Status
Available
Genres
Collection
Publication
Amsterdam : Meulenhoff, 1975.
Description
"The Treasure of Sierra Madre" is the literary masterpiece for America's pop mythology of the Wild West. A savagely ironic novel, it follows the rugged adventure of three Americans hunting for gold in the mountains of Mexico who find themselves caught in a morality tale of greed and betrayal. Originally published in 1935, the book has captivated millions of readers, including the director John Huston, who immortalized it in his 1948 film starring Humphrey Bogart. This is a timeless story that has much to teach us, for, as we all know, finding the treasure is always secondary to the hunt.
Media reviews
Traven’s work might be described in the somewhat similar terms used by Leon Trotsky to describe Jean Malaquais’ Les Javanais (1939, translated into English as Men From Nowhere): "The combination of the rebellious lyricism of the personality with the ferocious epic of the era creates, perhaps,
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the chief fascination of this work." It deserves modern readers.
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User reviews
LibraryThing member bas615
B Traven has been overlooked by many as a source of great literature about the degradation of human nature. His perspective particularly rings a bell as an exposition of the male mind. This story that begins with the characters in situations that are dehumanizing and yet somehow more humane than
Traven has a great way of weaving this massive tale. It in many ways is an extended fairy tale exposing the profits of greed. The writing is not fantastically lyric but the gruffness and simplicity of the text match up well with the stark setting of the novel in the heat of the Mexican sun. The writing also matches well with the characters as they represent our basest elements. This is not a spell-binding tale of high adventure but it is an intense and powerful accusation of how easily people are dehumanized.
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where they wind up. The corruption of the mind by greed is breathtaking and completely believable. The correlation to our modern greed driven economy leaves no doubts about the potential, and perhaps inevitable, destruction of human character by lust for money.Traven has a great way of weaving this massive tale. It in many ways is an extended fairy tale exposing the profits of greed. The writing is not fantastically lyric but the gruffness and simplicity of the text match up well with the stark setting of the novel in the heat of the Mexican sun. The writing also matches well with the characters as they represent our basest elements. This is not a spell-binding tale of high adventure but it is an intense and powerful accusation of how easily people are dehumanized.
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LibraryThing member JBreedlove
Well written and clear and darker than the movie. The story portrays the chaos and violence of old Mexico (as opposed to that in the new Mexico?). The two stories told by the old man Howard were not necessary in the development of the story but did provide an historical violent context of for a
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violent story. Show Less
LibraryThing member zmagic69
A great story of greed and how its effects on people
LibraryThing member stef7sa
Dont expect too much of psychology here, its mainly an adventure tale, or rather a series of those. Keeps you interested though and the end is surprising.
LibraryThing member jwhenderson
The author of this book, B. Traven, is a mystery man but his novels are some of the best moral adventure tales that I have ever read. Treasure of the Sierra Madre is his best known novel, probably due to the film version directed by John Huston and starring Humphrey Bogart. In it three Americans
But most of all it is a story of outsiders, anarchic in its spirit, exciting in the adventure in spite of the tragic vision it portrays. I enjoyed both reading the novel and viewing the film adaptation. I highly recommend them.
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down on their luck prospect for gold in the Mexican Sierra Madre. A genuinely exciting adventure tale, it is also a psychological novel that takes us through the disintegration of one of the three, Dobbs, as the gold they find corrupts his soul. The results provide for suspense and Traven's fine delineation of character makes the story both believable and interesting. Traven also explores the contrast of cultures with the white man's culture operating on the principle of greed while the Indians adhere to a myterious principle which they call "happiness". The difference between cultures is epitomized by the difficulty that Howard, the oldest member of the trio, has in explaining that for white men business is "happiness". The men in the novel are particular individuals but they are recognizable as universal types. The tone of the novel is serious but not without humor. with an ironic style Traven develops a well-rounded plot. The novel presents a powerful fable that is reminiscent of Chaucer's "Pardoner's Tale" in its lesson of "Radix malorum est Cupiditas" (greed is the root of all evil). But most of all it is a story of outsiders, anarchic in its spirit, exciting in the adventure in spite of the tragic vision it portrays. I enjoyed both reading the novel and viewing the film adaptation. I highly recommend them.
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LibraryThing member TheWasp
3 men decided to try their luck gold prospecting but the land is full of bandits trying to relieve them of their find. There is a simplicity to the writing style but this in no way detracts from the authors ability todescribe the hardships and difficulties of the time.
LibraryThing member burritapal
Amazing story; I read this in one day. B. Traven knows his Mexico and its Indians. His story is one that shows who is in charge when uppity humans think they are in charge:Mother Earth.
LibraryThing member DinadansFriend
A Pretty hard boiled account of how a man who won a small prize in the Mexican state lottery, and parlaaid that nto a year of hard work working a small gold claim in the Mexican mountains. Things do not create a happy ending, but the film is a classic.
Subjects
Language
Original publication date
1927
ISBN
9029003901 / 9789029003902