Brazil That Never Was

The book explores the story of Lieutenant-Colonel Percy Fawcett, a British explorer who went in search of a lost city in the Amazon in 1925 and never returned. It inspired Andrew Lees to believe that there were still earthly places where one could 'fall off the edge'. Lees traveled to Manaus in Fawcetts footsteps and had a psychedelic experience in the forest, realizing that his yearning for the imaginary Brazil of his boyhood was a nostalgia for what never was.

Format: Hardback
Publication date: 15 September 2020
Publisher: Notting Hill Editions

As a young boy growing up in the 1950s near Liverpool, Andrew Lees would accompany his father to the docks, where they would eagerly observe the arrival of ships from Brazil, unloading their captivating cargo of coffee, cotton bales, molasses, and cocoa. Lees meticulously recorded the names and details of these ships and their goods in his exercise book, cherishing every moment of this captivating spectacle.

One day, his father presented him with a weathered book titled Exploration Fawcett, which recounted the true story of Lieutenant-Colonel Percy Fawcett, a British explorer who ventured into the Amazon in 1925 in search of a lost city. Tragically, Fawcett never returned. The captivating tale of Fawcett's encounters with dangerous animals and hostile tribes, his unwavering mission to uncover an Atlantean civilization, and the countless lives lost in pursuit of him, ignited a deep sense of wonder and curiosity within the young Lees. It instilled in him a belief that there remained earthly realms where one could truly "fall off the edge."

Driven by this newfound fascination, Lees embarked on a journey that mirrored Fawcett's footsteps, traveling to the city of Manaus. During his time there, he underwent a profound psychedelic experience in the forest, a moment that altered his perception of reality. It dawned on him that his longing for the imaginary Brazil of his boyhood, akin to Fawcett's quest for an earthly paradise, was a poignant reflection of what could have been but never materialized.

Lees' book seamlessly blends elements of travelogue and memoir, offering a vivid portrayal of an elusive Brazil and a flawed explorer whose ill-fated mission left a lasting impact on countless lives. Through his meticulous research and heartfelt storytelling, Lees invites readers to explore the rich tapestry of Fawcett's legacy and the enduring allure of the Amazon rainforest.

Weight: 198g
Dimension: 122 x 189 x 16 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781912559213