Product Description

May 29, 1953: Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay first reach the summit of Mount Everest, and Coronation Day for a new Queen, Elizabeth II.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1806282 in Books
• Published on: 2000-04-15
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 160 pages

From Publishers Weekly
More than 29,000 feet above sea level amid the desolation and frost of the Himalayas looms the sublime summit of Mount Everest, the very top of the world. Special correspondent for the London Times and an eyewitness to the climb, Morris (then James Morris) recounts Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay's famous ascent of the mountain. The first climb ever to reach the top of Everest culminated on May 29, 1953, two days before the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II--a truly royal gift for the young monarch. The quest begins in isolated Katmandu and trudges steadily eastward across the valley to the foot of Everest and upward to its pinnacle. First published in England in 1958, Morris's narrative is at times guilty of a certain sentimentalism redolent of postwar, postcolonial Britain; nevertheless it transcends its era. In vivid language and sharp detail, Morris describes the events and individuals of the historical trek. Her insightful and lively reflections on local customs and food, fauna and flora are interspersed with quiet musing on the Sherpa people and her own curiosity about the mythical Abominable Snowman. Occasionally sullied by the more down-to-earth concern over competing, news-pilfering reporters--hell-bent on snatching the story from right under her nose--Morris's ruminations oscillate between terror and beauty, ultimately surpassing laconic reporting to achieve virtuosity. At first, the author speculates as to why anyone would attempt such a formidable exploit, but her skepticism gives way to hope, and the endeavor, ostensibly that of a few adventurous souls, becomes that of all of humanity. (Apr.)
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal
Morris's 1958 account of Hillary and Tenzing's historic climb to the top of Mt. Everest was based on firsthand information provided by the climbers, whom Morris (back when she went under the name James) met at their camp at 20,000 feet as a reporter for the London Times. The Hillary expedition has experienced a resurgence of interest of late, so this should do well.
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review
'Morris scooped the world'. Guardian

Customer Reviews

AN OLDIE BUT A GOODIE...
This is a wonderfully written book of the events surrounding the historic Everest expedition of 1953 which saw Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay summit Mount Everest. It was written by special correspondent for The London Times, James Morris, who accompanied the expedition and first broke the news to the world of the successful summit. The news fortuitously reached England on the eve of Queen Elizabeth's the II coronation of June 2, 1953, and was the cause for much nationalistic pride. Hence, the name of the book.

The book is reflective of the time in which it was written and evokes a feeling of an era long gone. Therein lies its charm. Nostalgia buffs will love it, as will those readers looking to consume anything about Everest. It will not disappoint, though the book is not about the climb to the summit in the strictest sense. The book chronicles in great detail the author's journey to Everest, as well as his personal experiences and observations while at Everest, waiting to break the story of the end result of the historic climb to the summit. It also chronicles the cloak and dagger methodology which he employed in order maintain exclusivity for The London Times.

It should be noted in the interest of clarity and to avoid confusion, that times do indeed change. The author, James Morris, underwent a gender change subsequent to the original 1958 publication of this book. When the book was released again, however, the publisher did so under the name which the author had since adopted, Jan Morris. James or Jan, the author is a hell of a writer, and the book is well worth reading.

Travel Journalism at its Best
This slim volume details the trip of London Times journalist Jan Morris with the 1953 British Everest Expedition. It provides interesting and unique first-hand accounts of Hillary, Tenzing, and other expedition personnel, as well as beautifully written descriptions of the landscape and persons encountered on the expedition. It is written in the style of its day - English "Public School" in tone - and reflects a love and command of the English language all too lacking in today's expedition accounts.

The account flows easily and draws the reader along with the expedition. Despite knowing the outcome, the reader is kept interested by the tone and language, and by the behind-the-scenes looks at how this mammoth effort came together, and its ultimate effect on those on the mountain and those back home in England. For example, as the book opens on the eve of Elizabeth II's Coronation, we see Field Marshal Montgomery reading the Time's account of Hillary and Tenzing's triumph as he waits in robes to process in the Coronation parade. Small asides such as this give the book its unique flavor, and make it an interesting and invaluable addition to the armchair (or actual) mountaineer's collection

First rate
Although the outcome is known, there is much to be gained from reading this book.

Apart from the specific history of the climb which 'conquered' Everest (a much-used but dubious claim about one of the great feats of human endeavour, and one not used by those involved), I was particularly interested in several aspects:

* The description of the expedition took place, the mechanics of it from someone outside the actual expedition;
* The non-mountaineer's view of mountain-climbing and experiences in the Khumbu ice-fall and Western Cwm especially. This was the experience many an armchair-Everesteer would wish for themselves, I am sure;
* The journalist's view of the people involved - all the other accounts I have read have been written from the point of view of being 'insiders' in the ecpedition - Hunt, Hillary, Tenzing, for example
* The mechanics of how Morris set up 'exclusive' media coverage from the mountain! It is amazing to think that it was a mere 50 years ago that messages were taking 8 days to reach London, when nowadays we hear live radio broadcasts of people dying in snowstorms, have immediate Internet access to expedition journals etc.

Thoroughly recommended for anyone with any interest at all in the subject.