In August 2010, after 860 gruelling days, Ed Stafford completed his incredible journey and became the first man ever to walk the entire length of the River Amazon. His story is one not only of extraordinary personal endurance, but of vanishing indigenous cultures and habitats witnessed first-hand.
In 1975, Laura Alcoba's father was arrested by the Argentinean military regime and she was forced into hiding with her mother. Both terrifying and moving, her memoir is a child's description of their time staying at a rabbit farm in the suburbs of Buenos Aires, living on tenterhooks trying to avoid detection.
Controversial political and economical observer Tariq Ali explores the rise of Hugo Chavez, the contrasts between the Cuban and Venezuelan revolution and the influence of Fidel Castro. Fascinating, refreshing and informative.
Oliver Balch sets off in the footsteps of Simon Bolivar to paint a contemporary portrait of South America. Part journalism and part travelogue, Balch explores different aspects of each country, chapter by chapter; topics include Chile and Women, Peru and Religion and Colombia and Violence. Entertaining and witty, it is the perfect accompaniment for any backpacker heading to the continent looking for an engaging introduction.
Andy Beckett's well-researched and startling historical investigation uncovers the somewhat mysterious relationship between Britain and General Pinochet.
A 500 year history of the exploitation of South America from the colonial invaders to the present day American capitalists. An important, ground-breaking book which Hugo Chavez controversially presented to Barack Obama at the Summit of the Americas.
An astonishing adventure story that led to one of the most exciting archaeological discoveries of the 20th century. In 1911, on a journey through the unexplored wilds of Peru, Hiram Bingham discovered the preserved Inca city of Machu Picchu. Bingham's text is also accompanied by his original photographs.
A gripping biography of the drug baron Pablo Escobar, which gives a good background to the violent history of Colombia while describing Escobar's extraordinary rise to power and the manhunt that led to his assassination.
Intoxicated by tales of this exotic, dangerous jungle realm, Robert Carver journeys through Paraguay telling stories of bank robbers, Nazis with Alzheimer's and vampire bats.
The most recent history of Latin America from 1492, which focuses on Mexico, Brazil and Argentina. Illustrated with black and white photographs and maps, the style is accessible and lively making this the perfect introduction to a traveller or student.
Bruce Chatwin's literary prose weaves together Patagonian anthropology, history and travel with such an easy and entertaining style you simply cannot believe you are learning so much about this wilderness of South America.
Here in one volume is Charles Darwin's brilliant and entertaining Origin of Species and an account of his journey to the Galapagos Islands on HMS Beagle where the inspiration for his evolutionary theory began.
An astute, indignant and apocalyptic book that explores the unstable world of the slum, home to over one billion people, approximately one seventh of the world population.
Gerald Durrell brings his usual charming, humorous and impressively well-informed style to a journey through Guyana, up the Essequibo River and through the impenetrable rainforest.
Gerald Durrell and his wife's adventure through Argentina trying to capture specimens, from ocelots to penguins, for the Jersey Zoo. As to be expected, Durrell's style is entertaining, amusing and remarkably informative.
The remarkable story of Daniel Everett, who moved to the Amazon with his family on a mission to convert the indigenous people, but found that he was to change beyond recognition. Everett lived with the little-known Pirahas tribe for almost twenty years, learnt their language and began to realise that their outlook on life actually shaped their unique language, a discovery that goes against all previous theories on language evolution. Highly recommended.
In 1925, Colonel Fawcett and his son set out to find the lost city of the Aztecs never to return. Through his personal journals and letters home, edited and collected by his son, we are privy to a remarkable adventure in the jungles of Brazil.
In the 1970s Patrick Leigh Fermor set off to the Andes with five friends. He recounts the thrilling, occasionally moving journey in a series of letters back home to his wife.