This image is the cover for the book Treasure of the Sierra Madre

Treasure of the Sierra Madre

“Traven’s philosophical anarchism . . . his love of individual liberty and the primitive past could . . . command as much reverence . . . as . . . Henry David Thoreau.” ―William Weber Johnson, Los Angeles Times

A cult masterpiece—the adventure novel that inspired John Huston’s Academy-award winning film, by the elusive author who was a model for the hero of Roberto Bolano's 2666.

Little is known for certain about B. Traven. Evidence suggests that he was born Otto Feige in Schlewsig-Holstein and that he escaped a death sentence for his involvement with the anarchist underground in Bavaria. Traven spent most of his adult life in Mexico, where, under various names, he wrote several bestsellers and was an outspoken defender of the rights of Mexico's indigenous people.

First published in 1935, The Treasure of the Sierra Madre is Traven's most famous and enduring work, the dark, savagely ironic, and riveting story of three down-and-out Americans hunting for gold in Sonora.

“He tells his story better than the best storytellers; delves deeper into characters than most so-called psychological writers. All the virility, terseness and tension that Hemingway worked so hard for . . . seem to be Traven's by birthright.” ―Hugo award-winning author John Anthony West, Books and Bookmen

B. Traven

B. Traven (1882-1969) was a pen name of the most enigmatic writer of the twentieth century. His other aliases include Hal Croves, Traven Torsvan and Ret Marut. Born in Germany or Chicago, Traven spent much of his adult life in Mexico. He once wrote "I shall always and at all times prefer to be pissed on by dogs than reveal who I am." He is a model for Archimboldi, the hero of Roberto Bolano's 2666. Traven is best known for his novels The Treasure of the Sierra Madre, The Cotton Pickers, and The Death Ship.

Farrar, Straus and Giroux