" ending, one that I personally did not happen upon. It seemed the final conclusion was merely another man's guess, however intriguing. My second grievance with this book is that I did not care for the boring dialog about PHF's early life. This took up the first few chapters, and was immensely boring to me.
But overall, great book. Doesn't take long to read, and if you like adventure/mystery books, definitely pick it up.
James R. Holland5.0 out of 5 stars WOW, What a Stunning, Surprise Ending! Amazing!
Forty years ago, when I was young and crazy, I made three trips down the Amazon River or it's tributaries. That's what made me want to read this true-life story of one of the most enduring mysteries of jungle exploration. I can vouch for the book's descriptions of endless jungle, every kind of insect and disease one can imagine, poison snakes everywhere, piranhas (although this book failed to point out those flesh eating fish are usually only found in quiet pools, not where the current is strong) and the fact that traveling on the ground is next to impossible. It would have been much more dangerous when explorer Lt. Colonel Percy Fawcett was doing it. Starvation was one of the reasons that so many explorers died in the jungle, because as described so accurately in this account, it is next to impossible to even see any game that could be eaten, much less managing to kill and eat it. Living off the land is next to impossible for non-Indians. Some insect bites wouldn't cause much of a problem at the time they occurred, but would kill the victim years later. The Amazon jungle really is a "Green Hell." Fawcett's friend Conan Dole used some of Fawcett's tales in his classic "The Lost World."
Fawcett considered himself invincible. He enjoyed a remarkable constitution that made him appear to be resistant of most diseases and insect bites. Unarmed, he often walked slowly toward savage, hostile Indians with his arms raised and gifts for them held high as poison darts and six and seven-foot arrows whizzed by his head and even passed between his legs. He was absolutely fearless and that trait was often demonstrated when he fought in the trenches of World War I. He received the British "Distinguished Service Order" medal and a rank of Lt. Colonel for that valorous service. It may be that Fawcett began to believe in his own invincibility that pushed him too far and cost him his life along with that of his eldest son Jack and Jack's friend who was also part of Fawcett's final three-man exploration?
Fawcett was one of the last "folk heroes" who explored those pesky blank spots on the world's maps. He made several mapping expeditions into the jungle prior to World War I. He was certain that a mighty civilization had once existed in the vast stretches of the Amazon River Basin. He believed the reports of the earliest explorers and found various pieces of evidence on his own such as wonderful pottery. The media reports of his various exploits captured the imagination of the civilized world. In one description of the maggots that quickly infested infections and were literally impossible to remove, he reported how some Indians treated the problems. "The Echojas would make a curious whistling noise with their tongues, and at once the grub's head would issue from the blowhole. Then the Indians would give the sore a quick squeeze and the invader was ejected. I sucked, whistled, protested, and even played the flute to mine, with absolutely no effect." Another sample of jungle trivia regarded snakebites. It the puncher wound bleeds, the snake wasn't poisonous. If the fang wounds didn't bleed, and produced a bluish patch, the snake was poisonous. Useful advice for anyone playing "Hide and Seek" with members of the serpent world. He also reported spying an anaconda that he insisted was at least sixty feet in length and even after he had shot it, it revived and "jolted toward Fawcett and his party--sending them fleeing in fear."
In 1911 Hiram Bingham discovered the Fabled Inca City of Machu Picchu. Like Fawcett's legendary city of Z or El Dorado, Machu Picchu had long been regarded as myth. Bingham's discovery probably provided hope that he too would succeed in his search for Z, whose existence most experts had discounted as an impossibility because it couldn't possibly have been produced by small groups of savages. This book's author went off to retrace Fawcett's last journey in hopes of finally solving this lasting mystery. He was better equipped than Fawcett and had some new leads to follow. He definitely didn't have a death wish and didn't want to become one of the 100 or so rescuers who over the years had also disappeared into the jungle while searching for Fawcett.
Since the last true-life adventure story I read and reviewed was about the ill-fated Donner Wagon Train getting snowed in for the winter in the mountain passes on their way to California, I didn't really expect to enjoy this tome as much as that nail-biting tale. Wrong, they are different, but what happens in this last chapter of this book will send you rushing to Amazon (the book seller, not the place) in search of a couple of books by Florida archaeologist Michael Heckenberger and Anna Roosevelt. She is Teddy's great-granddaughter, "who is an archaeologist at the University of Illinois, and has excavated a cave near Santarem, in the Brazilian Amazon, that was filled with rock paintings--renditions of animal and human figures similar to those that Fawcett had described seeing in various parts of the Amazon and that bolstered his theory of Z. Buried in the cave were remains of a settlement at least ten thousand years old..."
WOW, I hope Fawcett and his eldest son Jack are still watching the unfolding current events here on Planet Earth and smiling and giving each other high-fives. Great Adventure, well told.
Fawcett considered himself invincible. He enjoyed a remarkable constitution that made him appear to be resistant of most diseases and insect bites. Unarmed, he often walked slowly toward savage, hostile Indians with his arms raised and gifts for them held high as poison darts and six and seven-foot arrows whizzed by his head and even passed between his legs. He was absolutely fearless and that trait was often demonstrated when he fought in the trenches of World War I. He received the British "Distinguished Service Order" medal and a rank of Lt. Colonel for that valorous service. It may be that Fawcett began to believe in his own invincibility that pushed him too far and cost him his life along with that of his eldest son Jack and Jack's friend who was also part of Fawcett's final three-man exploration?
Fawcett was one of the last "folk heroes" who explored those pesky blank spots on the world's maps. He made several mapping expeditions into the jungle prior to World War I. He was certain that a mighty civilization had once existed in the vast stretches of the Amazon River Basin. He believed the reports of the earliest explorers and found various pieces of evidence on his own such as wonderful pottery. The media reports of his various exploits captured the imagination of the civilized world. In one description of the maggots that quickly infested infections and were literally impossible to remove, he reported how some Indians treated the problems. "The Echojas would make a curious whistling noise with their tongues, and at once the grub's head would issue from the blowhole. Then the Indians would give the sore a quick squeeze and the invader was ejected. I sucked, whistled, protested, and even played the flute to mine, with absolutely no effect." Another sample of jungle trivia regarded snakebites. It the puncher wound bleeds, the snake wasn't poisonous. If the fang wounds didn't bleed, and produced a bluish patch, the snake was poisonous. Useful advice for anyone playing "Hide and Seek" with members of the serpent world. He also reported spying an anaconda that he insisted was at least sixty feet in length and even after he had shot it, it revived and "jolted toward Fawcett and his party--sending them fleeing in fear."
In 1911 Hiram Bingham discovered the Fabled Inca City of Machu Picchu. Like Fawcett's legendary city of Z or El Dorado, Machu Picchu had long been regarded as myth. Bingham's discovery probably provided hope that he too would succeed in his search for Z, whose existence most experts had discounted as an impossibility because it couldn't possibly have been produced by small groups of savages. This book's author went off to retrace Fawcett's last journey in hopes of finally solving this lasting mystery. He was better equipped than Fawcett and had some new leads to follow. He definitely didn't have a death wish and didn't want to become one of the 100 or so rescuers who over the years had also disappeared into the jungle while searching for Fawcett.
Since the last true-life adventure story I read and reviewed was about the ill-fated Donner Wagon Train getting snowed in for the winter in the mountain passes on their way to California, I didn't really expect to enjoy this tome as much as that nail-biting tale. Wrong, they are different, but what happens in this last chapter of this book will send you rushing to Amazon (the book seller, not the place) in search of a couple of books by Florida archaeologist Michael Heckenberger and Anna Roosevelt. She is Teddy's great-granddaughter, "who is an archaeologist at the University of Illinois, and has excavated a cave near Santarem, in the Brazilian Amazon, that was filled with rock paintings--renditions of animal and human figures similar to those that Fawcett had described seeing in various parts of the Amazon and that bolstered his theory of Z. Buried in the cave were remains of a settlement at least ten thousand years old..."
WOW, I hope Fawcett and his eldest son Jack are still watching the unfolding current events here on Planet Earth and smiling and giving each other high-fives. Great Adventure, well told.