Title: The Lost City of the Monkey God
Author: Douglas Preston
First published January 3, 2017
326 pages, Kindle Edition
Rating: 3.92
Overview
Get ready for a heart-stopping adventure into the unknown depths of the Honduran jungle. For over 500 years, rumors have circulated about a lost city of immense wealth hidden deep in the dense rainforest.
Known as the White City or the Lost City of the Monkey God, indigenous tribes warn that anyone who enters will fall ill and die. Swashbuckling journalist Theodore Morde claimed to have discovered the city in 1940 but committed suicide without revealing its location.
Now, author Doug Preston joins a team of scientists on a groundbreaking new quest to find the lost city. Battling against torrential rains, quickmud, deadly snakes, and disease-carrying insects, the team finally discovers the sprawling metropolis, offering evidence of an enigmatic, lost civilization.
However, upon their return, tragedy strikes as they find themselves infected with a horrifying and incurable disease. Join Preston’s pioneering journey as he unravels the stunning medical mystery of the Lost City of the Monkey God.
About the Author
Douglas Preston was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts in 1956, and grew up in the dull suburb of Wellesley. He was expelled from a private nursery school, and then attended public schools and the Cambridge School of Weston.
In his early life, he lost a fingertip at the age of three, his two front teeth to his brother Richard’s fist, and incurred various broken bones from fighting with Richard. With their little brother David, they used to create homemade rockets and incendiary devices from chemistry sets or mail-ordered from comic books, terrifying the locals in Wellesley.
They even attempted to fly a rocket into Wellesley Square once, which malfunctioned and almost killed a man mowing his lawn. They were local celebrities and often appeared in the “Police Notes” section of the Wellesley Townsman.
After being rejected by Stanford University, Preston went to Pomona College in Claremont, California, where he studied various subjects before settling down to study English literature. After graduating, he began working at the American Museum of Natural History in New York as an editor, writer, and eventually, manager of publications.
His time at the museum resulted in the non-fiction book, Dinosaurs in the Attic. During this period, he gave a midnight tour of the museum to Lincoln Child, who later turned the experience into a thriller novel Relic.
In 1986, Preston moved from New York City to Santa Fe to write full time. He achieved small success with the publication of Cities of Gold, a non-fiction book about Coronado’s search for the legendary Seven Cities of Cibola.
To research the book, Preston and a friend retraced on horseback 1,000 miles of Coronado’s route across Arizona and New Mexico, nearly killing themselves in the process. Since then, he has published several more non-fiction books on the history of the American Southwest, Talking to the Ground, and The Royal Road, as well as a novel entitled Jennie.
In the early 1990s, Preston and Child teamed up to write suspense novels, including Relic, which was made into a movie by Paramount in 1997. Today, they live 500 miles apart and write their books together via telephone, fax, and the internet.
Preston is also a regular contributor to The New Yorker magazine, and has written for National Geographic, Natural History, Smithsonian, Harper’s, Travel & Leisure, and more.
Editoral Review
“The Lost City of the Monkey God” by Douglas Preston is a thrilling non-fiction book that delves into the mysterious and dangerous world of the Honduran rainforest. Preston is a bestselling author and journalist who has written several books on adventure and exploration.
In this book, he tells the story of a group of scientists, adventurers, and filmmakers who set out to find a lost city in the heart of the jungle.
The book is a blend of adventure, history, and science, and it is written in a style that is both engaging and informative. Preston takes the reader on a journey through the dense jungle, describing the beauty and danger of the environment.
He introduces us to the main characters, including the archaeologists, the filmmakers, and the indigenous people who guide them through the treacherous terrain.
The plot revolves around the search for the lost city, known as the White City or the City of the Monkey God. As the team delves deeper into the jungle, they encounter numerous obstacles, including deadly snakes, jaguars, and mosquitoes carrying deadly diseases.
They also face challenges from within their own group, as tensions rise and personalities clash.
One of the strengths of the book is its historical and cultural significance. The lost city has been a subject of fascination for centuries, and Preston provides a detailed account of its history and significance.
He also explores the impact of colonialism and imperialism on the indigenous people of the region.
The book is not without its flaws, however. The pacing can be slow at times, and some readers may find some of the scientific explanations to be overly technical.
Additionally, some of the characters are not fully fleshed out, and their motivations can be unclear.
Overall, “The Lost City of the Monkey God” is a well-written and fascinating book that will appeal to fans of adventure, history, and science. It is a thrilling and informative read that sheds light on a little-known corner of the world.
While it may not be perfect, it is definitely worth checking out.
Rating: 4/5 stars.
