gsisk reviewed on 5/17/2011 + 192 more book reviews

This is the story of one of the last individual explorers of the early 20th century: the Englishman P. H. Fawcett, who explored the southern part of the Amazon from about 1905 to 1925. He led several expeditions until WWI, then - his last one, from which he never returned - in 1925.

The author also briefly describes a few "rescue expeditions" launched after Fawcett's disappearance, which were also lost, as well as his own exploration into this area of the Amazon a few years ago.

Contrary to the prevailing opinion at the time (and until not so long ago) Fawcett became convinced that the Amazon is hiding the remnants of a once great civilization who left behind a great city, "Z" - the mythical El Dorado. He came close ... but apparently was killed, together with his son and a family friend, by hostile Indians.

The author concludes the book by recounting a conversation with archeologist Michael Heckenberger, who lived for years among the Indians in that area, and who showed him remnants of moats, pottery and settlements that ultimately prove that Fawcett and accounts of the early conquistadores were right.

It's a fascinating story.

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