Douglas Preston is known primarily for his series of novels featuring Agent Pendergast that he cowrote with Lincoln Child. But he is also a well-known journalist who has written for National Geographic and The New Yorker. He has also written some very good nonfiction books including CITIES OF GOLD, DINOSAURS IN THE ATTIC, and THE MONSTER OF FLORENCE...all of which I have read and enjoyed.
In 2012, Preston joined a team of scientists in the search for a lost civilization in the jungles of Honduras. Ever since the days of conquistador Hernan Cortes, there had been rumors of a lost city in the jungle called the White City (Ciudad Blanca) or the City of the Monkey God. With new technology, the scientists had been able to map out what appeared to be two large cities dating back to the early 16th century in the Mosquitia Region of eastern Honduras. The organizer of the group had heard rumors of the city for years and had been trying to find a way to discover it after hearing accounts of other explorers who had claimed to have found it in the early part of the 20th century. The group is able to venture into the impenetrable jungle using a helicopter. Once there they had to survive torrential rains, insects, snakes (including the deadly Fer-de-lance), jaguars and mud. But they were rewarded by finding a cache of relics that was still being excavated at the time the book was published. But after Preston and the team returned from Honduras, about half of them came down with a very deadly parasitic disease that is spread by the bites of sandflies called Leishmaniasis which manifests itself by an unhealing lesion somewhere on the body. Preston was treated for this but may not have fully recovered.
This was a great adventure story. Preston tells the history of how the Mayan civilization was discovered in the 1800s as well as early forays in the 20th century to try to find the White City. He also details their group's miseries and joys in finding the ruined city beneath the Honduran jungle. He also goes into detail describing the parasitic disease he contracted and the brutal treatment for it. And he discusses how the Native Americans were decimated by disease brought from Europe by the early explorers starting with Columbus. Some of the populations of the Caribbean Islands were totally wiped out and much of the overall population in North and South America were 90 percent destroyed. He talks about possible future pandemics but since this was published in 2017, he had not yet experienced Covid which it turned out was right around the corner. High recommendation overall for this one.
In 2012, Preston joined a team of scientists in the search for a lost civilization in the jungles of Honduras. Ever since the days of conquistador Hernan Cortes, there had been rumors of a lost city in the jungle called the White City (Ciudad Blanca) or the City of the Monkey God. With new technology, the scientists had been able to map out what appeared to be two large cities dating back to the early 16th century in the Mosquitia Region of eastern Honduras. The organizer of the group had heard rumors of the city for years and had been trying to find a way to discover it after hearing accounts of other explorers who had claimed to have found it in the early part of the 20th century. The group is able to venture into the impenetrable jungle using a helicopter. Once there they had to survive torrential rains, insects, snakes (including the deadly Fer-de-lance), jaguars and mud. But they were rewarded by finding a cache of relics that was still being excavated at the time the book was published. But after Preston and the team returned from Honduras, about half of them came down with a very deadly parasitic disease that is spread by the bites of sandflies called Leishmaniasis which manifests itself by an unhealing lesion somewhere on the body. Preston was treated for this but may not have fully recovered.
This was a great adventure story. Preston tells the history of how the Mayan civilization was discovered in the 1800s as well as early forays in the 20th century to try to find the White City. He also details their group's miseries and joys in finding the ruined city beneath the Honduran jungle. He also goes into detail describing the parasitic disease he contracted and the brutal treatment for it. And he discusses how the Native Americans were decimated by disease brought from Europe by the early explorers starting with Columbus. Some of the populations of the Caribbean Islands were totally wiped out and much of the overall population in North and South America were 90 percent destroyed. He talks about possible future pandemics but since this was published in 2017, he had not yet experienced Covid which it turned out was right around the corner. High recommendation overall for this one.
Back to all reviews by this member
Back to all reviews of this book
Back to Book Reviews
Back to Book Details
Back to all reviews of this book
Back to Book Reviews
Back to Book Details
