The Lost City of Z

A Tale of Deadly Obsession in the Amazon

De: David Grann

Narrado por: 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

Reseñas de la Crítica

"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 Worthy Read for Armchair Explorers

David Grann produces a worthy read with "Z". He painstakingly pieces together the mystery of Percy Fawcett's fate while undergoing his own quest. This is an exciting, well documented journey into one man's obsession that alighted the world in the 1920s -- and you'll walk away with a sense of what it was really like to enter an unknown world. The unbelievable hardships and courage to undertake such an adventure will astound -- and just when you think you've got it all figured out -- the ending will amaze.

A good historical overview of Amazonia.

An entertaining introduction to the rich history of western exploration of Amazonia and the perils of trekking through the unwelcoming jungle.

Amazing story

The first few hours were very drawn out and if you can stick with it through that, the story keeps you compelled the rest of the way until the very last word.

Great story, mixed narrative and narration

The story itself is fascinating, but the narration jumps around a fair amount between the story of Percy Fawcett in the modern-day author's related Adventures. Perhaps this would be easier to follow if reading, but in the audio version it can get a bit confusing. the narrator himself doesn't okay job, if not a bit ho-hum.

short story

it felt like it just stops. I was expecting some kind of adventure through the Amazon. It wasn't

Very Interesting

I was not aware of Fawcett before this book. He is a character who is definitely worth reading about.

fantastic

i really enjoyed this book and all the details, except I kept getting confused and lost of who is who and what period of time he was talking about. the narrator did a great job.

Great story about the American abyss!

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

Great read for those who like unsolved mysteries of the past. The writing and narration were spot on.

What did you like best about this story?

It had great depth and historical relevance.

What about Mark Deakins’s performance did you like?

He is a great narrator with appropriate emotion and cold delivery when necessary.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

Must see true story.

Great book, compelling and highly detailed

Begins with adventure and mystery, but the deeper you go into fawcetts life you see a compassionate, loving humanist which seemed to be in short supply in the eta of WWI. Highly recommended for anyone looking to venture outside the realm of city life and or a father looking to make a connection with their children. Fawcwett is all of us.

Obsession

Reminded me of the the Journey to San Cristobal of A. H. An obsessed of exploration of the degree I find difficult to understand. While this was a good, solid read, I preferred The Wager by Mr. Grann.