Review: The Lost City of Z

The Lost City of Z, by David Grann

A Reader's Respite loves adventure books. We figured out a long time ago that reading about nasty bugs and deadly reptiles in exotic locales is far, far preferable to an actual encounter.


Yes, A Reader's Respite is a coward.

But that's why authors like David Grann write books like the recently released The Lost City of Z: A Tale of Deadly Obsession in the Amazon.

No, not that Amazon (although it certainly can be applicable, in our opinion)...this Amazon:

nasty, mean critters live here

This is the story of Percy Fawcett, the man who spent most of his life exploring the Amazon for the Royal Geographic Socity in the early 1900's.


Over time, Fawcett became convinced that the Lost City of Gold, frequently referred to as El Dorado, did indeed exist deep in the Amazon. In fact, he felt that he had pinpointed the exact location of what he called the City of Z.

So in 1925, worn out from a lifetime of exploration and desperately lacking funds and personnel, Fawcett, his son Jack and Jack's best friend set off on their own to finally reach the City of Z.

They were never seen again.

the man himself

Using the previously unavailable private papers of Fawcett himself made available by the family, David Grann traces this last fatal expedition and finally provides some answers.

And while A Reader's Respite isn't giving anything away here, we will say that Fawcett's ultimate fate isn't the point of this grand adventure. Rather, the point of the adventure is the adventure itself.

Fawcett's entire life is laid out in this book: the explorations, the hardships, the incredibly deadly conditions in the Amazon and the toll all of this took on the man himself, as well as his family.

awwww, isn't he cute? yea, well, he can kill you instantly in the Amazon.

Far from pefect, Fawcett emerges as man who was addicted to the thrill of the hunt. The cost of this obsession was paid in his physcial and mental health, his dignitity, his legacy, and ultimately his life.

This is a grand tale, folks.


Who should read this? Anyone who has a taste for armchair adventures. Personally, I'm thinking Father's Day gift for this one.



Oh, and for what it's worth, the book rights here have been sold off and a movie is currently in production, due out in 2010 and starring (who else?) but:








Want to give it a try or know someone who would? A Reader's Respite just happens to have an extra copy and would love to give it away. Leave us a comment and our blog secretary will draw a random winner on Friday, March 20th. He's good like that.







Title: The Lost City of Z: A Tale of Deadly Obsession in the Amazon
Author: David Grann
ISBN-13: 978-0385513531
352 pages
Publisher: Doubleday
Date: February 24, 2009



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