Book Review: the scramble for the Amazon and the lost paradise of Euclides da Cunha by Susanna B Hecht

Against the backdrop of the nineteenth century scramble for the Amazon basin’s precious resources, Euclides da Cunha – geographer, political theorist, and one of Brazil’s most celebrated writers – led an expedition to the furthest reaches of the river. The Scramble for the Amazon tells the story of da Cunha’s journey, the unfinished novel born from it, and the global strife that formed the backdrop for both. It is an interesting read, a rare book that inspires the imagination and intellect, writes Elaine Kellman. But above all, it is a book describing a hugely important period in Amazonian politics and geography using the words of a key participant from that period.