Short Synopsis
In Life and Death in the Andes, Emmy Award–winning filmmaker and author Kim MacQuarrie presents portraits of legendary characters along South America's mountain spine, from Charles Darwin to the present day.

Full Synopsis
The Andes Mountains are the world's longest mountain chain, linking most of the countries in South America. Emmy Award–winning filmmaker and author Kim MacQuarrie takes us on a historical journey through this unique region, bringing fresh insight and contemporary connections to such fabled characters as Charles Darwin, Pablo Escobar, Che Guevara, and many others. He introduces us to a Patagonian woman who is the last living speaker of her language, as he explores the disappearance and sometimes surprising resiliency of indigenous cultures throughout the Andes. He meets a man whose grandfather witnessed Butch Cassidy's last days in Bolivia and tracks down the ballet dancer who once hid the leader of the brutal Shining Path in her home.

Through the stories he shares, MacQuarrie raises such questions as, where did the people of South America come from? Did they create or import their cultures? What makes South America different from other continents—and what makes the cultures of the Andes different from other cultures in South America? Deeply observed and beautifully written, Life and Death in the Andes shows us this land as no one has before.

"[Yen's] pacing is excellent." ---AudioFile

"[MacQuarrie] writes smartly and engagingly and with . . . enthusiasm about the variety of South America's life and landscape." ---New York Times Book Review

"MacQuarrie is a master storyteller whose cinematic eye always shines through." ---BookPage

"This engaging history of dramatic stories and arresting characters is entertaining as well as informative." ---Self Awareness

"A thoughtfully observed travel memoir and history." ---Kirkus

"Life and Death in the Andes is a beautifully crafted book that brings to vivid life one of the most spectacular and mysterious landscapes on the planet." ---Scott Wallace, author of The Unconquered

"Reader Jonathan Yen gives a brilliant performance as he eases listeners through one story and into the next. Both subtle and obvious differences in accents and pacing help listeners differentiate among the many characters who appear and reappear and the voice of the author." ---Library Journal Audio Review