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Life and Death in the Andes: On the Trail of Bandits, Heroes, and Revolutionaries
Unique portraits of legendary characters along South America’s mountain spine, from Charles Darwin to the present day, told by a master traveler and observer
The Andes Mountains are the world’s longest mountain chain, linking most of the countries in South America. Emmy Award-winning filmmaker Kim MacQuarrie takes us on a historical journey through this unique region, bringing fresh insight and contemporary connections to such fabled characters as Charles Darwin, Pablo Escobar, Che Guevara, and many others. He describes living on the floating islands of Lake Titicaca, where people still make sacrifices to the gods. He introduces us to a Patagonian woman who is the last living speaker of her language, as he explores the disappearance of indigenous cultures throughout the Andes. He meets a man whose grandfather witnessed Butch Cassidy’s last days in Bolivia and the school teacher who gave Che Guevara his final meal. MacQuarrie also meets the Colombian police officer who made it his mission to capture Pablo Escobar—the most dangerous cocaine king in the world.
Through the stories he shares, MacQuarrie raises such questions as, where did the people of South America come from? Did they create or import their cultures? Why did the Incas sacrifice children on mountaintops—and how did these “ice mummies” remain so well preserved? Why did Peru’s Shining Path leader Guzmán nearly succeed in his revolutionary quest while Che Guevara in Bolivia so quickly failed? And what so astounded Charles Darwin in South America that led him to conceive the theory evolution? Deeply observed and beautifully written, Adventures in the Andes shows us this land as no one has before.
The Andes Mountains are the world’s longest mountain chain, linking most of the countries in South America. Emmy Award-winning filmmaker Kim MacQuarrie takes us on a historical journey through this unique region, bringing fresh insight and contemporary connections to such fabled characters as Charles Darwin, Pablo Escobar, Che Guevara, and many others. He describes living on the floating islands of Lake Titicaca, where people still make sacrifices to the gods. He introduces us to a Patagonian woman who is the last living speaker of her language, as he explores the disappearance of indigenous cultures throughout the Andes. He meets a man whose grandfather witnessed Butch Cassidy’s last days in Bolivia and the school teacher who gave Che Guevara his final meal. MacQuarrie also meets the Colombian police officer who made it his mission to capture Pablo Escobar—the most dangerous cocaine king in the world.
Through the stories he shares, MacQuarrie raises such questions as, where did the people of South America come from? Did they create or import their cultures? Why did the Incas sacrifice children on mountaintops—and how did these “ice mummies” remain so well preserved? Why did Peru’s Shining Path leader Guzmán nearly succeed in his revolutionary quest while Che Guevara in Bolivia so quickly failed? And what so astounded Charles Darwin in South America that led him to conceive the theory evolution? Deeply observed and beautifully written, Adventures in the Andes shows us this land as no one has before.
386 pages, Hardcover
First published December 1, 2015
About the author
Kim MacQuarrie
6 books155 followersKim MacQuarrie is an award-winning author, a documentary filmmaker, and an anthropologist. He’s won multiple national Emmy awards for documentary films made in such disparate regions as Siberia, Papua New Guinea, and Peru. MacQuarrie is the author of four books on Peru and lived in that country for five years, exploring many of its hidden regions. During that time, MacQuarrie lived with a recently-contacted tribe of indigenous Amazonians, called the Yora. It was MacQuarrie’s experience filming a nearby group of indigenous people, whose ancestors still remembered their contacts with the Inca Empire, that ultimately led him to investigate and then to write his book, "The Last Days of the Incas". The book was selected as a "notable book" by the Kiriyama Prize Committee in 2008 and as an "Outstanding Title" by CHOICE (Current Reviews for Academic Libraries). It is currently being made into a 13-part dramatic series by the FX Channel has been published in eight languages.
MacQuarrie's latest book, "Life and Death in the Andes: On the Trail of Bandits, Heroes, and Revolutionaries," is due out on Dec 1, 2015 with Simon & Schuster. In his latest book, the author travels from Colombia 4,500 miles down the length of the Andes to the tip of Patagonia while investigating such disparate characters as Pablo Escobar, Che Guevara, Charles Darwin, Butch Cassidy & the Sundance Kid, Thor Heyerdahl (of Kon Tiki fame), and even an Incan "Ice Maiden," sacrificed more than 500 years ago on top of a 20,000 foot volcano, but still perfectly preserved.
MacQuarrie's latest book, "Life and Death in the Andes: On the Trail of Bandits, Heroes, and Revolutionaries," is due out on Dec 1, 2015 with Simon & Schuster. In his latest book, the author travels from Colombia 4,500 miles down the length of the Andes to the tip of Patagonia while investigating such disparate characters as Pablo Escobar, Che Guevara, Charles Darwin, Butch Cassidy & the Sundance Kid, Thor Heyerdahl (of Kon Tiki fame), and even an Incan "Ice Maiden," sacrificed more than 500 years ago on top of a 20,000 foot volcano, but still perfectly preserved.
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March 13, 2021
I decided to read this book after recently being impressed with another of the author’s works. This one is an eclectic collection of historical vignettes, each with links to the countries of the Andes mountain chain. The book is written in 9 standalone chapters, which are all a mixture of historical narrative and descriptions of the author’s own travels and research.
The events featured give the impression of the author travelling in a north to south direction, starting in Colombia and finishing in Tierra del Fuego. Chapter 2 is about Darwin in the Galapagos, which is maybe stretching the definition of “The Andes” a bit. Four of the chapters feature the death/capture of bandits or rebels – Pablo Escobar, Abimael Guzman, Che Guevara, and the duo of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.
I had previously read Mark Bowden’s book Killing Pablo , and I had seen the Netflix series Narcos, so I already knew the Pablo Escobar story. I also knew a bit about Guzman’s capture, but I think it’s a dramatic story and it was well-told by the author. All I had known about the death of Butch and Sundance was that they had been killed in Bolivia. I had seen the overblown final scene of the 1969 movie, but I enjoyed reading the real story. Similarly, I hadn’t previously known the detail of how Che Guevara met his end, so it was interesting to read that. I would say that, whilst the author wasn’t blind to Che Guevara’s own ruthlessness, he did seem to buy into some of the myths around the man’s legacy.
There’s a chapter on Hiram Bingham, which provides a different slant on the man from that set out in one of MacQuarrie’s other books, The Last Days of the Incas. It’s the first time I’ve seen a single author provide such different opinions about the same historical figure, but perhaps MacQuarrie’s view of Bingham has changed over time.
Of the remaining chapters, one features the reed islands of Late Titicaca and the boatbuilders who worked with the explorer Thor Heyerdahl. I agree with the author in his assessment of Heyerdahl’s theories. Another looks at the Inca “ice maidens”, teenage girls who were the victims of human sacrifice and whose mummified remains have been found at unbelievably high altitudes in the Andes. This chapter re-imagines the life of one such girl, along with a description of traditions of weaving in the Andes, (inspired by the girl’s clothes). I thought the imagining of the girl’s life was the weakest section of the book. It finishes strongly though, with the last chapter on the sad history of the Yámana Indians of Tierra del Fuego, whom Darwin encountered on his voyage with the Beagle.
The appeal of the book’s chapters will vary according to the interests of the reader, and I wouldn’t say there was any great unifying theme. It seemed as if the author just wanted to write about events that took his fancy. He knows how to write though. I think this book would be enjoyed by those with an interest either in travel or in the history of the events featured.
The events featured give the impression of the author travelling in a north to south direction, starting in Colombia and finishing in Tierra del Fuego. Chapter 2 is about Darwin in the Galapagos, which is maybe stretching the definition of “The Andes” a bit. Four of the chapters feature the death/capture of bandits or rebels – Pablo Escobar, Abimael Guzman, Che Guevara, and the duo of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.
I had previously read Mark Bowden’s book Killing Pablo , and I had seen the Netflix series Narcos, so I already knew the Pablo Escobar story. I also knew a bit about Guzman’s capture, but I think it’s a dramatic story and it was well-told by the author. All I had known about the death of Butch and Sundance was that they had been killed in Bolivia. I had seen the overblown final scene of the 1969 movie, but I enjoyed reading the real story. Similarly, I hadn’t previously known the detail of how Che Guevara met his end, so it was interesting to read that. I would say that, whilst the author wasn’t blind to Che Guevara’s own ruthlessness, he did seem to buy into some of the myths around the man’s legacy.
There’s a chapter on Hiram Bingham, which provides a different slant on the man from that set out in one of MacQuarrie’s other books, The Last Days of the Incas. It’s the first time I’ve seen a single author provide such different opinions about the same historical figure, but perhaps MacQuarrie’s view of Bingham has changed over time.
Of the remaining chapters, one features the reed islands of Late Titicaca and the boatbuilders who worked with the explorer Thor Heyerdahl. I agree with the author in his assessment of Heyerdahl’s theories. Another looks at the Inca “ice maidens”, teenage girls who were the victims of human sacrifice and whose mummified remains have been found at unbelievably high altitudes in the Andes. This chapter re-imagines the life of one such girl, along with a description of traditions of weaving in the Andes, (inspired by the girl’s clothes). I thought the imagining of the girl’s life was the weakest section of the book. It finishes strongly though, with the last chapter on the sad history of the Yámana Indians of Tierra del Fuego, whom Darwin encountered on his voyage with the Beagle.
The appeal of the book’s chapters will vary according to the interests of the reader, and I wouldn’t say there was any great unifying theme. It seemed as if the author just wanted to write about events that took his fancy. He knows how to write though. I think this book would be enjoyed by those with an interest either in travel or in the history of the events featured.
February 22, 2016
Eight years ago I read Kim MacQuarries’ The Last Days of the Incas which continues to stand out in my memory for excellent prose. I saw this new book on the library shelf and despite its appearance as a book of essays (my least favorite genre) I went for it. While I'd prefer a whole book for each of its topics, this is still (to me) worthy of 5 stars.
While reading, I was cognitively considering why I like MacQuarrie’s writing. I decided on three elements: the clarity of prose, his choice of content and the way MacQuarrie helps the reader envision past events.
Regarding the prose, like the earlier book, it is easy to read aloud. I didn’t read it aloud, but most books that are easy to read aloud repeat the predictable noun-verb-object sentence format. While MacQuarrie varies sentence structure, you know where the each sentence is going. I’m not a writer, nor a teacher of writing, but this seems to be an important element, perhaps soothing for the eye and the brain.
MacQuarrie seems to know what will interest an already informed reader. For instance, he enhances the story of Che Guevara's capture through his trip to the schoolhouse. He describes his driver, another “tourist” (is this the proper word?), the hike to get there, and his meeting with the school's teacher at the time (whom Guevara had asked to meet). While devotees of Guevara probably know what happened to his captors/executioners (and the teacher), general readers, like me don’t and MacQuarrie’s fills in this intriguing gap. Similarly, MacQuarrie has new and interesting things to say about the captures of Pablo Escoba, Abimeal Guzman and Butch Cassidy. His interview with the builder of the Kon-Tiki and the description of the reed house culture shed new light on Heyerdahl’s voyage. Who knew that Darwin’s famed ship, “The Beagle” returned 3 indigenous South Americans whom its captain had on a previous voyage brought to England to Christianize and “civilize”?
I liked the technique of splicing a story of a probable past (in italics) into a narrative of the present. This worked particularly well in the description of “Juanita” and her fate and the last days of Butch Cassidy and “the Sundance”.
As the sub-title promises, you will learn about outlaws and revolutionaries, but you will also learn about the indigenous people of South American, their means of survival, environment, legends, language, weaving and beliefs. There is perspective on the theories of evolution and human migration. If you are interested in this region and like travel essays that integrate history with past and present culture, this book is for you.
While reading, I was cognitively considering why I like MacQuarrie’s writing. I decided on three elements: the clarity of prose, his choice of content and the way MacQuarrie helps the reader envision past events.
Regarding the prose, like the earlier book, it is easy to read aloud. I didn’t read it aloud, but most books that are easy to read aloud repeat the predictable noun-verb-object sentence format. While MacQuarrie varies sentence structure, you know where the each sentence is going. I’m not a writer, nor a teacher of writing, but this seems to be an important element, perhaps soothing for the eye and the brain.
MacQuarrie seems to know what will interest an already informed reader. For instance, he enhances the story of Che Guevara's capture through his trip to the schoolhouse. He describes his driver, another “tourist” (is this the proper word?), the hike to get there, and his meeting with the school's teacher at the time (whom Guevara had asked to meet). While devotees of Guevara probably know what happened to his captors/executioners (and the teacher), general readers, like me don’t and MacQuarrie’s fills in this intriguing gap. Similarly, MacQuarrie has new and interesting things to say about the captures of Pablo Escoba, Abimeal Guzman and Butch Cassidy. His interview with the builder of the Kon-Tiki and the description of the reed house culture shed new light on Heyerdahl’s voyage. Who knew that Darwin’s famed ship, “The Beagle” returned 3 indigenous South Americans whom its captain had on a previous voyage brought to England to Christianize and “civilize”?
I liked the technique of splicing a story of a probable past (in italics) into a narrative of the present. This worked particularly well in the description of “Juanita” and her fate and the last days of Butch Cassidy and “the Sundance”.
As the sub-title promises, you will learn about outlaws and revolutionaries, but you will also learn about the indigenous people of South American, their means of survival, environment, legends, language, weaving and beliefs. There is perspective on the theories of evolution and human migration. If you are interested in this region and like travel essays that integrate history with past and present culture, this book is for you.
November 25, 2015
KIRKUS REVIEWS
LIFE AND DEATH IN THE ANDES
On the Trail of Bandits, Heroes, and Revolutionaries
Author: Kim MacQuarrie
Review Issue Date: September 15, 2015
Online Publish Date: September 2, 2015
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Pages: 488
Price ( Hardcover ): $29.95
Publication Date: December 1, 2015
ISBN ( Hardcover ): 978-1-4391-6889-9
Category: Nonfiction Travel & History
A filmmaker and writer tells the story of the historical figures and ordinary people who have attempted to "control, adapt to, or explore" the largely wild and untamed Andes cordillera. MacQuarrie's (The Last Days of the Incas, 2007, etc.) love affair with South America began during boyhood when he read the work of Edgar Rice Burroughs. Though the tales themselves concerned an imaginary world at the center of the Earth, the images—of "half-naked tribes and powerful beasts…[and] rich, luxuriant vegetation, beautiful women"—stayed with him and became the unconscious lodestar toward which he gravitated as an adult traveler.
In this book, MacQuarrie walks in the footsteps of men and women who followed their dreams into the very lands that he once dreamed about as a child. Many became famous for their exploits: Charles Darwin, for example, discovered fossilized seashells high up in the Patagonian Andes that led to the formulation of his theory of evolution, while Che Guevara attempted to lead a revolution in the Bolivian Andes that he hoped would begin to transform the whole of South America. Some, like Colombian drug lord Pablo Escobar, found notoriety in the Andes for dark deeds that not only fueled their greed, but also caused social and political chaos. Others, like Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, used the mountains as a place to hide from their criminal pasts, only to find themselves hounded to death by the law.
Still others, like freelance anthropologists Chris and Ed Franquemont, went into the Andes in search of a research project. Instead, they found a community of indigenous people to belong to and helped revitalize the dying art of weaving among them. Part history and part travel narrative, MacQuarrie's book is as richly detailed as it is deeply felt. As the author describes a magnificent region with a turbulent past, he also pays homage to the "miracles and marvels" that lie buried like gems beneath the unfolding history of the South American continent. A thoughtfully observed travel memoir and history.
-- Kirkus Reviews
“Using the wildly diverse 4,300- mile South American mountain chain as a backdrop, filmmaker and writer Kim MacQuarrie revisits the triumphs and depredations of such varied figures in the region as Charles Darwin, Che Guevara, drug cartel chief Pablo Escobar, Machu Picchu “discoverer” Hiram Bingham and the ever-mythic Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.
But MacQuarrie is no hit-and-run chronicler cherry-picking fables. He immerses himself in the territory he’s been exploring since the late 1980s, when he first journeyed to Peru to interview imprisoned members of the Shining Path guerrilla movement. His account of how Shining Path leader Abimael Guzmán was finally run to ground is both a rousing good yarn and a case study in political error.
The author shows that Guevara’s undoing was an instance of revolutionary fervor overriding common sense. He brings fresh details to the narrative by tracking down the teacher who fed and conversed with Guevara in the hours before a Bolivian soldier executed him.
Although famous names provide much of the material in Life and Death in the Andes, they occupy only a part of MacQuarrie’s attention. He also delves into local cultures, explaining, for example, how an American helped found a thriving cooperative that rekindled interest in traditional Peruvian weaving. He retraces Darwin’s steps on the Galápagos Islands and travels to the tip of the continent to meet the last speaker of the once flourishing Yamana Indian language, destroyed by the ravages of colonialism. MacQuarrie is a master storyteller whose cinematic eye always shines through.”
— Edward Morris, Bookpage
“The Andes mountains chain, the longest in the world, is a treasure trove of history, culture, and people. MacQuarrie (The Last Days of the Incas) seeks to uncover some of the hidden stories of the people who lived in this distinct region. Focusing on various South American countries, the author combines history, folklore, and personal interviews to reveal what he considers "the most interesting stories." MacQuarrie engages as well as educates as he travels throughout the mountain range, intertwining past and present and incorporating political and cultural conflict while taking the reader on a journey that goes beyond geography or geology. Although endnotes for each chapter are provided, it can be challenging to determine the connections between the references and the text. Regardless, MacQuarrie spectacularly describes the Andes. VERDICT This is a well-written, immersive work that history aficionados, particularly those with an affinity for Latin America, will relish.”
-- Library Journal
LIFE AND DEATH IN THE ANDES
On the Trail of Bandits, Heroes, and Revolutionaries
Author: Kim MacQuarrie
Review Issue Date: September 15, 2015
Online Publish Date: September 2, 2015
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Pages: 488
Price ( Hardcover ): $29.95
Publication Date: December 1, 2015
ISBN ( Hardcover ): 978-1-4391-6889-9
Category: Nonfiction Travel & History
A filmmaker and writer tells the story of the historical figures and ordinary people who have attempted to "control, adapt to, or explore" the largely wild and untamed Andes cordillera. MacQuarrie's (The Last Days of the Incas, 2007, etc.) love affair with South America began during boyhood when he read the work of Edgar Rice Burroughs. Though the tales themselves concerned an imaginary world at the center of the Earth, the images—of "half-naked tribes and powerful beasts…[and] rich, luxuriant vegetation, beautiful women"—stayed with him and became the unconscious lodestar toward which he gravitated as an adult traveler.
In this book, MacQuarrie walks in the footsteps of men and women who followed their dreams into the very lands that he once dreamed about as a child. Many became famous for their exploits: Charles Darwin, for example, discovered fossilized seashells high up in the Patagonian Andes that led to the formulation of his theory of evolution, while Che Guevara attempted to lead a revolution in the Bolivian Andes that he hoped would begin to transform the whole of South America. Some, like Colombian drug lord Pablo Escobar, found notoriety in the Andes for dark deeds that not only fueled their greed, but also caused social and political chaos. Others, like Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, used the mountains as a place to hide from their criminal pasts, only to find themselves hounded to death by the law.
Still others, like freelance anthropologists Chris and Ed Franquemont, went into the Andes in search of a research project. Instead, they found a community of indigenous people to belong to and helped revitalize the dying art of weaving among them. Part history and part travel narrative, MacQuarrie's book is as richly detailed as it is deeply felt. As the author describes a magnificent region with a turbulent past, he also pays homage to the "miracles and marvels" that lie buried like gems beneath the unfolding history of the South American continent. A thoughtfully observed travel memoir and history.
-- Kirkus Reviews
“Using the wildly diverse 4,300- mile South American mountain chain as a backdrop, filmmaker and writer Kim MacQuarrie revisits the triumphs and depredations of such varied figures in the region as Charles Darwin, Che Guevara, drug cartel chief Pablo Escobar, Machu Picchu “discoverer” Hiram Bingham and the ever-mythic Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.
But MacQuarrie is no hit-and-run chronicler cherry-picking fables. He immerses himself in the territory he’s been exploring since the late 1980s, when he first journeyed to Peru to interview imprisoned members of the Shining Path guerrilla movement. His account of how Shining Path leader Abimael Guzmán was finally run to ground is both a rousing good yarn and a case study in political error.
The author shows that Guevara’s undoing was an instance of revolutionary fervor overriding common sense. He brings fresh details to the narrative by tracking down the teacher who fed and conversed with Guevara in the hours before a Bolivian soldier executed him.
Although famous names provide much of the material in Life and Death in the Andes, they occupy only a part of MacQuarrie’s attention. He also delves into local cultures, explaining, for example, how an American helped found a thriving cooperative that rekindled interest in traditional Peruvian weaving. He retraces Darwin’s steps on the Galápagos Islands and travels to the tip of the continent to meet the last speaker of the once flourishing Yamana Indian language, destroyed by the ravages of colonialism. MacQuarrie is a master storyteller whose cinematic eye always shines through.”
— Edward Morris, Bookpage
“The Andes mountains chain, the longest in the world, is a treasure trove of history, culture, and people. MacQuarrie (The Last Days of the Incas) seeks to uncover some of the hidden stories of the people who lived in this distinct region. Focusing on various South American countries, the author combines history, folklore, and personal interviews to reveal what he considers "the most interesting stories." MacQuarrie engages as well as educates as he travels throughout the mountain range, intertwining past and present and incorporating political and cultural conflict while taking the reader on a journey that goes beyond geography or geology. Although endnotes for each chapter are provided, it can be challenging to determine the connections between the references and the text. Regardless, MacQuarrie spectacularly describes the Andes. VERDICT This is a well-written, immersive work that history aficionados, particularly those with an affinity for Latin America, will relish.”
-- Library Journal
November 21, 2015
Received a free signed copy of this book. This is a richly detailed travel and memoir book. The author is a great storyteller who weaves his own experiences with historical fact. The book is well researched and Mr MacQuarrie makes history come alive. His depictions of South America are vivid and his knowledge of the people and culture are second to none, you can feel the passion he has for history and land and it's people. I loved this book and I am looking forward to reading his other works.
November 13, 2015
MacQuarrie spent several years in South America traveling the length of the Andes, exploring the lives of many famous (and infamous) travelers before him. From Charles Darwin to Pablo Escobar, from the discoverer (?) of Machu Picchu to the Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, the author presents their stories vividly. From Che Guevara to Thor Heyerdahl, he tracks their paths and journeys, uncovering new exciting facts about them. The book is an interesting one, a travel memoir that painlessly includes fascinating South American history. We, as Americans, who know so little about our southern neighbors, this should be a must read. You will not be disappointed!
Shelved as 'physical_to-read_stack'
December 29, 2015A GoodReads FirstReads Winner. Can't wait to receive my copy
October 17, 2017
of mummies, mountains, mysteries and murders
What do Pablo Escobar the drug king, Charles Darwin, a Maoist guerrilla leader, Thor Heyerdahl, Hiram Bingham, Butch Cassidy, Che Guevara, mummies on mountaintops, reed rafts, and a dying language have in common? Yes, you're correct. They all connect in some way to the vast mountain range that runs along the west side of South America from Colombia all the way to Tierra del Fuego. In a most readable, interesting book, Kim MacQuarrie combines all these stories into a kind of smorgasbord of Andean tales, well-researched and vividly presented. How was the murderous drug king, worth billions, ever caught? The author even interviewed his brother. Charles Darwin's famous discovery was not so well-organized; he didn't start with a theory and set out to prove it---he believed in Divine Creation for many years. His work in the Galapagos (OK, not exactly in the Andes) finally led him to change his mind. Peru's violent Sendero Luminoso movement almost toppled the government, almost established a Maoist state in the Americas, but their leader was caught and jailed. You can read the story of how this happened. MacQuarrie interviewed the arresting officers. Then there are chapters on human sacrifice in the 15th century, reed rafts on Lake Titicaca and Thor Heyerdahl's interest in them, on the final days in a Bolivian podunk of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (no, it didn't happen as in the movie), the final days of Che Guevara, whose attempt to spark another Cuban revolution fizzled, the escapades of an American professor/collector of antiquities and so-called "discoverer" of Machu Picchu, and at last, the story of four Yámana Indians from the very southern tip of South America who went to London in 1831 and met the royal family. Their language diminished along with the fauna of Tierra del Fuego until MacQuarrie met the last speaker, an old woman who had to speak Spanish to everyone else.
Each topic is a (rather) short essay on what could be expanded into a series of books. Each combines the author's travels and personal observations or interviews with researched knowledge. A great format. If any of these varied topics and stories appeal to you, I suggest you read this book. You won't regret it.
What do Pablo Escobar the drug king, Charles Darwin, a Maoist guerrilla leader, Thor Heyerdahl, Hiram Bingham, Butch Cassidy, Che Guevara, mummies on mountaintops, reed rafts, and a dying language have in common? Yes, you're correct. They all connect in some way to the vast mountain range that runs along the west side of South America from Colombia all the way to Tierra del Fuego. In a most readable, interesting book, Kim MacQuarrie combines all these stories into a kind of smorgasbord of Andean tales, well-researched and vividly presented. How was the murderous drug king, worth billions, ever caught? The author even interviewed his brother. Charles Darwin's famous discovery was not so well-organized; he didn't start with a theory and set out to prove it---he believed in Divine Creation for many years. His work in the Galapagos (OK, not exactly in the Andes) finally led him to change his mind. Peru's violent Sendero Luminoso movement almost toppled the government, almost established a Maoist state in the Americas, but their leader was caught and jailed. You can read the story of how this happened. MacQuarrie interviewed the arresting officers. Then there are chapters on human sacrifice in the 15th century, reed rafts on Lake Titicaca and Thor Heyerdahl's interest in them, on the final days in a Bolivian podunk of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (no, it didn't happen as in the movie), the final days of Che Guevara, whose attempt to spark another Cuban revolution fizzled, the escapades of an American professor/collector of antiquities and so-called "discoverer" of Machu Picchu, and at last, the story of four Yámana Indians from the very southern tip of South America who went to London in 1831 and met the royal family. Their language diminished along with the fauna of Tierra del Fuego until MacQuarrie met the last speaker, an old woman who had to speak Spanish to everyone else.
Each topic is a (rather) short essay on what could be expanded into a series of books. Each combines the author's travels and personal observations or interviews with researched knowledge. A great format. If any of these varied topics and stories appeal to you, I suggest you read this book. You won't regret it.
January 5, 2024
I liked his book on the Inca, which I read in Spanish translation, and since my wife heard Life + Death in audiobook form (unfortunately the reader wasn't that compelling), so I gave it a try in print form. You can find out the complete contents on Goodreads, so I'll just add comments. The most successful parts were when MacQuarrie dramatized vignettes from the lives of Juanita the Ice Maiden, Butch Cassidy + the Sundance Kid, Darwin, Che, the official who tracked down Pablo Escobar, among others equally deserving. But having two chapters on Darwin, placed at different places in the narrative without a connection, shows what is present in other segments too. Facts get repeated, stories retold, and styles at times feel as if the author's using previously written material, in slightly varying styles. Overall, the combination of travelogue and history benefit from their blend. It's well indexed and documented, and it popularizes Latin American themes with different degrees of mass appeal.
October 26, 2021
After all, Andes is the longest above water mountain range in the world which touches 7 countries which has so many stories to be told. This author has just done that.
A very interesting collection of topics that happened in the Andes mountain countries. This includes the story of Pablo Escobar in Colombia, The Shining Path's genesis and demise, Rediscovery of Machu Picchu, Mummified Sacrificed Ice maiden of Peru, Che's assassination in Bolivia, Darwin's presence in Galapagos & Patagonia and the Yamanas of the Tierra Del Fuego . Author's wiring style is very gripping and the books is unputdownable. Page after page of unknown facts of these normally well known events and topics . It shows the amount of time the Author has spent in these regions and his knowledge on these topics. I was touched esply by Che's assassination topics and the reconstructive story of the Mummy Juanita.
Ironically, Che himself has touched all the places where these stories happen in his "Motorcycle Diaries" .
Darwin's story on the Galapagos and his encounter with the Yamanas who were brought to England on the return voyage of the HMS Beagle is quite interesting as well.
Through this book I got introduced to couple of Peruvian authors Jose Maira Arguedas and Mario Vargas Llosa.
Highly Recommend this book for anybody interested in Andean Culture/History and or Travelogue.
Now off to read this author's other famous book "The last Days of the Incas".
A very interesting collection of topics that happened in the Andes mountain countries. This includes the story of Pablo Escobar in Colombia, The Shining Path's genesis and demise, Rediscovery of Machu Picchu, Mummified Sacrificed Ice maiden of Peru, Che's assassination in Bolivia, Darwin's presence in Galapagos & Patagonia and the Yamanas of the Tierra Del Fuego . Author's wiring style is very gripping and the books is unputdownable. Page after page of unknown facts of these normally well known events and topics . It shows the amount of time the Author has spent in these regions and his knowledge on these topics. I was touched esply by Che's assassination topics and the reconstructive story of the Mummy Juanita.
Ironically, Che himself has touched all the places where these stories happen in his "Motorcycle Diaries" .
Darwin's story on the Galapagos and his encounter with the Yamanas who were brought to England on the return voyage of the HMS Beagle is quite interesting as well.
Through this book I got introduced to couple of Peruvian authors Jose Maira Arguedas and Mario Vargas Llosa.
Highly Recommend this book for anybody interested in Andean Culture/History and or Travelogue.
Now off to read this author's other famous book "The last Days of the Incas".
November 11, 2021
这本书很难被归类，因为它是历史、考古学、人类学、传记、纪实写作和旅行文学的奇妙结合。其中的每一个章节基本上都有潜力被扩写成一本独立而完整的作品，同时还足够好看。
July 2, 2022
Interesting collection of reports from a part of the world the author seems to have a lot of love for.
Having just completed his excellent Last Days of the Incas, thought I’d give this one a try.
Containing a few entertaining stories describing various times, places, characters and spaces loosely connected by regions of the Andes including Peru, Argentina and Bolivia.
Each story focuses on a different personality or group, from Pablo Escobar to Che Guevara and The Shinning Path to Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.
Macquarie writes about what he wants to write about, he writes well and is a good storyteller. But there is no overarching theme or point to this collection.
One can’t help but wish the author had tried his hand at directing most of this material into a novel. A missed opportunity.
A fun but not essential read.
Having just completed his excellent Last Days of the Incas, thought I’d give this one a try.
Containing a few entertaining stories describing various times, places, characters and spaces loosely connected by regions of the Andes including Peru, Argentina and Bolivia.
Each story focuses on a different personality or group, from Pablo Escobar to Che Guevara and The Shinning Path to Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.
Macquarie writes about what he wants to write about, he writes well and is a good storyteller. But there is no overarching theme or point to this collection.
One can’t help but wish the author had tried his hand at directing most of this material into a novel. A missed opportunity.
A fun but not essential read.
June 4, 2016
While MacQuarrie travels north to south through this book (with a handy map included), each chapter is an individual story, basically an essay, focusing on a particular historical figure, event, etc. from that area that he has researched in his many trips through the region: Pablo Escobar (Colombian drug lord and all-around nasty guy), Charles Darwin, Abimael Guzman (leader of the Shining Path guerrilla group), "Juanita" (a mummified Incan human sacrifice), Thor Heyerdahl (Norwegian adventurer & author), Che Guevara, and Butch Cassidy & the Sundance Kid. MacQuarrie does a great job of weaving history into his own travels, always focusing on the humanity of his subjects.
February 26, 2017
Kim McQuarrie lived in South America for several years and provides many interesting portraits of life there, including the voyage of the Beagle and Charles Darwin, (and how at times Darwin's amateurism inhibited his work) the rise and fall of Pablo Escobar, drug kingpin of Medellin, Colombia, the strange and tragic saga of the Shining Path guerrillas in Peru and the fates of Che Guevara and Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid in Bolivia, among others. Required reading for those who love the Andes.
October 5, 2023
This was a fun read especially for anyone who lived for some time in South America. MacQuarrie’s book is both a bit of history and a travel log as he travels to places where events occurred and meets with people who had direct or indirect knowledge of historical events that happened in the Andes of South America. MacQuarrie’s book is aptly titled as he finds remnants of past lives and civilizations and examines the death of several famous people and in the end the story of the last Yamama people and end of their language. A variety of historical topics are explored including; the search for and the death of Pablo Escobar, Darwin’s trip/research in the Galapagos, the capture of the Shining Path leader in Peru, Hiram Bingham’s discovery of Machu Pichu, the story of the Inca mummy “Juanita”, the island people (Uros) of Lake Titicaca, the making of the reed boat/raft for Thor Heyerdahl, the capture and death of Che Guevara, the story of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance kid, and finally the last of the Yamama people in Patagonia. The book has a wealth of material and was enjoyable to read.
March 10, 2019
Kim MacQuarrie's book Life and Death in the Andes, provides a snapshot style narrative of different historical events in South America. Each chapter consists of sections of history and MacQuarrie's own experiences in the region. The book covers a lot of ground geographically from Colombia to Peru to the southern tip of Chile and Argentina. Topics vary significantly in scope including the hunt for Pablo Escobar and the scientific journey of Charles Darwin.
While I enjoyed the variety of topics, the book would have benefited from a more connected writing style. Each chapter is very self contained without any time of overarching analysis. Some of the chapters were much more interesting than others. I look forward to reading more books about the region especially those focusing on events since the 1950s.
While I enjoyed the variety of topics, the book would have benefited from a more connected writing style. Each chapter is very self contained without any time of overarching analysis. Some of the chapters were much more interesting than others. I look forward to reading more books about the region especially those focusing on events since the 1950s.
September 8, 2023
Tons of cool stories and interviews, has a weird obsession with hands though
June 20, 2019
I think I was actively ignoring the subtitle because, as expected, the parts of this I found least interesting were those about revolutionaries and bandits. (I loathe police procedural.) What did strike my fancy was the examination of the cultures of the Incas and of the indigenous peoples of the Lake Titicaca and Cape Horn areas, especially the impact the natural environment had on their ways of life. The book as a whole was a bit of a hodgepodge and it would be hard to imagine a person equally engaged by all the chapters, but it was generally enlightening. Bonus: I watched a bunch of Jeopardy episodes the other night and I knew two answers I wouldn’t have before, thanks to this book! 3.5
August 15, 2024
I read the 3 chapters on Hugo Martinez and Pablo Escobar, Guzman and the Shining Path, and Che Guevara in Bolivia, and I absolutely adored them. They are stunning; full of wonderful prose and compelling history. The book offers so much so quickly but never too much too quickly. I only wish each chapter were a book of its own! That said, I am going to put this book down for now and revisit the remaining chapters another time.
May 7, 2017
All and more than you ever thought you wanted to know about South America and some very interesting characters in its history. Thoroughly enjoyed this book from start to finish. Bravo to Kim MacQuarrie for finely told stories that will leave you wanting more of his writing.
December 12, 2016
I picked up this CD at the last minutes before a drive to Portland. The reader’s over-enthusiasm and hyperness nearly killed it, but with a 5 and half hour drive ahead of me I kept listening. After the first section, the reader calms down some, and I really enjoyed the author’s approach.
The author is entranced with the Andes and has spent a good bit of his life exploring and talking with people from Columbia to the Tierra del Fuego. I liked that the author tells stories from unusual points of view and that there are both high profile (Che Guevera, Pablo Escobar) and simpler stories (weaving, the Yaghan). My favorite essay was on weaving and the story of an enlightened anthropologist and a young woman who pursued the ancient weaving style of the Incas. I also liked the essay on the Yaghan Indians of Tierra del Fuego and missionary Thomas Bridges who recorded the first dictionary of Yaghan language (I added The Uttermost Part of the Earth, by Lucas Bridges to my To Read list and it became one of my best books of the year).
The author is entranced with the Andes and has spent a good bit of his life exploring and talking with people from Columbia to the Tierra del Fuego. I liked that the author tells stories from unusual points of view and that there are both high profile (Che Guevera, Pablo Escobar) and simpler stories (weaving, the Yaghan). My favorite essay was on weaving and the story of an enlightened anthropologist and a young woman who pursued the ancient weaving style of the Incas. I also liked the essay on the Yaghan Indians of Tierra del Fuego and missionary Thomas Bridges who recorded the first dictionary of Yaghan language (I added The Uttermost Part of the Earth, by Lucas Bridges to my To Read list and it became one of my best books of the year).
December 10, 2015
Jonathan Yen’s narration of Kim MacQuarrie’s “Life and Death in the Andes: On the Trail of Bandits, Heroes, and Revolutionaries” is outstanding. Yen’s finely tuned attention to pronunciation, languages, accents and characterization brings this book to life and lands the listener directly in the Andes Mountains amidst the Incas, rebels, archaeologists, evolutionists, and fallen virgin maidens sacrificed to appease the gods. Forgotten tongues and rare peoples, warm colors and icy slopes, noisy birds, and aged tortoises will tickle and entice your senses and make you forget you are not really there. Or are you?
December 3, 2015
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Great historical memoirs of famous and infamous South American characters, told by a master storyteller. Beside the obvious inclusion of Pablo Escobar and Che Guevara, to the people of the floating islands in Lake Titicaca who still sacrifice to their gods, Mr. MacQuarrie presents an insightful and entertaining look at the huge South American continent and its people.
Great historical memoirs of famous and infamous South American characters, told by a master storyteller. Beside the obvious inclusion of Pablo Escobar and Che Guevara, to the people of the floating islands in Lake Titicaca who still sacrifice to their gods, Mr. MacQuarrie presents an insightful and entertaining look at the huge South American continent and its people.
May 27, 2017
I won this in a Goodreads giveaway.
I really enjoyed this book. I was enthralled from the beginning. I even envied the authors journeys. I recommend this to everyone who is curious about the geography and history of South America.
I really enjoyed this book. I was enthralled from the beginning. I even envied the authors journeys. I recommend this to everyone who is curious about the geography and history of South America.
January 18, 2016
I have a fascination with Central and South America. As a result I love loved this book. The author is an anthropologist who takes well know people or stories and visits them. The writing is excellent, the stories intriguing and I'm ready to plan my next trip.
February 18, 2016
A great book. I really enjoyed how he wove the modern day into his stories about the past. Fascinating and each chapter was about a different part of South America. If you like travel and history then this book is for you.
January 11, 2017
Fantastic book. Very enjoyable, entertaining and enlightening. If you were ever curious about South American history (around the Andean mountain range in particular) then this is the book for you. Highly recommend.
January 29, 2017
MacQuarrie brings to bear a real knowledge of and love for the continent. Especially enjoyed the way he wove together stories of the ancient and the more contemporary -- Pablo Escobar with El Dorado, the weavers of Chinchero with the ice maiden. Deftly done.
January 11, 2016
A series of what might be termed very, very long articles regarding the people whose lives passed, some briefly, in the Andean countries of South America.
January 24, 2016
Great book
July 12, 2024
What a fantastic introduction to the modern history of South America! This book helped me bridge the gap between the history of the Spanish conquests and the modern state of the continent.
I loved the premise of the book, but felt there were some minor areas for improvement in the execution. It felt like MacQuarrie had unified themes for some chapters, such as individuals who played critical roles in the history of the region, with a heavy emphasis on individuals with violent histories and poor moral characters, but other times he introduced seemingly random topics such as Darwin’s theory of evolution (which took place on an island far from the Andes mountain range and centers on a foreigner) or cultural groups such as the Incan weavers or Yámana indigenous group. I feel like he could write an entire series with the general theme, but with different twists for each book (maybe a book on revolutionaries, another on various cultural groups, another on foreigners who had an influence in the region, etc).
I also could have done without the detailed descriptions of every place he visited or person he met along his travels while researching for the book, but again found his writing to overall be highly readable and engaging.
Jotting down some thoughts on each chapter below:
- Pablo Escobar: I had heard the name and was vaguely familiar with his ruthless nature, but it was interesting to hear about his death. Also incredible that the head of the police turned down a $6 million bribe from Escobar. That man truly changed the history of his country forever. What a hero!
- Darwin & the theory of evolution: seems quite unrelated to the premise but interesting to hear that Darwin’s data collection was botched and that flavors of the evolution theory were published long before Darwin came up with the idea
- Shining Path: one of my favorite chapters, as I’d encountered the name while reading other books on Peru for an upcoming vacation but was pretty unfamiliar with it otherwise. Found it fascinating that so many women were involved with the terrorist movement and the method for the capture was very clever (the detectives watching a couple who they’d received a tip on noticed cigarette butts in the trash, even though they never saw the couple smoking, only to realize they must have someone else hidden in the house).
- Hiram Bingham: largely repetitive given previous readings. I would be curious to hear about how tourism has changed Peru for the better though, which was not covered in the book
- Incan Sacrifices and Weaving Communities: for the most part it felt like two completely unrelated topics thrown together, but it did make me wish I had visited Chinchero, and I found it interesting to learn that the girls who were sacrificed lived in convents their whole lives and their fates could be marrying a noble, becoming part of the Sapa Inca’s harem, living in the convent permanently, or being chosen as a sacrifice
- Lake Titicaca: I enjoyed learning about the history of humankind that was discussed in this chapter, including the navigational abilities of the Polynesians and Bolivians.
- Che Guevara: another favorite chapter for me. I found it peculiar that someone would start a revolutionary movement in countries (Cuba, Bolivia) that were not his own. Also never understood the level of poverty that existed in Bolivia beforehand. This chapter allowed me to grasp the reason these poor nations believe in communism and terrorism. I would have loved more info on Che Guevara’s life in addition to his death, because I found the whole subject fascinating.
- Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid: this chapter had me wondering how relevant these American outlaws really were to the story of South America, especially as they were not murderous and their crimes were few and far between.
- The Yámana: a lesson on cultural collisions and the damages the Europeans had (once again) on indigenous populations. Again I wonder how important the Yámana are to the history of South America, but I’m sure these same themes can be found all throughout the continent.
Once again, I thoroughly enjoyed MacQuarrie’s book and will be sure to read anything by him. I did think the book ended rather abruptly, with no unifying themes or summaries discussed, but that didn’t hinder my ability to enjoy the book or learn a ton about the recent history of this great continent.
I loved the premise of the book, but felt there were some minor areas for improvement in the execution. It felt like MacQuarrie had unified themes for some chapters, such as individuals who played critical roles in the history of the region, with a heavy emphasis on individuals with violent histories and poor moral characters, but other times he introduced seemingly random topics such as Darwin’s theory of evolution (which took place on an island far from the Andes mountain range and centers on a foreigner) or cultural groups such as the Incan weavers or Yámana indigenous group. I feel like he could write an entire series with the general theme, but with different twists for each book (maybe a book on revolutionaries, another on various cultural groups, another on foreigners who had an influence in the region, etc).
I also could have done without the detailed descriptions of every place he visited or person he met along his travels while researching for the book, but again found his writing to overall be highly readable and engaging.
Jotting down some thoughts on each chapter below:
- Pablo Escobar: I had heard the name and was vaguely familiar with his ruthless nature, but it was interesting to hear about his death. Also incredible that the head of the police turned down a $6 million bribe from Escobar. That man truly changed the history of his country forever. What a hero!
- Darwin & the theory of evolution: seems quite unrelated to the premise but interesting to hear that Darwin’s data collection was botched and that flavors of the evolution theory were published long before Darwin came up with the idea
- Shining Path: one of my favorite chapters, as I’d encountered the name while reading other books on Peru for an upcoming vacation but was pretty unfamiliar with it otherwise. Found it fascinating that so many women were involved with the terrorist movement and the method for the capture was very clever (the detectives watching a couple who they’d received a tip on noticed cigarette butts in the trash, even though they never saw the couple smoking, only to realize they must have someone else hidden in the house).
- Hiram Bingham: largely repetitive given previous readings. I would be curious to hear about how tourism has changed Peru for the better though, which was not covered in the book
- Incan Sacrifices and Weaving Communities: for the most part it felt like two completely unrelated topics thrown together, but it did make me wish I had visited Chinchero, and I found it interesting to learn that the girls who were sacrificed lived in convents their whole lives and their fates could be marrying a noble, becoming part of the Sapa Inca’s harem, living in the convent permanently, or being chosen as a sacrifice
- Lake Titicaca: I enjoyed learning about the history of humankind that was discussed in this chapter, including the navigational abilities of the Polynesians and Bolivians.
- Che Guevara: another favorite chapter for me. I found it peculiar that someone would start a revolutionary movement in countries (Cuba, Bolivia) that were not his own. Also never understood the level of poverty that existed in Bolivia beforehand. This chapter allowed me to grasp the reason these poor nations believe in communism and terrorism. I would have loved more info on Che Guevara’s life in addition to his death, because I found the whole subject fascinating.
- Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid: this chapter had me wondering how relevant these American outlaws really were to the story of South America, especially as they were not murderous and their crimes were few and far between.
- The Yámana: a lesson on cultural collisions and the damages the Europeans had (once again) on indigenous populations. Again I wonder how important the Yámana are to the history of South America, but I’m sure these same themes can be found all throughout the continent.
Once again, I thoroughly enjoyed MacQuarrie’s book and will be sure to read anything by him. I did think the book ended rather abruptly, with no unifying themes or summaries discussed, but that didn’t hinder my ability to enjoy the book or learn a ton about the recent history of this great continent.
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