The Travels of Mendes Pinto

Rating:
Summary: Dense insights into political reality and human nature.
Review: I have been in the grip of the most incredible book I have read in many decades, "The Travels of Mendez Pinto." The sheer density of this work caused it to fall into its own stupendous gravity and disappear from the literary canon. Mendez was personaly present at an unimaginable number of first contact points with "primitive peoples" who he presents with the greatest dignity and honor; unheard of amoung the European colonialists. His insights into multi-culturalism, international relations, anthropology and human nature are played out against a backdrop of cut throat piracy. That this masterpiece has slipped out of the Top Ten list of Great Books into a forgotton dark corner is a shame upon every educated person who has overlooked this towering monolith. If just a few people take the time to read it as Poe instructs us to do in his "Valentine to --- --- ---"; "Search narrowly the lines! - they hold a treasure Divine - a talisman - an amulet That must be worn..at heart. Search well the measure - The words - the syllables! Do not forget The trivialest point, or you may lose your labor!"; perhaps it will finally gain the fame it so richly deserves.