The Treasure of the Sierra Madre is a dark, savagely ironic, and riveting story of three down-and-out Americans hunting for gold in Sonora, Mexico. First published in 1935, this novel by the elusive author B. Traven has become a cult masterpiece, inspiring John Huston's classic film.

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

This literary masterpiece explores the themes of greed and paranoia as the three Americans, who start off as friends, find themselves caught in a morality tale of betrayal. As they discover the gold lode, their camaraderie is tested, revealing the darker sides of human nature.