Save The Lost City of Z: A Tale of Deadly Obsession in the Amazon

In 1921, on an expedition to prove his theory on a lost city deep in the jungles of the Amazon Percy Fawcett, his son Jack, and friend Raliegh Rimmel disappeared never to be heard from again. In 2010 this might not be the story on top of everyones mind but in the early twentieth century it caused a stir amongst explorers and normal citizens alike across the world. Had Fawcett been murdered or was He currently residing in the city deep in the jungle loathe to return to humanity. In 2005, his curiosity piqued by the mystery David Grann set out to trace Fawcetts path up the Amazon a trip that included visiting the Royal Geographical Society in England, Fawcetts family and several other key members holding clues to the mystery before setting off into the jungle.
This book was simply a fascinating story though I'll admit to being more interested in the descriptions of Fawcetts journeys other than Grann's modern quest. The older tales tell a story of Fawcett a young man with a sense of adventure who set off to map the last unexplored regions of the earth. He was a hard leader who could sometimes draw the ire of his men (the book details a feud between him and Brian Murray, a member of Ernest Shakelton's artic exploration who was woefully underprepared for the Amazon becoming infested with maggots and nearly dying, all at the expense of Fawcett's patience as such traits where a curse upon his glory to him). If anything thats one of the main draws of the book in showing just how difficult explorations of the amazon were in being hampered by terrain, weather and the ever incessant threat from insects, snakes (main tool for exploration a bevy of serums and pin knives to cut away dead flesh.) Then there were the indian tribes many of which were violent due to mistreatment from settlers, as well as cannibals. If anything else about the book when dealing with the subject of the indians Grann takes time to at least explain how these cultures have survived for centuries away from human contact living in one of the most inhospitable regions possible though Grann does make special mention of the unfortunate fact of human development that changing the enviroment of the amazon.
I really can't do justice to the book or story ideas contained within. Most of it while dealing with Fawcetts exploration and disappearance, or Granns journey does touch on the mythology surrounding the disappearance from storys of those who disappeared into the jungle in search of the party, to a recent adventure that ended badly when the modern party was kidnapped by indians only able to survive by paying a ransom in all the goods they had brought along with them. Its a fascinating bit of history, mixed with a good bit social relevance when looking towards the idea of the Amazon's inhabitants. I definitely enjoyed reading it.Get more detail about The Lost City of Z: A Tale of Deadly Obsession in the Amazon.