Before 1840, no-one really knew who the Maya were or where they came from. In 1839, Stephens and Catherwood hacked their way through the jungles of Central America to explore and discover the remains of the mysterious Maya civilisation. This pair of 19th century explorers formed a remarkable combination. Stephens, an American lawyer was an unusually fine writer and Catherwood, an English architect, was an accomplished and renowned artist. This biographical account traces their eventful lives: the drama, the excitement, all the adventure and hardship of their arduous journey to the heart of the ancient Maya civilisation. With colour and black and white illustrations.