Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
An important but incomplete climber's autobiography, 20 Aug 2003
By A Customer
W.H.Murray died before he finished this autobiography. It shows, and that's a pity. For me the second half of the book is a mish-mash of assorted essays and notes, rather than a finished and coherent component part. Readers keen on Murray's writing will find some fine new material, including accounts of Himalayan wanderings, as well as a good deal that has only appeared in magazines or journals before. Readers who want to understand the sources of Murray's climbing and writing will find some new background, including vivid description of war and its effects, and some interesting letters. But the self-revelation is highly selective. You'll look in vain for illumination on characters from 20th century climbing history, much less historical gossip (for instance about Everest and Shipton). Murray was a private, discreet man to the end. And to me his account of the mysticism that underlay his life and work remains entirely impenetrable.But (sad if appropriate pun) the book has a dying fall: captious comments about financial and legal problems of the writer's trade, and negativity about contemporary aspects of the climbing scene and mountain conservation, make the latter chapters read in parts like the work of a tired old man. W.H.Murray enthusiasts simply must have this book, even if it may ultimately leave them mildly disappointed as it did me. If you're new to his writing, then try the double act of 'Mountaineering in Scotland' and 'Undiscovered Scotland' - the real classic Murray - first. Then you may well want to have this as background.
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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Religious, romantic - and real, 11 Mar 2009
In addition to many fine first ascents of rock and ice routes W H Murray left a lavish legacy of climbing books, guides and articles, of which `Mountaineering in Scotland' and `Undiscovered Scotland' are classics. This last book `The Evidence of Things Not Seen' is essentially his autobiography, in draft form when he died in 1996, but tidied up and added to for publication in 2002. It is clear how some of the material has been extracted from Murray's Scottish classics and Himalayan books, but some insertions are debatable. There is reference to a state of affairs in the year 2000 set in the middle of a first person singular exposition `The Writer's Art and Business' but presumably this does not signify communication from beyond the grave! Notwithstanding this book is an impressive self-portrait of an illustrious man capable of thrilling his readers with action tales to convey the grandeur and beauty of mountain environments; for his attempts at seeking enlightenment; and for his ability to inspire others.
`The Evidence of Things Not Seen' includes descriptions of childhood, informative commentary on pre-Second World War climbing, accounts of war experiences, return to Scottish climbing, visiting the Alps, and expeditions to the Himalaya. Further to climbing and mountaineering there follow explanations and elucidations embracing other issues in his life, his problems as a writer, his involvement with conservation and social issues and various short miscellanies. The `Appendices' seem out of step with the rest of the book, yet new light is cast and they are useful in defining W H Murray. His contributions to climbing and mountaineering are unmistakable and real, but in writings on return from being a prisoner of war to fitting into the post-war world there is increased contemplation on the meaning of life. Murray introduces religious connotations into romantic passages on landscapes and climbing codes and conventions, and he suggests that in certain circumstances a human being may be open to direction from a power higher than his own. He wrestles with intangible transcendental matters but expresses these only as feelings and does not provide actual evidence of things not seen. Murray's weakness in failing to differentiate between faith and truth appears to have been recognised in the `Foreword' where a quotation from `Mountaineering in Scotland' is abridged in such a way as to downplay a reverent proclamation to a mundane statement. To overcome such a schism readers can limit appreciation to real physical aspects, but greater rewards are available if the spiritual is considered. `The Evidence of Things Not Seen' is based on W H Murray's sincere belief that broadened and deepened understanding of mountains can lead to understanding of all things created. Despite criticism - this book deserves a `5-star' rating.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
The Evidence for things not given?, 29 Jul 2009
W.H. Murray was clearly an influential figure in the development of mountaineering in Scotland in the immediate pre and post war periods. As such he has many interesting tales to tell about the growth in both popularity and technical difficulty of mountaineering. He seemed to live all aspects of his life with a view that embraced a more spiritual approach than would be common today. In essence these are the two themes of this book - history and the spirit.
To me at least the title of the book would suggest a greater emphasis on the spiritual aspect of mountaineering rather than the history, but reading the book shows that this is not really the case. Much of the central sections of the book are taken up with account of travels in India, Nepal and a brief excursion in to Tibet. While these accounts are a good deal more sympathetic to both the environment and the skills and abilities of the local people, they do not seem to add to your understanding of the "value" of mountain travel as a spiritual experience. On at least one occasion the spectre of "Rum Doddle" appears as one of his travelling companions is struck down with "glacier lassitude"!
However, this is not to say the book has no comment to make about the role of spirit in mountaineering, or about the role it can play in the development of understanding. This section of the book that most clearly deals with the nature of the human spirit actually occur in the descriptions of Murray's war time experiences in North Africa and a range of prison camps. Two ideas seem to be central to his thinking - firstly that mountaineering (and some other experiences) is more likely to allow character to grow in a person than many other activities, but the roots of that character have to be present in the first place - ie it does not build character from nothing, and simple exposure to the mountains will not create strength without potential being present. In this regard he is dismissive of some of the claims made for the benefit of outdoor education. The second idea is that real fulfilment is only gained through full involvement in activities, and is not always related to the level of success achieved. This seems to be especially so in terms of peaks climbed or routes scaled. Full involvement here means more than simple consumption of an activity - with participation in expeditions organised solely be other people being cited as an example of events that are "consumed" rather than participated in. In this regard I would have loved to have known his opinion on the commercialisation of mountains such as Everest.
This is an interesting, but occasionally frustrating book, which does not always flow from section to section, but it is none the less a significant work. Recommended.
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