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Jungle Paths and Inca Ruins
In 1925, anthropologist William McGovern was attempting to lead a routine life in London when a friend asked him to journey up the Amazon and on to Inca Ruins in Brazil. The friend withdrew, and McGovern found himself on his way to Brazil accompanied by only a cameraman.
404 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1927
About the author
William Montgomery McGovern
53 books6 followersWilliam Montgomery McGovern was an American adventurer, Northwestern University professor, anthropologist and journalist. He was possibly an inspiration for the character of Indiana Jones. McGovern's life may be more incredible than the fictional character he spawned. By age 30, he had already explored the Amazon and braved uncharted regions of the Himalayas, survived revolution in Mexico, studied at Oxford and the Sorbonne and become a Buddhist priest in a Japanese monastery. He became a beloved lecturer, war correspondent and military strategist.
His formative years were spent in Asia. McGovern graduated with the degree of Doctor of Divinity, from the Buddhist monastery of Nishi Honganji in Kyoto, Japan at age 20 before going on to study at the Sorbonne and University of Berlin. He received his D.Phil. from Christ Church College, Oxford in 1922—working his way through school by teaching Chinese at the University of London. Shortly after graduation he began his first great expedition, to the remote mountain kingdom of Tibet. Another expedition to Peru and the Amazon would follow a few years later.
In 1937, McGovern was named Far East correspondent by the Chicago Times, arriving in Tokyo with his wife as war began with China.
When the United States joined what had become World War II, McGovern joined the United States Naval Reserve, serving from 1941 to 1945. His most important job was not martial in nature however. Throughout the war he would rise at 5:30 AM to prepare a top-secret newspaper on enemy capabilities and intentions. This paper was considered required breakfast reading for President Roosevelt and the Joint Chiefs.
At age 30, McGovern became assistant curator of the anthropology department at Chicago's Field Museum of Natural History. Two years later, was appointed a professor of Political Science at Northwestern, a position he would hold for the rest of his life.
Between his time as a war correspondent during the Sino-Japanese War and the entry of the United States into World War II, McGovern lectured on government at Harvard University. During the post-War years, he lectured on military intelligence and strategy at the Naval, Air and Army War Colleges.
Reputed to speak 12 languages and deaf in one ear, McGovern was an academic celebrity known for outlandish foreign dress and holding court in Northwestern's University Club.
McGovern married his second cousin, Margaret Montgomery, and fathered four children—three daughters and a son. His granddaughter is actress Elizabeth McGovern.
His formative years were spent in Asia. McGovern graduated with the degree of Doctor of Divinity, from the Buddhist monastery of Nishi Honganji in Kyoto, Japan at age 20 before going on to study at the Sorbonne and University of Berlin. He received his D.Phil. from Christ Church College, Oxford in 1922—working his way through school by teaching Chinese at the University of London. Shortly after graduation he began his first great expedition, to the remote mountain kingdom of Tibet. Another expedition to Peru and the Amazon would follow a few years later.
In 1937, McGovern was named Far East correspondent by the Chicago Times, arriving in Tokyo with his wife as war began with China.
When the United States joined what had become World War II, McGovern joined the United States Naval Reserve, serving from 1941 to 1945. His most important job was not martial in nature however. Throughout the war he would rise at 5:30 AM to prepare a top-secret newspaper on enemy capabilities and intentions. This paper was considered required breakfast reading for President Roosevelt and the Joint Chiefs.
At age 30, McGovern became assistant curator of the anthropology department at Chicago's Field Museum of Natural History. Two years later, was appointed a professor of Political Science at Northwestern, a position he would hold for the rest of his life.
Between his time as a war correspondent during the Sino-Japanese War and the entry of the United States into World War II, McGovern lectured on government at Harvard University. During the post-War years, he lectured on military intelligence and strategy at the Naval, Air and Army War Colleges.
Reputed to speak 12 languages and deaf in one ear, McGovern was an academic celebrity known for outlandish foreign dress and holding court in Northwestern's University Club.
McGovern married his second cousin, Margaret Montgomery, and fathered four children—three daughters and a son. His granddaughter is actress Elizabeth McGovern.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
July 28, 2011
If you want a real life Indiana Jones try William M. McGovern. This guy is the real deal! History, adventure, danger and humor, it's all there. I found this book about 15 years ago for $1.00 on the shelf of the used books store at the library, took it home and couldn't put it down. I recently dug it up and read it again. It was just as great the second time. This guy had some truly amazing adventures in his life and I would love to get my hands on some more of his work.
September 9, 2009
Quite possibly the finest book I have ever read. I hope to live 1/500th of the life of William Montgomery McGovern.
September 16, 2018
Read the 1926 version. Fun adventure. Fascinating wandering.
September 13, 2020
William Montgomery McGovern led an amazingly accomplished and varied life.
September 1, 2015
I came to this book after reading Gordon MacCreagh's White Waters and Black. Mac and McGovern were only one year apart in the Amazon, and even shared a publisher—Century Vagabond Books of Travel. Popular interest in Amazon exploration was excited by the disappearance of Colonel Fawcett (see Brazilian Adventure). To me it's a fascinating period—the tide of civilisation briefly stalled by the crash of the rubber market, and travel through the Indian interior possible with the assistance of friendly frontier tribes.
Otherwise the books are as different as you'd expect. McGovern was a university professor, Mac wrote pulp fiction. Mac spits sass, McGovern has a gentler charm (though his story "how I recovered my stolen parrot from a Chilean brothel" would fit right in White Waters and Black).
McGovern's expedition was much more successful than the Mulford expedition.
Otherwise the books are as different as you'd expect. McGovern was a university professor, Mac wrote pulp fiction. Mac spits sass, McGovern has a gentler charm (though his story "how I recovered my stolen parrot from a Chilean brothel" would fit right in White Waters and Black).
McGovern's expedition was much more successful than the Mulford expedition.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews