Synopses & Reviews
Everest: Summit Of Achievement On 29 May 1953, New Zealander Edmund Hillary and Sherpa Tenzing Norgay stood atop the highest mountain in the world, where no one had ever stood before. This magnificent volume celebrates the fiftieth anniversary of their historic climb and chronicles the history of Everest exploration from the early years of the twentieth century to the present. It is the first and only book on the subject to benefit from complete access to the Royal Geographical Society's astonishingly rich collection of photographs, documents, and artifacts.
Painstakingly selected from over 20,000 subjects, more than 400 photographs -- many never before published -- record the surveying, planning, reconnaissance expeditions, and ascents that the Royal Geographical Society and the Alpine Club jointly launched -- beginning in 1921 and culminating in Hillary and Norgay's landmark feat. Among the memorable photographs reproduced here are the first aerial views of Mount Everest; the last known photograph of George Mallory and Andrew Irvine, who perished soon afterward on the slopes of Everest; Hillary's iconic photograph of Tenzing Norgay standing triumphant on Everest's summit; images showing the daily experience of expedition members along with the dangers they faced; portraits of the life and customs of Sherpas and the other Tibetan peoples; and the spectacular beauty of the Everest massif itself.
These unique and breathtaking images are prefaced by Sir Edmund Hillary and His
Holiness the Dalai Lama, and are accompanied by chapters written by renowned mountaineer Stephen Venables; the well-known journalist and mountain climber Ed Douglas; Judy and Tashi Tenzing, grandson of Norgay; and noted historian John Keay.
The result is a work of lasting significance that captures as never before the sense of discovery, excitement, achievement, and exhilaration experienced over the years by those who are brave and determined enough to challenge the world's greatest mountain.
Synopsis
Published to coincide with the fiftieth anniversary of the first successful ascent of the world's highest mountain, Everest takes readers into the exhilarating world of exploration and expedition -- from 1910 through today -- in a spectacular collection of images, illustrations, and over four hundred of the most memorable photographs ever taken of Mount Everest.
Containing a Foreword in which Edmund Hillary describes how he and Tenzing Norgay conquered Everest during their landmark climb in 1953, this magnificent volume features a veritable treasure trove of rare and beautiful illustrations and photos -- many never before seen. These include early aerial views of Mt. Everest, the last known photo of Mallory and Irvine before their disappearance, a victorious Tenzing at the summit, portraits of the Sherpas and local inhabitants, and, of course, stunning visuals of Everest itself. The breathtaking images are accompanied by chapters about early Everest exploration by noted historian John Keay; expeditions from 1921 to 1953 by Stephan Venables, one of the best-known mountaineers of his generation; the spiritual and religious significance of Everest to the people of Tibet and Nepal by renowned mountaineer Ed Douglas; an account of Sherpa life by Tenzing Norgay's grandson Tashi; and a look at the environmental, social, and scientific issues of recent years.
The first book to be given complete access to the Royal Geographical Society's unique collection of photos, artifacts, and some never-before-published documents, Everest is a feast for the eyes and soul -- a tribute to one of man's grandest adventures, and one of humankind's greatest achievements.