A compilation of obscure historical papers and correspondence concerning Ecuador; The Llanganati Mountains; Inca Treasure and the "Derrotero de Valverde" presented to The Royal Geographical Society around the turn of the century! These papers tell an intriguing and timeless tale that begat many! "On the Mountains of Llanganati; in the Eastern Cordillera of the Quitonian Andes" by Richard Spruce "Travels in Ecuador" by Jordan Stabler "The Inca Treasure of Llanganati" by E.C. Brooks Over the past century numerous explorers have conducted countless expeditions into the Llanganati Mountains of Ecuador utilizing Spruce's paper as the basis for their quest of hidden Inca gold. Many of these explorers; including the world renowned Llanganati expert Eugen K. Brunner; conducted their quests oblivious to the entirety of Spruce's paper; of which only a portion had been published in his work "Notes Of A Botanist on the Amazon Andes." Without access to Spruce's entire paper and the works of Stabler and Brooks; many years of explorations were in vain. Now; all three works can be read together relating an intriguing tale of many genres!
#200935 in Books Ben Mezrich 2016-06-14 2016-06-14Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 8.37 x .60 x 5.50l; .0 #File Name: 1476771901288 pagesOnce Upon a Time in Russia The Rise of the Oligarchs A True Story of Ambition Wealth Betrayal and Murder
Review
11 of 11 people found the following review helpful. Oligarchs and their problemsBy CRThis book is about Boris Berezovosky and his spectacular rise and fall as a Russian kingmaker. The book is not about the Oligarchs in general although Roman Abramovich is mentioned in relation to his dealings with Berezovsky. I found the book choppy; it strings vignettes together that occurred over a number of years into a semi-cohesive tale. There is much liberty taken in the form of ascribing feelings; emotions; intent upon the actual activities that we know occurred. It's dramatic and interesting; reading like a fleshed out screen play. How factual it is; whether the people really are as the author describes them is a question that can't be answered due to the overwhelming assumptions put forth in the narrative. I may now need to read a less dramatically written book about this books central players to see if their actions add up to the personality ascribed to them by the author of this book. If I could have given 3.5 stars I would have.2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. Insights into that period of Russian historyBy W. D. BarnumThis book; although based in fact; reads more like a novel. The story of the Oligarch Boris Berezovsky starts with his already being a powerful businessman in Russia in 1994; through his rise to the stature of Oligarch and to his death; in the UK in 2013.A sub-plot centers on the life of KGB/FSB agent Alexander Litvinenko; his links to Berezovsky and to his ultimate death in the UK in 2006 of Polonium 210 poisoning.The basic facts of the lives of these two individuals is fairly well known – in fact; you can just check Wikipedia; if all you want are the bare facts. But; this book goes deeper and through the relating of various meetings and stories; it fleshes out the basic story and makes it come alive.I found one proofing error in the book – on page 190; the word “stagecraft†is printed when it should have been “tradecraft†as it was referring to Litvinenko’s following basic anti-surveillance techniques; normally referred to as “tradecraft†by those in the intelligence services.The joke told “that the Lubyanka building (former home of the KGB; and current home of the FSB) was the tallest building in Moscow; since you could see all the way to Siberia from the basement†– was in fact a joke being told in Moscow following the collapse of the Soviet Union – I personally heard it there in late 1991.I enjoyed this book – and had to keep reminding myself that this was true and not just another spy novel – the insights this book gives to that period of Russian history are worth the price of the book themselves.9 of 10 people found the following review helpful. Exciting; Enjoyable; and Educational read.By DanielBen Mezrich's title is ironic in that this high speed adventure story takes place in the Europe of the past decade. There is no 'far away' or 'happily ever after' element to this story. Instead this thriller takes us on a roller coaster ride that hits you deep in the pit of your stomach. It's literally gut-wrenching. I held my breath as his title character; mathematician turned entrepreneur; Boris Abramovitz Berezovsky; navigated his way through the amoral corporate board rooms; government offices; billionaires' yachts; and the luxurious homes of the super rich; in an attempt to amass; not millions; but billions of dollars. His political and financial favors are not necessarily reciprocated when poisoners spike his best friend and business partner's drink with radioactive polonium. How fitting in this new world! We then watch Berezovsky's eventual downfall as his legal case for five billion dollars in damages against his former protege (the largest civil law suit in recorded history) doesn't go the way he had planned. By the end of the book; the reader is tacitly aware that the buck always stops at the seat of power. Putin's agenda does not include the new would-be titans of world industry. He has a totally different vision for the new Russia (although it bears a striking resemblance to the Russia prior to the fall of the Berlin Wall). I highly recommend this book.
