The Bridge in the Jungle (American Century Series) [B0416]

1974 PB reprint of the 1967, with minor wear. The locale is 'huts by the river', a nameless Indian settlement deep in the Mexican bush, too small to appear on any map. Just as a party that has attracted many Indians from neighboring settlements is about to begin, death marches silently in. A small boy has disappeared. As the intimation of tragedy spreads among the people gathered in the jungle clearing, they unite, first to find the lost boy and then to console the grieving mother. The Bridge in the Jungle, regarded by many as B. Traven's finest novel, is a tale of how a simple, desperately poor people come together in the face of death. Traven never allows an iota of sentimentality to enter his story, but the reader finishes the book with renewed faith in the courage and dignity of human beings. "B. Traven is coming to be recognized as one of the narrative masters of the twentieth century."--â New York Times Book Review.

From Amazon/GoodReads reviews: "I thought this would be a straightforward, macho, adventure novel, but I was wrong. It's not that at all...It's essentially the story of a missing boy and the efforts his family and neighbors make to find him. But also lots of commentary about the dangers of Capitalism, travelling, religion and superstition, etc. Just an excellent read."; "My favorite novel. The great Traven at his best, most human."; "Quite a good book by Ret Marut or Otto Feige (commonly known as B. Traven), a German, who adopted Mexico as his homeland. This one has some lovely perspectives on death, maternity and bush life."; "This has got to be one of the great novels of our age. I have now read it a few times over the years. it remains fresh, alive and always amazingly moving."