Product Description

This is Benedict Allen's first book - a tale of triumphs, mishaps, dangers and sheer bloody-minded endurance but, at another level, an exploration of the Amazon's dark themes of allurement and exploitation. At the age of 22, inspired by a youthful aspiration to be an explorer, Allen set out to travel from the mouth of the Orinoco to the mouth of the Amazon. But as he stumbled through the Amazonian jungle, he was soon confronted by the harsh reality of his isolation in the midst of potentially perilous territory. Mercifully, the experience of living in the rainforest among indigenous Indians taught him how to survive - a skill of which he soon found himself to be in considerable and urgent need.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #2475709 in Books
• Published on: 2002-02-04
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 256 pages

Customer Reviews

A great read
I'm a fan of Amazon exploration books, and this is one of the best I ever read. It's thoroughly engaging and hair-raising. Only in his early twenties when he embarked, Allen was a little optimistic and foolhardy. This makes for great reading, and it'll be one of the better travel books you'll pick up. One of the best of the genre.

A Tale to Tell
A book as breathtakeing as the experience Byron Allen experienced. I was surprised to find so many of Byron Allen's books were no longer in print. I first heard of this modern day adventurer from a BBC report. Having the opportunity to visit England recently, I went to a popular bookstore and managed to find a copy or two of his various writings. Mr. Allen combines humor and a great intuitive knowledge to his writings and his travels. For anyone who loves a good story of adventure and daring-do, Mr. Allen's books are a must read. After finding so many out of print, I'm sorry I didn't buy more than just the two while I was able to. Although by no means a how-to book, it is absolutely the way things should be experienced.