The Everest Mystery

There is no mystery more compelling than the disappearance of British mountaineer George Mallory and Sandy Irvine, last seen ‘going strong for the top’ of Mount Everest on 8 June 1924.

Mallory was a renowned climber; Irvine was a daring young sportsman embarking on the greatest adventure of his life . . . The question of exactly what happened to them on that fateful day has fascinated people for more than a century. Now, Irvine’s great-niece Julie Summers and mountaineering historian Jochen Hemmleb have written a gripping account of the 1924 expedition from Sandy’s perspective, challenging misconceptions regarding his role and the skills and knowledge of the two men.

The narrative brings to life all the remarkable characters involved in the attempt and describes the extraordinary feats of endurance and planning needed to survive the extreme conditions on Everest. The authors also examine whether the two men reached the summit – becoming the first to do so – or died on the ascent. Were their bodies seen by Chinese expeditions in 1960 and 1975? What can we learn from the discoveries of Mallory’s remains in 1999 and Sandy’s boot and foot in September 2024?

An intriguing detective story, The Everest Mystery is also a moving account of men pushing themselves to their limits in an attempt to make history.