The Aztec Treasure House

by Evan S. Connell

Here are tales of fabulous advances made in anthropology, archaeology, astronomy, and linguistics, stories of the Anasazi, the "old ones" of the southwestern desert, of the great explorers, eccentrics, dreamers, scientists, cranks, and geniuses. "There's no end to the list, of course," Connell says, "because gradually it descends from such legendary individuals to ourselves when, as children, obsessed by that same urge, we got permission to sleep in the backyard."

Genres: Essays, Nonfiction, History

484 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2001

About the author

Evan Shelby Connell Jr. (August 17, 1924 – January 10, 2013) was a U.S. novelist, poet, and short-story writer. His writing covered a variety of genres, although he published most frequently in fiction.

In 2009, Connell was nominated for the Man Booker International Prize, for lifetime achievement. On April 23, 2010, he was awarded a Los Angeles Times Book Prize: the Robert Kirsch Award, for "a living author with a substantial connection to the American West, whose contribution to American letters deserves special recognition."

Connell was born in Kansas City, Missouri, the only son of Evan S. Connell, Sr. (1890–1974), a physician, and Ruth Elton Connell. He had a sister Barbara (Mrs. Matthew Zimmermann) to whom he dedicated his novel Mrs. Bridge (1959). He graduated from Southwest High School in Kansas City in 1941. He started undergraduate work at Dartmouth College but joined the Navy in 1943 and became a pilot. After the end of World War II, he graduated from the University of Kansas in 1947, with a B.A. in English. He studied creative writing at Columbia University in New York and Stanford University in California. He never married, and lived and worked in Sausalito, California for decades.
(Wikipedia)

Reviews

[Nicholas Ozment]

History is not often this enjoyable, so wryly is it told by the imaginative, enlightened—and enlightening—Evan S. Connell.

These twenty essays chronicle humanity’s insatiable curiosity for finding things—everything from the missing link to the northwest passage to the south pole to El Dorado to the philosopher’s stone. Here folly and bravery are unearthed in stranger-than-fiction accounts of eccentric individuals who filled in the maps back when much of the world beyond one’s borders was full of rumored wonders, dark secrets, awesome and mysterious treasures still waiting to be discovered. Bizarre charlatans shoulder their packs alongside unlikely heroes to tramp into the annals of history, sometimes leaving fastidious journals and logbooks, more often trailing enigmatic question marks in their wake. Connell brings them all back to life, like a seer conjuring up long-departed spirits. This literary medium has done his work well: I have never held a gold doubloon or an Aztec treasure in my hand, but by my time spent in The Aztec Treasure House, I am enriched. Go west (or east) young man (or woman), and get thee a copy!

[Lisa]

Terrific -- a real Cabinet of Wonders, full of erudite and fascinating information about man's search for knowledge. Full review up at Like Fire.

[Karen]

Connell brings a lot of the same dry humor to these essays as he does to his novels. It's nice to read out of my comfort zone for a change.

[RUSA CODES]

This was one of the 2002 RUSA Notable Books winners. For the complete list, go to http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/rus...

[Mikki]

A collection of essays detailing historical stories, and myths and legends of yesteryear, some more interesting than others to me personally, especially numbers 2, 3 & 4. A couple of others I skimmed through, while I skipped the rest as they looked long-winded and laborious. Another of my acquisitions from the local public library outlet of cheap books, I didn't feel obliged to plough through all the essays in detail. Anyone interested can probably find a synopsis of each essay online. I will be passing if on to a charity shop. Another reader may find more of the essays of interest.

[Kim Zinkowski]

From Nick...Essays that I enjoyed.

[Peter Nowakowski]

several essays to read over time. And they are wonderful!
#1. Olduvai & All That— 6/5-6/17 & 12/17-18/22
#2. Eca Suthi…—- 6/29/17 & 01/22/23
#3. Vinland Vinland—- 7/5/17 & 03/18-19/23
#4. Gustav’s Dreadnought—-7/6/17 & 08/19/23
#5. The White Lantern—- 7/7/17 & 06/25-26/24
#6. Syllables Here and There --7/25/17 & 10/02-03/24
#7. Abracadabra—- 5/18/18 &—9/8-9/9/24
#8. Various Tourists—-5/18/18 &
#9. The Aztec Treasure House—-8/19/18 &
#10. Aristokles’ Atlantis—-8/20/18 &
#11. The innocents’ Crusade—-9/4/18 &
#12. Presser John—- 9/4/18 &
#13. To the Indies—-12/25/18 &
#14. The Sea Must Have an Endynge—-12/29/18 &
#15. El Dorado—-12/30/18 &
#16. Seven Cities—-12/31/18 &
#17. Gold! Gold! Gold!—-12/31/18 &
#18. Philippe’s Theophrastus Aureolus Bo Hohenheim & Co.—-12/31/18 &
#19. Mesa Verde—-1/1/ 19 &
#20. Messages on Sandstone Bluff—-1/1/19 &

[Kallie]

This is a marvelous book, worthy of its title. Connell has done phenomenal research, in so many fields of historic discoveries. With great, dry-as-a-bone humor, he brings an assortment of explorers, obsessed with experiments in science, or with explorations via dangerous often fatal travels by sea and land. I have never read such droll accounts of what must have been truly horrific explorations in the 'New World.' And he's a wonderful writer. One of these days I wills comb through the book for quotes, but while reading I was too engrossed to write anything down. The writing is very dense with detail and characterization, and I tend to read more than book at a time; otherwise I would have finished much sooner.

[Andrea]

mentions Tycho Brahe

[John]

Intriguing collection of well-written essays on a wide range of subjects. Highly recommended.