Brazilian Adventure

"Brazilian Adventure" by Peter Fleming is a riveting and humorous account of an expedition into the heart of the Brazilian jungle. Written with wit and a keen sense of adventure, Fleming chronicles his journey with a group of British explorers in search of Colonel Percy Fawcett, who disappeared while seeking the lost city of Z.

Fleming's writing is engaging and filled with dry British humor, making the narrative both entertaining and insightful. He skillfully blends vivid descriptions of the Amazon's treacherous terrain and exotic wildlife with amusing anecdotes about the eccentric characters and unpredictable events encountered along the way. The book captures the spirit of adventure and the challenges of exploration with a lighthearted show more yet respectful tone.

The strength of "Brazilian Adventure" lies in Fleming's ability to convey the excitement and unpredictability of the expedition. His observations are sharp, and his reflections on the nature of adventure and human folly add depth to the tale. Despite the serious nature of the quest, Fleming's humor and self-deprecating style make the journey enjoyable for readers. show less

Re-read this old edition from 1933 once again in Oct' 2012. It is a fascinating book, so easy to follow along. More often than not, hard travellers are not natural writers. Peter Fleming comes out top in both schools.

A treasury of throw-away observations that reveal the core of the country. e.g. (from memory) "Rockets are to Brazil what exclamation marks are to the prose of a debutante". (!)

For a brilliant review of Brazilian Adventure, see the July/August 2010 issue of the Columbia Journalism Review. "Second Read" is my favorite column in the CJR, and it led me to this wonderful book.

One of my favorite authors - I think it was Neal Stephenson - recommended this book. And it was fantastic. The adventure is not much of an adventure, but Peter Fleming is very aware of that and handles it perfectly: with a lot of humour and quite a bit of self-deprecation.

If you come across this book, pick it up and read it. You'll be delighted.