“I have always considered myself a disinterested reporter who did not get involved personally in his stories.”

In the middle of the Amazon, Grann is temporarily separated from his companions. Here he reflects on his intense fascination with the mystery of Z and how that fascination, against his character and better judgment, has brought him to the jungle, where he now faces a few moments of anxiety and possible danger. This quotation supports the theme of Obsession.

“Many explorers went mad.”

For centuries, the legend of El Dorado has captivated adventurers, often to the point of insanity. In 1561, for instance, the Spanish conquistador Lope de Aguirre lost his mind in the middle of the jungle, resulting in mutiny and Aguirre’s death. This quotation supports the theme Obsession.

“Even today, the Brazilian government estimates that there are more than sixty Indian tribes that have never been contacted by outsiders.”

Even after 500 years of European exploration and settlement, the Amazon jungle conceals entire native societies from the world, contributing to the region’s reputation as a vast unknown. This quotation supports the themes Re-imagining the Amazon and Collision of Ancient and Modern.