David Grann’s The Lost City of Z: A Tale of Deadly Obsession in the Amazon traces the expeditions of Colonel Percy H. Fawcett through the Amazon in search of the city of Z. During several expeditions through the Amazon in Brazil and along the Bolivian border, Fawcett became consumed with searching for a historic city described by early explores of South America as having large buildings and riches. Fawcett nicknamed the city Z. In contrast with other explorers, geographers, and anthropologists of his time, Fawcett believed that the city was inhabited by an advanced civilization in distinct contrast to the Indians that he found inhabiting the Amazon in the early twentieth century. On his last expedition Fawcett along with his son and a family friend disappeared in the jungle. David Grann expertly alternates between telling the history of the Fawcett expeditions and the story of his own journey to uncover the truth about the fate of the final Fawcett expedition and the city of Z. Grann’s thorough research and adept storytelling make The Lost City of Z a fun and speedy read. Anyone with an interest in the history of imperialism, early anthropology, or who just loves mysteries will like this book.
