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Publisher's Summary

From the acclaimed author of Conquistador comes this thrilling account of one of history's greatest adventures of discovery. With cinematic immediacy and meticulous attention to historical detail, here is the true story of a legendary 16th-century explorer and his death-defying navigation of the Amazon - river of darkness, pathway to gold.

In 1541, the brutal conquistador Gonzalo Pizarro and his well-born lieutenant Francisco Orellana set off from Quito in search of La Canela, South America's rumored Land of Cinnamon, and the fabled El Dorado, "the golden man". Driving an enormous retinue of mercenaries, enslaved natives, horses, hunting dogs, and other animals across the Andes, they watched their proud expedition begin to disintegrate even before they descended into the nightmarish jungle, following the course of a powerful river.

Soon hopelessly lost in the swampy labyrinth, their numbers diminishing daily through disease, starvation, and Indian attacks, Pizarro and Orellana made a fateful decision to separate. While Pizarro eventually returned home barefoot and in rags, Orellana and 57 men, in a few fragile craft, continued downriver into the unknown reaches of the mighty Amazon, serenaded by native war drums and the eerie cries of exotic predators. Theirs would be the greater glory.

©2011 Buddy Levy (P)2017 Tantor

Critic Reviews

"A richly textured account of the rogue, rebel and visionary whose discovery still resonates today." ( Kirkus)

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Amazing!

Where does River of Darkness rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Definitely in the top ten - up there with 1491 (which I have listened to several times)....

Any additional comments?

Conquistadors were people too. It was so interesting to hear the story of conquest from the perspectives of the people who became conquistadors. It reminded me of today's youth who join the military to get ahead financially. Also, the socio-economic context in Spain was interesting - it was not static as I used to think, but evolved. But above all it was an adventure story. Mainly about Orellana - but also focused quite a bit on the Pizzaro brothers. I had never heard the story of Pizzaro's turning on the authority of the king...
Really fantastic! I just wish it was longer - only 9 hours - could have easily been 29. The narrator was also one of the best I have ever listened too. I am starting Buddy Levy's other book Conquistador book tonight.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Amazing story!!

An incredible story of a most amazing journey and discovery. Such mystery and amazement of the people and places.

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the Land of the Lost Treasure

the river of Darkness the greatest one in the world the Amazon just like its smaller cousin in Africa the Congo has generated dreams of lost fortunes and Cities The wealth of the new world didn't all come from a few mines that were easily found by The Conquistadors when they conquered the Inca and the Aztecs for these people must have gotten much of their gold from other places cities like El Dorado pachakuti lost city of Z King Solomon's Mines the river of darkness is a must-have book for anybody who's searching for any of these or dreaming about discovering one of them it's entirely possible that two or more of them are really the same place and considering that much of the gold that comes from Brazil has been found in the Deep Jungle it makes you wonder if we have maybe already found them by accident. the true wealth of the Amazon and the surrounding jungle in the mountains around it lies in its abundant ability to provide other valuable things. if the Conquistadors hadn't been so greedy for gold and had kept her eyes open and realized it the land they were traveling through was gold in itself all they had to do was stay there and develop it. I read this book years ago when it first was published in hardcover and I waited for years for to come out in Audible since I bought it I've already listened to it 4 times yes I'm one of the dreamers.