Treasures on Earth: A Novel

by Carter Wilson

In 1911 young Willie Hickler, already an accomplished photographer joins the historic expedition that will lead to the discovery of Machu Picchu in the Peruvian Andes. While the explorers search greedily for the "lost" city and the acclaim that will certainly follow, Willie searches for love with Ernesto Mena, the expedition's Handsome Peruvian guide.

Genres: Gay Fiction, Gay, LGBT, Historical Fiction, Fiction

243 pages, Paperback

First published August 12, 1981

About the author

Carter Wilson comes from Washington, DC. He has published ethnographic fiction and non-fiction, including stories about Mayan people of Mexico, a children's book about the Netsilik eskimos of Canada, and a fictionalized account of the discovery of Machu Picchu in Peru. His first novel, CRAZY FEBRUARY, widely adopted in college anthropology courses, will be 50 years continuously in print by February, 2016. Wilson wrote the narration for two Oscar-winning documentary films, "The Times of Harvey Milk" (with Judith Coburn) and "Common Threads." He received the Ruth Benedict Prize from the gay section of the American Anthropology Association for his "Hidden in the Blood" in 1995. He has taught at Harvard, Stanford, Tufts University, and the University of California at Santa Cruz.

Reviews

[George Ilsley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Against the backdrop of an expedition in the Andes in 1911, two North American men “discover” Machu Picchu and much more of a personal nature. A slow moving epic, with detailed and restrained interiors and lush overwhelming exteriors. One needs the patience of Job to discern the love affair which is supposedly at the heart of this novel, loosely based on the real expedition. Christopher Isherwood describes the novel as "extraordinarily subtle" — which means, translated, that much is perhaps inferred but remains hidden.

It is a tale of the "mysteries of forbidden love", and did receive some good reviews.

The result is a more modern take (modern circa 1980) on a historical tale, all of which may or may not be true. And in the midst of all that, Machu Picchu was "discovered" and unveiled as an architectural wonder, mysterious landmark, and potent tourist attraction.

I for one would like to make this expedition again.

[Liam Ostermann]

This book was one of many that were seized in 1984 from the first gay bookshop in London, or anywhere in the UK, Gay's The Word as part of a policy of intimidation against 'uppity' gays and I am posting information on this event against many of the books seized by the police.

This is a history that should not be forgotten.

Treasures on Earth and the 1984 attempt to destroy 'Gay's The Word' the UK's first gay bookshop:

This novel was one of many 'imported' gay books which were at the centre of an infamous attempt to push UK gays back into the closet by the conservative government of Margaret Thatcher in 1984. Amazingly this event, important not only for gays but civil liberties in the UK, does not have any kind of Wikipedia entry. Because of this lack I have assembled links to a number of sites which anyone interested in free speech should read. If we don't remember our history we will be condemned to repeat it.

The genesis of the prosecution of 'Gays The Word' was the anger of homophobes to books like 'The Milkman's On His Way' by David Rees which were written for young people and presented being gay as ordinary and nothing to get your-knickers-in-a-twist over. Unfortunately there was no way to ban the offending books because censorship of literature had been laughed out of court at the 'Lady Chatterley Trial' nearly twenty years earlier. But Customs and Excise did have the ability to seize and forbid the import of 'foreign' books, those not published in the UK. As most 'gay' books came from abroad, specifically the USA, this anomaly was the basis for the raid on Gays The Word and the seizure of large amounts of stock. The intention was that the legal costs, plus the disruption to the business, would sink this small independent bookshop long before it came to trial. That it didn't is testimony to the resilience of Gay's The Word, the gay community and all those who supported them.

The best, not perfect, but only, guide to the event is at:

https://www.gayinthe80s.com/2012/10/1...

There follows a series of links to the event connected with an exhibition at the University of London:

The background:

https://www.london.ac.uk/news-events/...

The 142 books seized:

https://exhibitions.london.ac.uk/s/se...

The history of the prosecution:

https://www.london.ac.uk/news-events/...

The fight to clarify the law after the prosecution was dropped:

https://www.london.ac.uk/news-events/...

[Ron · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sensitive and well written historical fiction novel.

[Ed Lehman]

re-read this in 2015.

[Helen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this a long time ago.