Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1923 in Books
• Published on: 2005-01-10
• Binding: Paperback
• 336 pages

Synopsis
A classic of mountaineering literature, The White Spider tells the story of the harrowing first ascent of the Eiger's North Wall, one of the most legendary and terrifying climbs in recorded history. Heinrich Herrer, author of Seven Years in Tibet, was a member of the four-man party that scaled the previously untouchable North Wall of the Eiger in 1938. In The White Spider, Herrer tells the story of this harrowing first ascent, a gripping first-hand account of daring and resilience in the high Swiss Alps. Moving from his own amazing experiences to the numerous later attempts to replicate his team's achievements (some tragic failures, others spectacular successes), Herrer writes as well as he climbs, drawing the reader into a beguiling story of courage, strength and a confidence always on the edge of hubris. A new introduction by Joe Simpson, author of the acclaimed mountaineering epic Touching the Void, reminds us of the enduring relevance of this absolute classic.

Customer Reviews

This book is an excellent read for "armchair climbers" and true believers alike.
Allowing for he odd translation nuance, Harrer writes extremely well and has clearly carefully researched the story of the face and the attempts to climb it - not just his team's first successful attempt and then tells the story as it was. Self-efacing, when he could have been superior given the achievement, Harrer weaves a spellbinding tale capturing the beauty and majesty, the trials and woes of what is the best face in the world. I really couldn't put this down. This book is an excellent read for "armchair climbers" and true believers alike.

Drama and Death on the Eiger
Superb description of the first successful climb of the North Face of the Eiger in 1936. Possibly the most dramatic description of a climb I have ever read. This book really inspired me to get into climbing and to visit the Eiger (though not to climb it). Harrer does not touch on the political background to the first successful climb though, which many people feels detracts from the story.

Great subject - clumsy book
This is a classic climbing book and fascinating for anyone with a bit of basic climbing knowledge and a love of the mountains.
Like others, I read the part of the story about Toni Kurz dying on the face when I was a teenager and it had a profound impression on me.
All the basic stories and the mountain face are gripping but the writing style is appalling. When it gets to the tale of Longhi and Corti it becomes almost unreadably disjointed and as smooth as a bag of spanners.
A classic to read if you must - but if you want a great read on the same subject then spend your money on Joe Simpson's "The Beckoning Silence" - an infinitely better written book.
(By the way, Harrer's "seven years in Tibet" is a lot better).