Wild Coast: Travels on South America's Untamed Edge - Explore Remote Beaches & Untouched Nature for Adventure Travel & Eco Tourism
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SKU:65020413
Product Description
Dolman Travel Book of the Year 2012 Between the Orinoco and the Amazon lies a fabulous forested land, barely explored. Much of Guiana seldom sees sunlight, and new species are often tumbling out of the dark trees. Shunned by the conquistadors, it was left to others to carve into colonies. Guyana, Suriname and Guyane Française are what remain of their contest, and the 400 years of struggle that followed.Now, award-winning author John Gimlette sets off along this coast, gathering up its astonishing story. His journey takes him deep into the jungle, from the hideouts of runaway slaves to penal colonies, outlandish forts, remote Amerindian villages, a ''Little Paris'' and a space port. He meets rebels, outlaws and sorcerers; follows the trail of a vicious Georgian revolt, and ponders a love-affair that changed the face of slavery. Here too is Jonestown, where, in 1978, over 900 Americans, members of Reverend Jones''s cult, committed suicide. The last traces are almost gone now, as the forest closes in.Beautiful, bizarre and occasionally brutal, this is one of the great forgotten corners of the Earth: the Wild Coast.
Customer Reviews
i've read all of Gimlette's books and they all enlighten and entertain.these are not 'travel' books in the traditional sense. you won't learn about how to get cheap flights or hotels but you will learn plenty about local history and people, good and bad. in 'Wild Coast', i learned about the complex (and ultimately tragic) history of slavery, Amerindians and European colonists of three small south american countries:Guyana, Suriname and French Guiana.Gimlette travels deep into the interior where not even the locals want to go. he follows the paths of earlier explorers but brings history right up to the present and its lasting impacts. of course, there are historical figures but also present day characters, and they are all colorful real people. the land (along with its flora and myriad crawlies) is described in detail and let me admit that it did not inspire me to go there. Gimlette has surely taken me to those places. it was a wild ride which in fact completed just a couple of days ago.
