Review
'A well told tale of adventure is always welcome and Bonington does not disappoint.' Robert McCrum, OBSERVER (11/12/02) 'A fitting tribute to a man, a mountain, and a lifetime of endeavour ... The fascination of this book is in the details' Barry Forshaw PUBLISHING NEWS 9/8/02 (Oct Nov Hardback Previews)
The hundreds of photographs here grab the attention even before you get down to reading this large-format book. Amassed by Sir Chris Bonington over more than 20 years, they are among the most dramatic and beautiful pictures ever taken of the world's highest mountain. The story that accompanies them - the tale of Sir Chris's love affair with the peak which has done its best to kill him but which he has conquered three times - is no less spectacular. Sir Chris is known as one of the best speakers on the lecture circuit. This book, the latest and most personal of 15 that detail his climbing career, shows just what an entertaining raconteur he is. He creates vivid word pictures of the romance and majesty of Everest, and of the courage shown by climbers over the years in confronting it. Published to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the first conquest of Everest, Sir Chris's story starts on the day in 1953 when, as a National Serviceman, he learned of the success of Hilary and Tenzing. Although a keen climber himself, he had never attempted to scale anything higher than Snowdon. It never occurred to him that he would eventually stand on top of the world himself - but in electrifying style he describes how in 1975 he became the first mountaineer in history to climb Everest by its notorious south-west ridge. As Britain's most famous mountaineer, Sir Chris could be forgiven for some self-satisfaction but he writes with an attractively self-effacing humour. The lavish book also contains details of others' exploits, some tragic and some exhilarating. It is a 'must have' for any mountaineer, and an equally enjoyable read even for those who get dizzy on the top deck of a number 33 bus. (Kirkus UK)
Product Description
May 29, 2003 marks the 50th anniversary of the first climbing of Mount Everest. Chris Bonington was the first to scale Everest 'the hard way' - by the south-west ridge - and he has taken part in three other expeditions. No other mountaineer, writer or photographer has as much experience of Everest. His last climb, in 1985 at 50, was a personal summit. Here he tells the story of his attempts on Everest, the triumphs and the tragedies and the changes that have come to the mountain area he loves. The result is an absorbing first-hand account of one man's obsession with a mountain.
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