Fallen Giants

A History of Himalayan Mountaineering from the Age of Empire to the Age of Extremes

By: Maurice Isserman, Stewart Weaver

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Paperback | 23 February 2010 | Edition Number 1

At a Glance

Paperback
592 Pages

Dimensions(cm)
25.4 x 17.8 x 2.7

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The story of the world’s highest peaks and the remarkable people who have sought to climb them

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.

Industry Reviews

"'Fallen Giants is the book of a lifetime... an awe-inspiring work of history and storytelling... Armchair mountaineers will give the book pride of place in their collections.' Bruce Barcott, New York Times Book Review"

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You Can Find This Book In

Non-Fiction Sports & Recreation Active Outdoor Pursuits Climbing & Mountaineering Earth Sciences, Geography, Environment, Planning Geography Geographical Discovery & Exploration History Regional & National History Asian History Arts & Entertainment History of Art & Design Styles

General Issues in Art

Preface: A Fallen Giant	p. ix
When Men and Mountains Meet	p. 1
The Age of Empire, 1892-1914	p. 33
"Because it is There": George Mallory and the Fight for Everest, 1921-1924	p. 83
"A Random Harvest of Delight," 1929-1933	p. 127
"Himalayan Hey-Day," 1934-1939	p. 165
The Golden Age Postponed, 1940-1950	p. 223
"Don't Be a Chicken-Hearted Fellow": Everest, 1950-1953	p. 254
The Golden Age of Himalayan Climbing, 1953-1960	p. 295
New Frontiers, New Faces, 1961-1970	p. 350
The Age of Extremes, 1971-1996	p. 398
Notes	p. 455
Bibliography	p. 539
Index	p. 565
Table of Contents provided by Ingram. All Rights Reserved.

Fallen Giants

A History of Himalayan Mountaineering from the Age of Empire to the Age of Extremes

At a Glance

Paperback

Industry Reviews

Shipping

How to return your order

Defective items

You Can Find This Book In

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