Arminto Cordovil has inherited a fortune, and with it control of his father's shipping empire. But when a freighter, The Eldorado, crashes in the lower reaches of the Amazon, its shipwrecked hull seems tied to Arminto's destiny. He will soon discover his father's cunning and the disastrous consequences it will have for his own young life. Orphans of Eldorado is a magical retelling of a legendary expedition. From the vibrant port of Manaus, through the lush heart of the Amazon, Hatoum takes us on a quest for our greatest desires.