Synopses & Reviews
The world's greatest living climber hauntingly evokes the vision and voice of his legendary predecessor
When he was a child Reinhold Messner's mother read him stories about George Mallory and Andrew Irvine; their heroic attempt to scale the world's tallest peak in 1924 inspired his own exploits. To Messner, Mallory was a climber of the purest order, and his final ascent a work of genius, beauty, and unparalleled courage. Though Mallory's remains were discovered in 1999, the question of whether or not he made it to the top of Everest remains unanswered. But Messner believes that though we have found Mallory's bones we have lost the spirit of amateur adventure that pushed him inexorably higher. The Second Death of George Mallory is both an investigation into the death of Mallory and a deeply felt homage -- to a mountain, to the spirit of an age, and to the man who inspired so many others to follow in his footsteps.
Review
Praise for The Second Death of George Mallory“[A] passionate telling of mans quest for the summit.”—Rocky Mountain News
“Like a detective, Reinhold Messner studies all angles of Mallorys final climb in 1924 and comes up with conclusions that honor the subject, and both move and enlighten the reader.”—Paul Pritchard, author of The Totem Pole: And a Whole New Adventure and two-time winner of the Boardman Tasker Award
“[A] compelling book that conveys the dangers, frustrations and exhilaration of high-altitude mountaineering . . . Messner expertly leads readers on a thrilling expedition into a freezing, treacherous world.”—Tampa Tribune
“This tribute will resonate most strongly with veteran climbers, but even armchair enthusiasts will be gripped by Messner's seductive and uplifting narrative.”—Publishers Weekly
“An utterly engrossing portrait of a climber and a spirit no longer with us.” —Booklist
Synopsis
As a boy, climbing legend Reinhold Messner was inspired by another legend: George Mallorys tragic final ascent of Mount Everest in 1924. To Messner, and to thousands of others, Mallorys attempt—whether or not it succeeded—remains the greatest exploit in the annals of mountain climbing. Though Mallorys body was finally found, we have lost, Messner believes, the spirit that guided him; summiting Everest has become merely a corporate challenge and a matter of technology, not a rendezvous with destiny.
Using the British climbers journals and letters, Messner thrillingly re-creates Mallorys three assaults on Everest, including his final ascent. Here is both an investigation into the death of George Mallory and a deeply felt homage—to a mountain, to the spirit of an age, and to the man who inspired those who followed in his footsteps.
About the Author
Reinhold Messner is known as one of historys greatest Himalayan mountaineers. He was the first person to climb all fourteen of the worlds 8,000-meter peaks, many of them solo. Climber, writer, photographer, and filmmaker, Messner has published more than thirty books. His most recent is
My Quest for the Yeti.