Summary

In 1925, Percy Fawcett, the last of the great Victorian explorers, ventured into the Amazon to find a lost city he called Z. For decades, explorers had been captivated by the region, searching for El Dorado and other mythical kingdoms. Fawcett, however, believed he had found evidence of a sophisticated civilization that would forever alter Western views of the Americas. His quest began in Ceylon, where he learned of a hidden treasure cave. While there, he also met his wife, Nina. Although he failed to find the treasure, the experience ignited his fascination with lost worlds.

Fawcett was trained by the Royal Geographical Society, learning to survey and observe. He embarked on several expeditions, mapping uncharted territories and surviving harrowing encounters with hostile tribes, predators, and disease. Unlike other explorers, Fawcett believed in nonviolence when dealing with Indians, even though it meant “mad risks.” His unique approach earned him fame, yet he also had a reputation for ruthlessness and an almost fanatical determination. His journeys took a toll on his family, and he was constantly plagued by financial difficulties.

Over the years, Fawcett pieced together his theory of Z. He studied ancient chronicles of El Dorado, collected pottery shards from remote areas, and observed geometrically aligned paths in the jungle. His theory was often dismissed by the scientific establishment, which believed the Amazon was too inhospitable for a large, complex civilization. Fawcett’s chief rival, Dr. Alexander Hamilton Rice, had access to seemingly unlimited funds and cutting-edge technology like airplanes and radios, but he never found Z.

In 1925, Fawcett embarked on his final expedition with his son, Jack, and Jack’s best friend, Raleigh Rimell. Their journey was chronicled in newspapers around the world, until their dispatches suddenly stopped. Their disappearance sparked a frenzy of speculation and launched countless rescue efforts, many of which ended in tragedy. For decades, Fawcett’s fate remained one of the greatest exploration mysteries of the 20th century.

Author David Grann, captivated by Fawcett’s story, retraced the explorer's route into the Amazon. He uncovered new documents, including Fawcett’s diaries, and traveled with guides to remote villages, where he interviewed some of the last people to have seen the expedition. He learned of a Kalapalo oral history, passed down through generations, that recounted how the explorers were given food and supplies before disappearing into hostile Indian territory. His journey was not without its own challenges and dangers. He was aided by archaeologist Michael Heckenberger, who had made groundbreaking discoveries in the Xingu, revealing that a vast, complex civilization had existed in the Amazon centuries before. Fawcett, it turned out, had been right all along.