The Lost City of Z

A Tale of Deadly Obsession in the Amazon

By: David Grann

Narrated by: Mark Deakins

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.

©2009 David Grann (P)2009 Random House

Critic reviews

"The story of Z goes to the heart of the central questions of our age. In the battle between man and a hostile environment, who wins? A fascinating and brilliant book." (Malcolm Gladwell, author of Blink and The Tipping Point)

A must-read for anyone interested in South America

If you could sum up The Lost City of Z in three words, what would they be?

Clash of cultures

What other book might you compare The Lost City of Z to and why?

If you liked this, you should also read "Turn Right at Machu Picchu" and "Road Fever." The former is very similar to "The Lost City of Z" in that it tells the tale of a present-day journalist trying to follow in the footsteps of a Western explorer (read: white male) of the early part of the 1900s, but in Peru instead of Brazil. The second book is a really funny and incredibly well-written first person account of some US adventurers (also white males) who, in the 1980s, drove from Tierra del Fuego to Prudhoe Bay in just 23 days.

Which scene was your favorite?

So many memorable moments involving horrible maggot infestations, ticks, starvation, etc but can't really call those "favorites." I really loved the final chapter.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

It was hard to put down, I managed to finish it in just a couple of days.

Lost and not found

David Grann, a writer for the New Yorker, who suffers from night blindness, gets lost on the New York subway, and hates camping, writes of his bold adventure to to follow the trail of the missing British explorer Col. Percy Fawcett. Fawcett was a Victorian explorer and adventurer who worked with the British Geographical Society. In 1906 Fawcett had mapped the border between Brazil and Bolivia, a journey through the treacherous jungle that left him haggard and gaunt but none the less made him hungry for more. Living the sedate life in England was not for him. In 1925, at the age of 57, Fawcett has one last adventure and was never seen or heard from again.

Percy Fawcett became obsessed with finding a complex ancient city he theorized existed in the Mato Grosso region. An El Dorado of ancient legends. He had found clues in the jungle. He had heard rumors from the Indians. For unknown reasons he named the city "Z" after reading various documents and an old manuscript in the library of Rio de Janeiro by an unknown writer. Fawcett made seven trips to the Amazon region. His last trip, in 1925 with his equally rugged son Jack and Jack's good friend Raleigh. With his zero tolerance for weakness and complaining, Fawcett trekked ahead of the two young men sometimes leaving them behind. Having sore feet, oozing sores from insect bites, infections or fever was no excuse. The search must continue. In steep competition with other explorers Fawcett and his party made their way east of Dead Horse camp against the warnings of friendly Indians who warned them of the dangers of other deadly local tribes. Fawcett had survived numerous encounters with Indians by exchanging gifts and had no fear of the danger of man or animal. After two years of no word from Col. Fawcett other adventurers went in search of the explorer and his party. More than 100 died in the search but no one found him. Theories and rumors abound. He was kidnapped and killed by Indians. He was kidnapped and joined a local tribe. There were "white" Indians said to be his grandchildren. There were bones said to be Fawcet's bones.

Writer David Grann interweaves his modern day travels to Fawcett's Victorian adventure. Grann visits Fawcetts family members to review his papers and finds that the locations for Dead Horse Camp and other places were purposely altered to hide the true location. Near the end of the book, Grann goes to the last known site where Fawcett was seen alive and speaks with the last living person to see Fawcett as he headed east to the unknown. While reading this book you can't help thinking without a certain sadness about the fact that 90 years later there are no more places to explore that are not on Google Maps. No more lost cities that can't be found. A chunk of the Amazon the size of France has been deforested. Dams built that will destroy the way of life of tribes who will have to live in cities they are not ready for. You think about the millions killed from disease after Europeans arrived and their cities covered with jungle and lost. You also think someone has to be insane to be so obsessed to go explore the Amazonian jungle, with its flesh eating parasites, deadly venomous snakes, savage Indians and Candiru, that tiny parasitic fish that can swim up your urethra or vagina and reek all kinds of havoc. And you have to be even more insane to go looking for someone who gets lost in the jungle. But it does make for interesting reading from the comfort of your home. This is not just a retelling of Fawcetts adventure. Grann gives us an ending that is riveting and chilling.

Better than Tiger King!

This was a wild ride, while still being incredibly educational! follow the life of PH Foster, and the ripple effect he had on the world and his influence in anthropology.

There's intrigue, mystery, murder, cannibalism, racism, undercover spies, and more, all with a backdrop of anthropological thought and history (and the pitfalls of British self agrandizing). Great read!!

I could barely put this book down!

The narrator was perfect. The author did incredibly detailed research on this topic. The parallel style of his & Fawcett's search for Z was very effective. The historical value of his research is priceless! This true story of mystery & suspense was well told. The descriptions made me feel like I was right there in the jungle with him!

very informative

very interesting. challenged what I had believed of the Amazon and the people.. good read

Totally Riveted!

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes! History buffs and adventurers alike will enjoy this work. This work transported me to the early 20th century, then back to the late 20th century. I found myself wanting to visit Brazil in search of Z, however, the experience described was so real, I knew I would never survive. I will be listening again and again.

Fantastic!

My first Audible book. This was a great adventure told in a way that has led me to purchase many other Audible books. David Grann opens our minds eye to the exploration of one of the most beautiful, raw and dangerous places on earth - the Amazon - that only the toughest and most rugged of men, like Percy Fawcett that would dare to explore. I was also inspired to purchase another Audible book by David Grann, and I was not disappointed.

Just ok

It's an interesting anthropology, but not as exciting an adventure story as I had hoped.

Great book!

Really good read! Makes me want to back a bag and head to Brazil to search for Z!

If you liked the movie..

..now you will hate it . There's so much more in the book. 5 stars.