Stars: 3
Review by: Mandy Apgar
OK, but oddly
dissatisfying in a way I cannot quite place. Privileged American John
Stephens begins exploring ancient ruins, in the beginning oddly enough
as a way to preserve his declining health, and
soon he uncovers hints of the Maya. Back at this time (1830s) it was
thought amongst many idiots that only Anglo Saxons could build advanced
cities (apparently they missed hearing about the Egyptians, well, ever)
and he concluded that, if he could find the
right artist capable of illustrating the things he saw, that not only
would they make a great contribution to society but also a great
financial windfall. Enter Frederick Catherwood, Sr., a hardscrabble Brit
that agrees to his terms. Together they released
an incredible book that went through several printings and exposed many
to Mesoamerica. The effort however eventually came at a cost to both -
continuing expeditions fractured Stephens' already perilous health, and
after his passing Catherwood (whose marriage
crumbled while he was absent drawing the ruins) himself met an early
end.
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