- Hardcover: 208 pages
- Publisher: Macmillan; 1999 First Edition edition (1 Oct 1999)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0898866695
- ISBN-13: 978-0333783146
- ASIN: 033378314X
- Product Dimensions: 24.4 x 22 x 2 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
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Amazon Bestsellers Rank:
532,315 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #89 in Books > Travel & Holiday > Countries & Regions > Asia > Nepal
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Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
It is one of the most famous and powerful stories of humanity pitting itself tragically against the elements. In 1924, when Mallory and Irvine set out to make history by reaching of the summit of Everest and become the first men to stand on the world's tallest mountain, their place in the history books was already assured. But then Odell, also climbing with them, saw the two vanish within 800 feet of the summit--and they were never seen again. Ever since, many have wondered what really took place in the rarefied air at 28,000 feet. Did they in fact reach the summit and perish on the way down? Or were Hilary and Norgay the first men to reach the summit three decades later?
In April 1999, the Mallory and Irvine Research Expedition team set out to retrace the steps of the 1924 expedition. Their aim was to find out the truth behind the many theories about what happened on that fateful first climb. The Ghosts of Everest describes in carefully researched detail the two expeditions, weaving together both climbs with blow- by-blow accounts of the challenges and dangers encountered. Combining a lucid text with archive photographs of the original expedition and breathtaking colour shots of the new climb, this is a fascinating book of considerable power. --Barry Forshaw
Product Description
This is the dramatic inside story of the 1999 expedition to find the bodies and solve the enigma of George Mallory and Andrew Irvine, who tragically and mysteriously died on Everest on 8th June 1924, in an attempt to reach the peak. What happened to Mallory and Irving the day they set out on their summit bid only to disappear without any evidence of their fate or possible achievement? Were these two brave pioneers the first to reach the summit 29 years before Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay? How did they perish and where? What part of the mystery remains to be solved? Set against the backdrop of the 1924 expedition and historical clues from subsequent expeditions, "Ghosts of Everest" weaves a story from early preparations to the day-to-day, blow-by-blow events of both expeditions to create an adventure narrative that captures the voices and the action as it unfolds on the mountain.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
13 of 13 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This is a beautifully and lavishly illustrated, textually rich book. Its heavy, glossy pages demand the reader's undivided attention and are sure to enthrall all mystery lovers, Everest aficionados, nostalgia junkies, history buffs, and climbing enthusiasts. This book is sure to provide the reader with many hours of enjoyment.
The book chronicles the search for George Mallory and Andrew Irvine by the 1999 Mallory & Irvine Research Expedition. It juxtaposes the dramatic turn of events during their expedition with those of the 1924 British Everest Expedition which saw Mallory and Irvine attempt a summit climb, only to disappear into the mists of Everest, never to be seen again. It makes for a spell binding narrative, as past events are woven through present day ones.
The 1999 Mallory & Irvine Research Expedition was a meticulously well prepared and well organized venture. With its discovery of George Leigh Mallory's body, it enjoyed much success. The research and analysis that went into its ultimate, well thought out conclusions were comprehensive and fascinating, with its strong reliance upon forensics and deductive reasoning. Their reconstruction of Mallory's and Irvine's last climb is riveting. Unfortunately, the ultimate question still remains unanswered. Did they or did they not reach the summit of Mount Everest back in 1924?
The beautiful photographs of the personal effects found upon Mallory's person underscore a certain poignancy about the discovery of Mallory's well preserved body. The photographs which memorialize this discovery are amazingly lovely and tasteful, considering its subject matter, and hauntingly illustrate the finality with which Everest may deal with mountaineers, no matter how accomplished.
The photographs also highlight how ill equipped for the harsh climatic conditions were the early Everest expeditions. It is amazing, and a credit to those early expeditioners' courage and fortitude, in braving such an inhospitable and harsh terrain with the inadequate clothing and equipment available to them at the time. Mallory and Irvine were certainly intrepid explorers!
This book is a fitting tribute to two men who sought to make a historic summit and, in their attempt, would forever be a part of Everest.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
I work at a public library and have had this book brought to my attention as an excellent read. One patron, however, was very disappointed with how the text was layed out on the page...wide margins on one side with text placed too close to the binding for easy reading. In addition, the map on page 96 was very cumbersome to view as the spine of the book ran right through the middle, thereby obscuring the view of the picture. She was considering purchasing the book as a gift but decided against it for the above-mentioned reasons. She has sent a letter to the publisher detailing her concern over the book's layout.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
"Ghosts of Everest" is a story that stays with you long after you have finished the book. The narrator takes a while to get going and the initial chapters dwell perhaps a little too much on the difficulties that the 1999 expedition had to get going and their squabbles with the BBC but then the story really takes off and flows.
I love the juxtaposition of the two expeditions - on the same course but separated by 75 years. It is left for the reader to contrast the 1924 British explorers (with their hob-nailed boots, puttees, gabardines, hand-written notes, Kendall mint cake, quails in foie gras, stiff upper lips and vintage champagne) with their (mainly) US counterparts in 1999 (e-mails, radios, Starbuck's sponsorship, Easy Cheese, Snickers, down suits and Goretex and laid-back Seattle philosophies) - and of course to compare the dedication and spirit of both teams.
The book ascends to a climax and the final pages of the last chapter, "Notes on an Envelope", which speculate on one possible scenario of Mallory and Irvine's last moments, are incredibly moving.
My only minor niggles with the book, apart from the slow start, are that the paperback version that I have has some typos among the photos that are a little irritating. In addition, we have a US American author writing for an international audience so lengthy explanations of "Bovril", "Bully Beef" and "Kendall's (sic) mint cake" are necessary!
I love the juxtaposition of the two expeditions - on the same course but separated by 75 years. It is left for the reader to contrast the 1924 British explorers (with their hob-nailed boots, puttees, gabardines, hand-written notes, Kendall mint cake, quails in foie gras, stiff upper lips and vintage champagne) with their (mainly) US counterparts in 1999 (e-mails, radios, Starbuck's sponsorship, Easy Cheese, Snickers, down suits and Goretex and laid-back Seattle philosophies) - and of course to compare the dedication and spirit of both teams.
The book ascends to a climax and the final pages of the last chapter, "Notes on an Envelope", which speculate on one possible scenario of Mallory and Irvine's last moments, are incredibly moving.
My only minor niggles with the book, apart from the slow start, are that the paperback version that I have has some typos among the photos that are a little irritating. In addition, we have a US American author writing for an international audience so lengthy explanations of "Bovril", "Bully Beef" and "Kendall's (sic) mint cake" are necessary!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
A true story that will stay with you.
I first came across the Mallory and Irving story at primary school - in a children's reading book called something like 'Stories of Everest'. Read more
Published 7 months ago by S. Randle
A slow start makes way to fascinating events & conclusions...
Ghosts of Everest is an insightful and interesting book only marred by some early parts of the book being a little dull. Read more
Published on 26 May 2010 by N. Reeves
DID THEY OR DIDN'T THEY?...
This is a beautifully and lavishly illustrated, textually rich book. Its heavy, glossy pages demand the reader's undivided attention and are sure to enthrall all mystery lovers,... Read more
Published on 6 Mar 2006 by Lawyeraau
A superb read
This book is excellent. I have been veguely interested in the Mallory / Irvine attempt of 1924, and bought this on an impulse. Read more
Published on 27 Feb 2005 by Damon Rodwell
DID THEY OR DIDN'T THEY?...
This is a beautifully and lavishly illustrated, textually rich book. Its pages demand the reader's undivided attention and are sure to enthrall all mystery lovers, Everest... Read more
Published on 24 May 2003 by Lawyeraau
Mystery solved?
I purchased this book on the back of the excellent TV documentary (shown earler this year on BBC2) made by the same expedition team and that's probably the main reason I'd only... Read more
Published on 22 Nov 2000 by Mr. M. Chorlton
Interesting, well documented book with good pictures
This is a very interesting and well researched book written by the true people who were there. The history, discovery and final analysis as to what the new evidence throws onto... Read more
Published on 3 July 2000
A worthy gift for the mind of an adventurer
The content style is factual and covers 3 main areas - background to the 1924 climb, the search Team's own climb, and speculation on Mallory&Irvine's 'summit day'. Read more
Published on 12 Mar 2000 by ianhunt.gransasso@virgin.net
a real hero
As soon as I saw "The Ghosts of Everest"in the bookshop I knew that I would enjoy it.What I didn't know was how much!It is the best read I've had in ages. Read more
Published on 27 Dec 1999
A beautifully presented, fascinating book
There was inevitably bound to be a rush of new books about Mallory & Irvine after the discovery of Mallory's body, but this may be the one to read. Read more
Published on 1 Nov 1999
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