Exploration of the Valley of the Amazon by William Lewis Herndon, Lardner Gibbon

In 1857, Captain William Lewis Herndon sacrificed his life trying to save 600 passengers and crew when his ship foundered in a hurricane off the Carolina coast. Memorialized in Gary Kinder's best-selling book Ship of Gold in the Deep Blue Sea, Herndon, with this final courageous act, epitomized a lifetime of heroism. Seven years earlier, the secretary of the Navy had appointed Herndon to lead the first American expedition into the Amazon Valley. Herndon departed Lima, Peru, on May 20, 1851, and arrived at Para, Brazil, nearly a year later, traveling 4,000 miles by foot, mule, canoe, and small boat. He cataloged the scientific and commercial observations requested by Congress, but he filed his report as a narrative, creating an intimate portrait of an exotic land before the outside world rushed in. Herndon's report so far surpassed his superiors' expectations that instead of printing the obligatory few hundred copies for Congress, the secretary of the Navy ordered 10,000 copies in the first print run; three months later, he ordered 20,000 more. Herndon described his adventures with such insight, such compassion and wit, and such literary grace that he came to symbolize the new spirit of exploration and discovery sweeping mid-nineteenth-century America. For the next hundred years, Herndon's report languished out of print before being revived briefly in 1951. Now, for the first time in nearly fifty years, Gary Kinder and Grove Press bring to readers one of the greatest chronicles of travel and exploration ever written. Order from UK | US | Canada

Frommer's Brazil by Shawn Blore, Alexandra de Vries

You'll never fall into the tourist traps when you travel with Frommer's. It's like having a friend show you around, taking you to the places locals like best. Our expert authors have already gone everywhere you might go-they've done the legwork for you, and they're not afraid to tell it like it is, saving you time and money. No other series offers candid reviews of so many hotels and restaurants in all price ranges. Every Frommer's Travel Guide is up-to-date, with exact prices for everything, dozens of color maps, and exciting coverage of sports, shopping, and nightlife. You'd be lost without us!
Frommer's Brazil is the premier guide to the country, with complete coverage of Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo, Salvador, Bahia, Natal, Brasilia, and more. You'll get details on Carnaval, Ponta Negra, the Amazon, the hang gliding in Rio, the prawns of Ilhabela, and the moquecas of Salvador. Whether you're an archaeology buff, an outdoor adventurer, or a partier in search of a good time, Brazil presents so many diverse travel options that it'll make your head spin. Frommer's B razil will help you plan a memorable trip, starting with our highly opinionated lists of the best experiences the country has to offer. Order from UK | US | Canada
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