‘The book is a tour de force, nearly as rich and fascinating as the place itself’ – New Scientist

‘At last, a book about the Amazon that generates more light than hot air … a book written from the heart and the head … lucid and learned …  the definitive single-volume work on the subject’ – The Daily Telegraph

'John Hemming's loving knowledge of the Amazon's forests and tribes is compelling … his passionate storytelling sweeps you on like the irresistible river itself' – The Financial Times Magazine

Amazonia contains by far the world’s largest river and the greatest expanse of tropical rain forest, home to the most luxuriant biological diversity on the planet.

This enthralling book brilliantly explains why the rain forest is crucial for our planet’s survival, and vividly describes the passionate struggles that have taken place to utilize, protect and understand it.

John Hemming’s thrilling account recalls the adventures and misadventures of intrepid explorers, Jesuits and the rubber barons who enslaved thousands of Indians. It also tells of nineteenth-century botanists, humanitarians and advocates for Indian rights, as well as the archaeologists and anthropologists who have uncovered the secrets of early man here.

Hemming also describes the Amazon’s flora, fauna and natural beauty, all now under threat as the forests are destroyed to feed man’s appetite for timber, beef and soya.

See the author talking about his book and the Amazon.

John Hemming has probably visited and researched more tribes than any other non-Brazilian. His previous books include the prize-winning The Conquest of the Incas and a trilogy on the history of Brazilian Indians. Much honoured in Brazil, Peru and elsewhere, Dr Hemming was Director and Secretary of the Royal Geographical Society in London from 1975 to 1996. See more about John Hemming in our authors section.

Also of interest

The Great Naturalists

Latin Spirit 365 Days: The Wisdom, Landscape and Peoples of Latin America