Book Description
Product Description
Throughout its history the Guardian has had unparalleled access to mountaineers and climbers, and its coverage of the sport is second to none. From Edward Whymper's conquest of the Matterhorn in 1865 through to the first ever ascent of Everest in 1953, and on to the extreme climbing (and associated apparatus) that dominates the modern-day incarnation of the sport, the paper has chronicled every development with insight and intelligence.
This beguiling collection draws together a selection of Guardian writing that is both informative and celebratory, tracking the sport's history and uncovering how public perception has changed over time.
- Postings on how cigarettes 'aided breathing' on some of the earliest Everest expeditions
- Victorian advice to 'lady climbers': 'Small rings should be sewn inside the seams of the skirt ... [so] that the whole dress may be drawn up at a moment's notice to the requisite height'
- Articles on scrambling, fell-running, rock-climbing and rambling.
Whether you're a serious mountaineer or a weekend rambler, On the Roof of the World is packed full of insights and stories that make it the perfect bedside companion.
From the Back Cover
From Edward Whymper's conquest of the Matterhorn in 1865 to the development of modern rock climbing in the late 19th century and the first ascent of Everest in 1953, the Guardian has avidly covered the subject of mountaineering and climbing. This fascinating collection of mountaineering writing is both a celebration of a century in the sport's history and an educated and objective record of the public's perception of it through time.
The story of mountaineering is told here from the first few scrambles on the outcrops of millstone grit that rise from the Staffordshire moorlands at the southern extremity of the Peak District, to the extreme climbing and associated apparatus that dominate the sport today. Along the way, you will encounter characters, controversies, ascents of the world's great peaks, ethical shifts, media outdoor extravaganzas, fond old reminiscences, reviews of the defining literature of climbing and the advancing extremities of performance on British rock.
Among the many unsigned leaders, letters and reports from around the globe are pieces written by the Guardian's more distinguished contributors, including Jan Morris, Jim Perrin and A Harry Griffin.
