Product Description

The first successful ascent of Mount Everest in 1953 by Sir Edmund Hillary and his Sherpa teammate Tenzing Norgay is a familiar saga, but less well known are the tales of many other adventurers who also came to test their skills and courage against the world's highest and most dangerous mountains. In this lively and generously illustrated book, historians Maurice Isserman and Stewart Weaver present the first comprehensive history of Himalayan mountaineering in fifty years. They offer detailed, original accounts of the most significant climbs since the 1890s, and they compellingly evoke the social and cultural worlds that gave rise to those expeditions. The book recounts the adventures of such figures as Martin Conway, who led the first authentic Himalayan climbing expedition in 1892; Fanny Bullock Workman, the pioneer explorer of the Karakoram range; George Mallory, the romantic martyr of Mount Everest fame; Charlie Houston, who led American expeditions to K2 in the 1930s and 1950s; Ang Tharkay, the legendary Sherpa, and many others. Throughout, the authors discuss the effects of political and social change on the world of mountaineering, and they offer a penetrating analysis of a culture that once emphasized teamwork and fellowship among climbers, but now has been eclipsed by a scramble for individual fame and glory.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #62716 in Books
• Published on: 2008-10-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 592 pages

Review
'Heroism, death, and drama abound. . . . The authors' thoroughness and range make this hefty volume nearly encyclopedic in scope; the details on the 'how' of climbing, the no-margin-for-error experience, and the bonus of Vittorio Sella's unmatched photographs make for a great book.' - Foreward Magazine (Outstanding University Press Books 2008) --Foreward Magazine

Review
"The first comprehensive account of Himalayan mountaineering in fifty years."

About the Author
Maurice Isserman is James L. Ferguson Professor of History, Hamilton College. Stewart Weaver is professor of history, University of Rochester.

Customer Reviews

Fallen Giants - A History of Himalayan Mountaineering from the Age of Empire to the Age of Extremes.
A very readable summary of the major mountaineering explorations of the Himalayas. The authors display a very dry sense of humour, they pick out some excellent quotes I have not read before, The North Col - "The night brought a violent storm that continued into the morning, but rather than retreat, the three men chose to wait it out. They passed the time with hot tea, oxygen, and cigarettes (which Finch throught improved respiration at high altitude)!" Page 113.
An excellent bibliography and notes section added to my enjoyment.